Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5636746/Rail-chief-Move-to-the-seaside-if-you-want-to-get-a-train-seat-.html

A piece of classic Ludeman-balls from a man whose chutzpah seems to know no bounds. Ludeman has been at the helm of some of (in my estimation, at least) the worst-run TOCs including Thames and Thameslink. I have a vague memory of a rather good Wolmar column in which the author gave Ludeman a roasting for having the audacity to try and tell other TOCs to get the basics right whilst running filthy, run-down trains on his franchises.

But the main and totally valid point of this story over the last few years, whether the 'don't expect a seat' headline comes from Keith Ludeman, Mike Mitchell, Uncle Tom Cobley or whoever remains the same doesn't it.

Within half an hour or so of London, the rail network is a mass transit commuter network. On the one hand Londoners generally want it to be more like the underground in terms of frequency and capacity. Hence all these calls for 10 and 12 car trains, platform extensions, Thameslink, Crossrail etc etc.

Then the media, led by the London Standard AFAICS, keep on pushing this requirement that because they are main line trains everyone should have a seat as well.  Yet they NEVER suggest this in connection with the underground. Now why is that?

Paul

To some extent I would agree, but it does cast some considerable doubt on this gentleman's attitude to his customers (and I do mean "customers" in this context !) when he says things like this knowing full well that they will be reported in the media. To me, it is almost an expression of contempt.

The classic example of this attitude is Michael O'Leary, his standard answer to any complaint about his airline is along the lines of : "what do you expect for the money ?"
This is true - that is why I would never fly with Ryanair. I am prepared to pay a bit more to Stelios or Flybe (or even BA) and be allowed to use the toilet for free !

At least Mr Ludeman's trains do take you to Victoria, if this service was operated by Ryanair you'd be taken to Portsmouth and then told to get a bus to London !  :D :D

Pretty much.

And that's only if you'd enclosed a ready-stamped envelope in your complaint! ::)

That wouldn't work - he would steam the stamp off and keep it !