SCHWOIT

Today there has been nothing but reasons to blog. It is quite amazing really. The driver for this blog is City Rail. Normally I would not blog about City Rail unless I had ridden a train and had another shocker of an experience. Today though, I did not ride a train, however City Rail have found a new way to affect customer relations with myself.

In my earlier post Cattle Class on a Craptacular I reported the disgrace that is the Mortdale train station elevator project. I also reported that I had lodged a request for feedback via the City Rail website. At the time I predicted either no response, or a response after the elevators were turned on. Today, after lodging a secondary enquiry, I finally received a reply.

Dear Miss Thompson,

Thank you for contacting CityRail in relation to your query in reference to Mortdale station.

After speaking with the Station Manager at Mortdale they have advised that escalators are expected to be operational by Wednesday 7 March 07.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours Sincerely,

[Name Suppressed]
Correspondence Case Manager.
RailCorp Customer Relations.

Now there are several issues with this response. First off I am not a female. This has been assumed by the responder and as with all assumptions has made an ASS of yoU and ME. This is a disgrace for someone that is a Correspondence Case Manager and in RailCorp Customer Relations. No wonder noone feels like the company cares with basic errors like this.

Second, I enquired about elevators not escalators. An elevator is essentially a box that is cabled between floors, whereas an escalator is a moving stair case. They are totally different approaches to get similar results. Escalators though are not friendly to the disabled and infirmed among us.

Thirdly, I am being informed about the expected operational date 2 days after they should be operational. This email should thus confirm their operational status. However, it is not.

I will now be taking a walk to Mortdale Station and verify for myself that the elevators are operational. If they are not I will be sending yet another feedback to City Rail.

Tags: city rail, cityfail, cityrail, cityrail fails, customer service, customer service fail, fail, fails, innovation, investment, new south wales, nsw, nsw public transport, nsw public transport fail, public transport, public transport fails, rail, screwed, service, shittyrail, sydney public transport, timetable, train, trains
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Well today I went into the office and once again had the displeasure of riding two crowded Craptacular trains. This morning I got to the station in the midst of peak hour. Soon the first crowded Craptacular pulled up. I do not think anyone else would have been able to get on the first 4 carriages, atleast until Kogarah where the majority of the pimple faced teenagers disembark. I could have got on this train, but decided I would wait for a more comfortable ride. There is usually a Tangara following this times Craptacular.
15 minutes later another Craptacular pulled up. Again it looked like the people on the train had been packed in like a sheep on the back of a truck. Everyone appeared to be suffering at least mild heat stress. It was another disaster, and I once again preferred to wait with the hope of comfort.
15 minutes later yet another Craptacular pulled up. This one atleast had some seating available on the last carriage. I got on and managed to secure a seat. As is traditional in a Craptacular the heat became oppressive within 2 stops. Once the acne brigade disembarked at Kogarah there was little relief, in fact it got worse. For each teen that disembarked there seemed to be 2 or 3 adults board. The heat became oppressive once more. I was thankful to get off the train.
This afternoon I got to the station and there was once again a Craptacular waiting to whisk me away. Once again it looked like the people had been shoe horned into position and there was no room to move.
I decided to give that train a pass and wait for the next. The next train was yet another fine example of a City Rail Craptacular. Yet again it resembled a livestock truck more than a viable human transport option. Again the passengers looked to have some level of heat distress.
The next train was a Tangara. Unfortunately, it did not stop where I needed it to. This train was relatively full, but the passengers appeared quite comfortable.
Finally, a train that suited me appeared. Again it was a Craptacular although not full. I managed to get a seat and was reasonably comfortable. Mainly thanks to every one of the pitifully small windows on the carriage being open. As I was at the back I did manage to feel a breeze, albeit a slight one.
These trains are a complete disgrace and should be removed from service. They are uncomfortable and a potential health hazard. As it is election time I will put my vote to whomever promises to ensure that City Rail remove these disasters waiting to happen from the network within 2 years of election. In fact, they should be gone within 12 months. So Mr Debnam and Mr Iemma make your play for my vote, if you dare!

Tags: city rail, cityfail, cityrail, cityrail fails, customer service, customer service fail, fail, fails, innovation, investment, new south wales, nsw, nsw public transport, nsw public transport fail, public transport, public transport fails, rail, screwed, service, shittyrail, sydney public transport, timetable, train, trains
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