ultimateharold
Well-Known Member
I have had the misfortune of travelling through the station at Manchester Airport a few times recently. I have simply given up and will in the future be driving and parking instead. On Friday, as I queued to buy my ticket, there were a number of helpful staff on hand to aid and direct those in need of assistance (i.e. part with their money) but that's where the positive ends. On reaching the platform it becomes apparent that all the train information monitors are out of action. People seem to be waiting at the beginning of the nearest platform, folk from all over the world muttering amongst themselves. There are no rail employees to be seen and the only tannoy messages seem to be about security - no actual usable information. On checking my National Rail app, my train has been cancelled - the usual 'no train staff available' excuse - so I look for other routes. Should I go to Piccadilly and risk the mayhem of platform 14 on a Friday rush hour or gamble that the next train will arrive - I choose the latter. A 45 minute wait (would have been quicker and cheaper via the tram, oh well) so I proceed to the sunshine at the end of the platform. I notice a Trans Pennine Express employee cowering in the corner of that cubicle thing as I pass by, poor fella.
About ten minutes later a train turns up on platform 4. Is this the 19:29 to Piccadilly? The phone app says there's one due at that time. I could catch this and go via Metrolink to Radcliffe, if it is. No screens, no tannoy, the driver is accosted by a group of inquiring passengers. It isn't the train I thought it could be, that one is now, simply, 'delayed', and this one stands silently, taunting and teasing the waiting customers. A muscle-bound gentleman is taking on security, pleading with him to look at his phone, desperate for news on the train that he says should be here, right now, but isn't. "I'm just security" says the man. A French lady with her entourage is listening intently but gives a gallic shrug. We're all French today.
I pin my hopes on the 20:02 to Southport. Currently on time, my phone says. Some more trains arrive, as does the tannoy announcer. He has a jolly voice and there's laughter in the background, which doesn't help matters but at least people seem to be going somewhere now. My train appears, exactly at the time my app changes to say 'arrival 20:11', it leaves at 20:14 and is still scheduled to arrive at my destination at its scheduled 20:45 slot. Optimistic to say the least and eventually impossible when we sit at Oxford Road for 15 minutes whilst we "await train crew".
My destination is reached at 21:15. 21 miles and two hours travelling.
What must our overseas guests think of us.
And then they get to see Piccadilly Gardens when they finally reach town.