Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
Oct 31st 2012, 5:36 am
#196
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Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
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Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
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The trains on our line from surrey to London were comfortable, clean, fast, quiet. And full mostly of business men and women, kids out shopping and the odd drunken dickhead late at night. We recently got the train from Brisbane to Helensvale at 8pm on a saturday and it will be the last. The amount of 'high' young adults screaming and causing a scene on the train was distressing. One lot would get off and another lot would take their place. My daughter aged 10 was very upset. The train was packed so we couldn't change carriage and there didn't seem to be any ticket personnel or security present at any part of our journey. Possibly a one off but it was enough to make us decide to take the car next time. In Oz I am not constantly aware of the threat of terrorism. My husband worked in London for 7 years and I worried regularly about the threat. I don't worry here.
The trains on our line from surrey to London were comfortable, clean, fast, quiet. And full mostly of business men and women, kids out shopping and the odd drunken dickhead late at night. We recently got the train from Brisbane to Helensvale at 8pm on a saturday and it will be the last. The amount of 'high' young adults screaming and causing a scene on the train was distressing. One lot would get off and another lot would take their place. My daughter aged 10 was very upset. The train was packed so we couldn't change carriage and there didn't seem to be any ticket personnel or security present at any part of our journey. Possibly a one off but it was enough to make us decide to take the car next time. In Oz I am not constantly aware of the threat of terrorism. My husband worked in London for 7 years and I worried regularly about the threat. I don't worry here.
I do remember though in London that different lines attracted different people.
I used to travel from SE London to SW London and go via Waterloo East and Waterloo, respectively. Chalk and cheese!
Oct 31st 2012, 6:02 am
#197
Frequent Flyer Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,994
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
I see regional transport in Australia as attracting the marginalised and a particular demographic- as everyone else will drive. It won't match the affluent coming in from London suburbs/home counties.
I do remember though in London that different lines attracted different people.
I used to travel from SE London to SW London and go via Waterloo East and Waterloo, respectively. Chalk and cheese!
I do remember though in London that different lines attracted different people.
I used to travel from SE London to SW London and go via Waterloo East and Waterloo, respectively. Chalk and cheese!
Oct 31st 2012, 8:54 am
#198
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
And indeed in Brisbane, some absolute horror stories on the trains there.
Oct 31st 2012, 12:05 pm
#199
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
Got to admit, travelling on Melbourne Trains late at night is the dodgiest public transport experience I've had. Never had even an inkling of a problem on a tram before though. Although I did have very close to a brawl with a tram conductor years back when he dinged for the door to be shut between my hand and my then toddlers hand as we were getting on a tram back in the 80's.
Oct 31st 2012, 11:03 pm
#200
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,230
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
Here in Sydney it is the trains where you seem to get the most trouble, while the buses for the most part are fine. Whereas in London, in my experience the trains where mostly OK - and it was the buses where you got the scumbags.
Nov 1st 2012, 11:00 am
#201
Social Grenade Thrower
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: South Coast, NSW
Posts: 3,625
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
+1 (in general, although must admit I get late trains back from Sydney and never had any issues yet....mostly because I just crash!!)
Nov 1st 2012, 11:09 pm
#202
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
My point is that there are people who get the train because they have to - many people who get trams in Melbourne have options - live on a tram line in Melb
and you are considered to be lucky.
Nov 2nd 2012, 2:07 am
#203
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Impressions of a visit to England – from someone who emigrated over 5 years ago
That's because the hoodies want the cheaper or free option of a bus. I used to laugh when an inspector would get on at the front door, and the hoodies would make a hasty exit for the back door.
