Friday Night...and there goes my connection

It hasn't been the best of weeks again for South Eastern. I'm sitting here on Ashford Station having just watched my Connecting fast train pull out of the station as my delayed train from London pulled in. As all the others trains from London are also delayed, that means that my next train will be the delayed 19.37 which won't turn up for another 20 minutes. Still it's heartening to hear that South Eastern "apologises for this late running and the inconvenience caused" repeated endlessly by a tinny woman who shows all the compassion for her delayed passengers as the human South Eastern staff. They couldn't have held back the connection by 30 seconds to let all the customers travelling to Dover to get home on time. That would have meant caring and that's not in SE's report and accounts. Oh well another late night home. Better start filling out my Delay Repay form.

Ride Your Bike To The Station? Forget It.

Not sure if this is a South Eastern or Rail Track problem but highlights the lack of care both organisations show towards their customers. Dover Priory has a row of bike lockers on the platform. When I asked to hire one I was told they were no longer responsible for the lockers as 'they had problems with them'. As my bike is regularly attacked by vandals when left chained to the racks on the platform (obviously has nothing to do with the station staff as they only work there and supervise the environment but aren't actually responsible for anything) I'm unsure as to how I can safely leave my bike at the station when I travel to London. They can't ensure it won't be vandalised and they can't provide a safe environment for it when it's on their property. So basically, don't bother riding your bike to Dover Station if you actually value it. Just another example of the appalling customer service provided by everyone connected to South Eastern.

Cancelled 17.49 from London Bridge

South Eastern up to their usual service last night. Managed to cancel the 17.49 out of London Bridge due to 'a lack of serviceable trains'. If they're not going to invest in sufficient rolling stock to run the service they advertise then they shouldn't be allowed to continue holding the franchise.