The American's first UK visit
Aug 17th 2017, 6:28 am
#61
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: The American's first UK visit
I saw an Irish guy in a pub in Oxford head butt two USAF GIs he had gotten into an argument with. Neither of the GIs knew what had hit em.
Aug 17th 2017, 6:39 am
#62
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: The American's first UK visit
You were never around the Aussies then. They were mostly okay but when drunk liked to get something going with us Brits. It wasn't a question of being macho, just pushing back when being pushed
Aug 17th 2017, 6:48 am
#63
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: The American's first UK visit
What's wrong with the London Underground then? Short wait for trains, a couple of quick changes and across London in no time, same with the suburban train service. I wouldn't even bother trying to drive the British Motorways.... almost as bad as the mess we have to cope with in and around good old L.A
Aug 17th 2017, 10:21 am
#64
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: The American's first UK visit
What's wrong with the London Underground then? Short wait for trains, a couple of quick changes and across London in no time, same with the suburban train service. I wouldn't even bother trying to drive the British Motorways.... almost as bad as the mess we have to cope with in and around good old L.A
Aug 17th 2017, 4:11 pm
#65
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: The American's first UK visit
I've had no trouble getting around anywhere in England or Scotland by train. Book on line, reserve seat and take train.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
Aug 17th 2017, 4:28 pm
#66
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: The American's first UK visit
I've had no trouble getting around anywhere in England or Scotland by train. Book on line, reserve seat and take train.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
Aug 17th 2017, 4:42 pm
#67
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: The American's first UK visit
Aug 17th 2017, 4:42 pm
#68
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,541
Re: The American's first UK visit
I've had no trouble getting around anywhere in England or Scotland by train. Book on line, reserve seat and take train.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
If you really have a gripe about the transport system you should have been around in the 1950s when the whole system was under the government and known as British Railways.... bloody horrible..... but more than likely that was considerably before your time.
One of the good things about online ticketing is finding out in advance about weekend engineering projects & other service disruptions in advance. Several times in recent years I've changed my plans because of service disruptions. Years ago you usually didn't find out until you'd already begun your journey.
Aug 18th 2017, 4:05 am
#70
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: The American's first UK visit
My limited experience with modern UK rail travel I give it an "F" compared to France and Italy.
My last journey was plagued with problems from the 2 hr delay at Kings Cross to the ticket confusion to the transfer from First Class non stop, to a commuter train at Selby. Not to mention the inedible meals served.
Aug 18th 2017, 4:35 am
#71
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: The American's first UK visit
The Rail System in Britain is the most expensive in Europe. the closures of the 1960s did not improve the network, Huge swathes of the country had their train services closed down.
Main beneficiaries of system now are the likes of the grinning millionaire Branson. He needs those super-profits to finance his ballooning projects.
Main beneficiaries of system now are the likes of the grinning millionaire Branson. He needs those super-profits to finance his ballooning projects.
Aug 18th 2017, 5:10 am
#72
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: The American's first UK visit
I have bad memories of the Southern Region Railways from the 1950s/60s. The NUR and ASLEF always decided to start their leap frog type strikes in the dead of winter. Not so fond memories of shivering on cold damp winter evenings at Victoria and London Bridge wondering how long it would take me to get home or if I would even be lucky enough to get a train home.
Maybe because I've been away from the UK so long that I find the train service so much better, faster, cleaner much more comfortable.
When I first came to California in 1974 there was no train service in the L.A area. Just about everyone drove on the freeways. Poor people rode the buses which ran few and far between
Maybe because I've been away from the UK so long that I find the train service so much better, faster, cleaner much more comfortable.
When I first came to California in 1974 there was no train service in the L.A area. Just about everyone drove on the freeways. Poor people rode the buses which ran few and far between
Last edited by dc koop; Aug 18th 2017 at 5:16 am.
Aug 18th 2017, 8:42 am
#73
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: The American's first UK visit
Rail passengers face further misery this summer after train drivers on Southern Rail and the Gatwick Express voted to strike over pay.
Members of drivers’ union Aslef voted overwhelmingly for action on three days in the first week of August despite drivers being offered an improved pay deal worth up to £75,000 a year, including overtime.
Thousands who use the beleaguered train network and the the airport service face travel chaos at a time when many families will be attempting to travel on holiday.
Members of drivers’ union Aslef voted overwhelmingly for action on three days in the first week of August despite drivers being offered an improved pay deal worth up to £75,000 a year, including overtime.
Thousands who use the beleaguered train network and the the airport service face travel chaos at a time when many families will be attempting to travel on holiday.
