Whilst the platform changes were an inconvenience, it really does become an accessibility issue for anybody who can't move that quickly. Really poor from Thameslink not to wait
I'd say the problem here is that there is the "Delay Repay" scheme and someone upstairs is making a decision between: * Looking after passengers on the platform and paying refunds to passengers on the train making longer journeys or * Looking after money and screwing over passengers who miss the platform change. We need people running trains to be looking after passengers.
I agree that a station that doesnt have a little bit of love even if it is in the form of flower pots or a waiting shelter, feels like a threat. Even worse when there is no safe pavement to walk on, free of pot holes, level and lit.
I was last in Luton 🚽⚖ in 2007-2008 when the company I worked for had a customer there I had to visit regularly. Nothing about the place encouraged me to go back for non work-related reasons.
The advantage of the Luton Airport bus from the station was that there was a stop by a couple of hotels if you were staying there before an early flight. Now I presume you have to choose the least awful amount of walking - from the station or the airport. (No-one flying early morning from Luton is splashing out on a five minute taxi ride. Or I'm not, anyway...) And the roads round there are particularly awful for walking.
Ah you came my way - to Luton! Glad you enjoyed it there! The town certainly is getting better, with more work being done to make it inviting to all. Unfortunately the stations aren't great. The only accessible station in the area is Luton Airport Parkway, otherwise going north it is Bedford. There were talks to make Luton accessible in recent years but I haven't heard much recently so not sure when that will happen.
I gave up commuting by rail when Thameslink Great White Worms took over most of our services as it became not just uncomfortable but very unreliable. Plus our station suffers from last minute platform changes via the subway. Our last two trips on Thameslink our trains were cancelled.
Funny enough I was at Luton Parkway on Tuesday (10th) whilst travelling from Inverness to Brighton (EasyJet), was so cold when I was there. I was under the impression I live in the “frozen North”, that’s a lie, it was absolutely freezing cold at Luton Parkway.. I was actually shivering when I got on the train
Re that platform alterations 3 & 4: I few months back, I had the same here in Cologne Hauptbahnhof, Germany, where the automatic announcement announced a platform alteration (as with your train, with about a minute to spare), however, while we were running down the stairs, a human announcement "stepped in" to tell us that the other one was a false announcement, thus cancelling the (otherwise also non-existent) platform alteration. That was fun. Sort of.
Perhaps Govia Thameslink Railway should upgrade some stations including Flitwick, Harlington, Leagrave and Harpenden to have step-free access. Plus Wixams is to open in few years because of Universal Studios is to build a theme park and resort.
I used to commute from St Albans to Hendon. Can't wait to see what you think of Hendon. Clue: It will make all the other stations seem really really good! Also, hope you saw the big concrete bridge beside the tracks at Napsbury (south of St Albans) which is being rolled in over the Xmas extended shut down of the whole line.
The Luton Dart feels very Copenhagen-esque. And I have a lot of love for the Copenhagen metro, so that immediately endears it to me, even if I never fly out of Luton because it's otherwise a faff to get to from Oxfordshire 🤣 Well done braving the weather, Jen!
Little interesting fact: Flitwick may not be, if Universal UK get planning permission to build a new UK theme park by 2030, that on that line, there will be a new station to visit, opposite Kempston Hardwick.
I worked in Borehamwood for a few months at Elstree Studios working on Big Brother, so I know that station fairly well. One time when we were going home, the staff had accidentally locked a passenger in the station building, but they didn't have the keys to open the building to let him out! They said the only thing they can do is wait for someone else to arrive with the keys. I believe the police were called, but I was too tired to stick around to see what happened - I just wanted to get home after a long shift :(
One time when you are back in Birmingham, I recommend a full video on Smethwick Galton Bridge Station. Not only High and Low Level trains but High and Level canals plus the disused station across the road as well as Telford's bridge.
another issue with Harlington is that the footbridge is inaccessible and the platform the entrance is on is the fast line platform meaning that unless their is disruption wheelchair users can't use the station
Great video Jen✨ - As for the last minute changes, they are frustrating and I deal with the issues on a daily. Leagrave & Flitwick have a junction just outside north so it’s hard to predict if the signaller is going to change it, nevertheless it’s not good practice and lifts should be added to those stations from Luton to Flitwick. I was looking to see if I could be spotted on video, but I believe I was off on this day 😂
Windy, but not moist! We could do with a bit of moist here, proper moist. All we get right now is rain on roads that are below zero. Slippery stuff! Snow and -25 C is never fun, +5 and no snow? Yes please! -47 C was interesting, for a bit. One month of -35 C was definitely too much! Moist is way better! :-D
I wonder if people can like, hold the doors open when there's a platform alteration to help keep the train there while people move to the right platform
Done that many times when I've known before they announced and got there in time, but as someone with reduced mobility myself I really dislike Thameslink doing this so much on the mml route
icl just stay ln the footbridge until the train arrives, simple. but ive never seen platform alterations and ive been on the midland maknlkne a fair amount of times
Everytime railway TH-camrs find a waiting room that is closed, they should submit a Freedom of Information request asking how long the waiting room has been closed. It is especially important that waiting rooms are available in cold weather as passengers get very uncomfortable if made to stand in cold weather for long periods of time.
Brilliant video Jen, honestly that's far too many platform changes lol. I'm not a massive fan of Luton station to be honest, it doesn't look good. I prefer Luton Airport Parkway station as it looks nicer, good to see the DART was made so people don't have to get a bus to the airport anymore.
to be honest i think most of the stations featured need refurbishing as they all dont look very welcoming & most would make me not visit the area but St Albans is a lovely city as theres a cathedreal & i went to Luton a few years ago & not a fan but need a revisit in the future as sometimes places change anyway brilliant vlog
Has somebody who has a disability and anxiety platform alterations 😮😢 are not okay at all just the thought of them upsets me and it makes me really anxious
oooh lots of 700 class trains! 700125* 700060 700133 700145* 700039 700112* 700022* 700108* 700026 * marks the ones ive ridden, didnt know they went on the bedford line too
Whilst the platform changes were an inconvenience, it really does become an accessibility issue for anybody who can't move that quickly. Really poor from Thameslink not to wait
Absolutely!
I'd say the problem here is that there is the "Delay Repay" scheme and someone upstairs is making a decision between:
* Looking after passengers on the platform and paying refunds to passengers on the train making longer journeys or
* Looking after money and screwing over passengers who miss the platform change.
We need people running trains to be looking after passengers.
When this happens I stand in the doors and wait for other people to make it - train can’t go without all the doors clear 🤷🏻♀️
I agree that a station that doesnt have a little bit of love even if it is in the form of flower pots or a waiting shelter, feels like a threat. Even worse when there is no safe pavement to walk on, free of pot holes, level and lit.
2:01 i go to centreparcs every year on holiday, its most definitely not retro! 😂
i feel the meeting point is for fire alarms
I was last in Luton 🚽⚖ in 2007-2008 when the company I worked for had a customer there I had to visit regularly. Nothing about the place encouraged me to go back for non work-related reasons.
Luton Hoo, and the park with the collection of Horse Drawn Carriages
The advantage of the Luton Airport bus from the station was that there was a stop by a couple of hotels if you were staying there before an early flight. Now I presume you have to choose the least awful amount of walking - from the station or the airport. (No-one flying early morning from Luton is splashing out on a five minute taxi ride. Or I'm not, anyway...) And the roads round there are particularly awful for walking.
It was great to see another video on the Midland Main Line! It definitely looked difficult visiting the stations especially in Storm Bert!
Ah you came my way - to Luton! Glad you enjoyed it there! The town certainly is getting better, with more work being done to make it inviting to all. Unfortunately the stations aren't great. The only accessible station in the area is Luton Airport Parkway, otherwise going north it is Bedford. There were talks to make Luton accessible in recent years but I haven't heard much recently so not sure when that will happen.
Nice 1940s Crittal windows on Luton station.
You were braved enough filming while storm Bert.👍
We luv Jen
Great edit Kirsty! Oh and Center Parcs is definitely still a thing, have used that bus many times.
Some of those platform changes are ridiculous, but an enjoyable video Jen, love some of the Kristy side notes as well
I gave up commuting by rail when Thameslink Great White Worms took over most of our services as it became not just uncomfortable but very unreliable. Plus our station suffers from last minute platform changes via the subway. Our last two trips on Thameslink our trains were cancelled.
Funny enough I was at Luton Parkway on Tuesday (10th) whilst travelling from Inverness to Brighton (EasyJet), was so cold when I was there. I was under the impression I live in the “frozen North”, that’s a lie, it was absolutely freezing cold at Luton Parkway.. I was actually shivering when I got on the train
Yay for hot cocoa!
Re that platform alterations 3 & 4: I few months back, I had the same here in Cologne Hauptbahnhof, Germany, where the automatic announcement announced a platform alteration (as with your train, with about a minute to spare), however, while we were running down the stairs, a human announcement "stepped in" to tell us that the other one was a false announcement, thus cancelling the (otherwise also non-existent) platform alteration. That was fun. Sort of.
Just a lovely bit of Deutsche Bahn chaos
Yay! A new Jen video to watch with my Sunday coffee. Especially love the "station meeting point" story.... that is TOTALLY something I would do. ❤🧡💚💙💜
Perhaps Govia Thameslink Railway should upgrade some stations including Flitwick, Harlington, Leagrave and Harpenden to have step-free access. Plus Wixams is to open in few years because of Universal Studios is to build a theme park and resort.
Why if Great British Railways can do the job
I used to commute from St Albans to Hendon. Can't wait to see what you think of Hendon. Clue: It will make all the other stations seem really really good! Also, hope you saw the big concrete bridge beside the tracks at Napsbury (south of St Albans) which is being rolled in over the Xmas extended shut down of the whole line.
Hendon didn’t end up being my least favourite on the line, and I’m sure you can guess which one my least favourite will be!
9:49 The what project? Oh, you said HAT.
Oh! Your date story made me laugh! I really do sympathize, though. And, your Platform Change theme song gave me a chuckle. Cheers Jen!
Just so you know class 221 is GAWN it’s all withdrawn from EMR their last one went last night…. So it’s just CC who use them now
Ah, St Albans! Around my neck of the woods now
The Luton Dart feels very Copenhagen-esque. And I have a lot of love for the Copenhagen metro, so that immediately endears it to me, even if I never fly out of Luton because it's otherwise a faff to get to from Oxfordshire 🤣 Well done braving the weather, Jen!
....metal and plastic! There, finished it for you, Jen.
Little interesting fact: Flitwick may not be, if Universal UK get planning permission to build a new UK theme park by 2030, that on that line, there will be a new station to visit, opposite Kempston Hardwick.
They aren’t designed for comfort! The trains are v frequent and 24hrs on that line. Functional not designed to linger about! Love the video!
I worked in Borehamwood for a few months at Elstree Studios working on Big Brother, so I know that station fairly well. One time when we were going home, the staff had accidentally locked a passenger in the station building, but they didn't have the keys to open the building to let him out! They said the only thing they can do is wait for someone else to arrive with the keys. I believe the police were called, but I was too tired to stick around to see what happened - I just wanted to get home after a long shift :(
I am surprised Jen did not start singing the Luton Airport song from the 1970s!
One time when you are back in Birmingham, I recommend a full video on Smethwick Galton Bridge Station. Not only High and Low Level trains but High and Level canals plus the disused station across the road as well as Telford's bridge.
Great video Jen. Platform change is terrible. Looking forward to the next one.
another issue with Harlington is that the footbridge is inaccessible and the platform the entrance is on is the fast line platform meaning that unless their is disruption wheelchair users can't use the station
Great video Jen✨ - As for the last minute changes, they are frustrating and I deal with the issues on a daily. Leagrave & Flitwick have a junction just outside north so it’s hard to predict if the signaller is going to change it, nevertheless it’s not good practice and lifts should be added to those stations from Luton to Flitwick. I was looking to see if I could be spotted on video, but I believe I was off on this day 😂
Breezy and moist
Windy, but not moist! We could do with a bit of moist here, proper moist. All we get right now is rain on roads that are below zero. Slippery stuff! Snow and -25 C is never fun, +5 and no snow? Yes please! -47 C was interesting, for a bit. One month of -35 C was definitely too much! Moist is way better! :-D
I think Oyster should be valid to Luton Town as well as Contactless Payment. I'm pleased that you liked the Opened River Area
meeting points should be in places that are easy to find. they should extend the luton dart.
I mean First Capital Connect was only...10 years ago...
damn jen that was hectic and thoses platform changes way to piss folks off and make them missn thier train.
I wonder if people can like, hold the doors open when there's a platform alteration to help keep the train there while people move to the right platform
Done that many times when I've known before they announced and got there in time, but as someone with reduced mobility myself I really dislike Thameslink doing this so much on the mml route
icl just stay ln the footbridge until the train arrives, simple. but ive never seen platform alterations and ive been on the midland maknlkne a fair amount of times
Missed Radett
Everytime railway TH-camrs find a waiting room that is closed, they should submit a Freedom of Information request asking how long the waiting room has been closed.
It is especially important that waiting rooms are available in cold weather as passengers get very uncomfortable if made to stand in cold weather for long periods of time.
Hopefully there is an automated system to make Freedom of Information requests easier.
Brilliant video Jen, honestly that's far too many platform changes lol. I'm not a massive fan of Luton station to be honest, it doesn't look good. I prefer Luton Airport Parkway station as it looks nicer, good to see the DART was made so people don't have to get a bus to the airport anymore.
If in doubt, eat at spoons
I personally avoid spoons!
@ oh ok fair enough it’s not for everyone
to be honest i think most of the stations featured need refurbishing as they all dont look very welcoming & most would make me not visit the area but St Albans is a lovely city as theres a cathedreal & i went to Luton a few years ago & not a fan but need a revisit in the future as sometimes places change anyway brilliant vlog
Jen can u do more races pls. Possibly in Liverpool
First Group Buses are getting a new logo/corporate image, are you going to the launch of it ?
Has somebody who has a disability and anxiety platform alterations 😮😢 are not okay at all just the thought of them upsets me and it makes me really anxious
luton dart to luton airport should have a sheltered walkway, like north greenwick to the o2 or something
Great Editing , BUT the opening "title card" should have a & not and after Elstree.
oooh lots of 700 class trains!
700125*
700060
700133
700145*
700039
700112*
700022*
700108*
700026
* marks the ones ive ridden, didnt know they went on the bedford line too