TheMeerkatExpress

The Meerkat Express, going nowhere fast since 2012! Train Driver. Views my own.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@trainfanmatt 210 has been out for a week or two now. Saw it running to/from Picc early last week. It was then failed on Thursday waiting a tow back to NH.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@trainfanmatt I’m one to usually sleep through storms, but not last night. I got woken up about 0215 to the loudest bang of thunder I’ve heard in many years.

I had to turn the A/C off in the bedroom last night because I got cold. Best thing Mrs Meerkat and I have bought, that’s for sure!

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@unitedutilities Thanks Alex!

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@unitedutilities I rang yesterday morning (Saturday 09/05) to report this water leak. It’s in Holmes Chapel, CW4 7AU. Millions of gallons of clean will have flowed down the drain. It’s an absolute disgrace to not have been fixed as a priority!

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@mitchell_hurd More standing room on a 331 vs a 323.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@northernassist quick question, with the continued reduced Sunday service, why are 3 car trains diagramed to run between Picc and Crewe during the day? A 4 car 331 would provide more seats & more space onboard. This 323 has just left Chelford and is rather busy.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@northernassist Thank you for your reply. But, during Sunday, 323s are diagramed to be running, majority of the service. A 4 car sits in Piccadilly all day between working the return journey of the 0809 to Crewe & then comes out to carry on, on 2007 & 2201 to Crewe.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@MonsieurPiddly @SydneyBridgeTMD Jesus, a Buxton Driver leaving the messroom at Buxton. That must be the true reason 67012 gave up! 😝

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@LNER I was waiting for 1D20 and it just sat outside waiting. Plus you’d also have a spread of passengers on two platforms instead of one making dispatch safer & station staff’s job easier. It’s an easy win. Thank you for your reply!

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@LNER just an observation relating to the new TT. Pbo arrivals from KX both the xx:03 & xx:10 departures from KX some pairs use P4 at Pbo. Any delay to the first causes a delay to the second train. Could over lapping platform arrivals by using P4 then P5 be fed back please?

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@EastMidRailway @greateranglia Thanks for the reply ^TT, good news is that we have leap frogged it just outside Pbo, so connections at Ely are made. Signaller @ York Roc 👏 have a nice afternoon & hopefully less disruption for you to deal with.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@EastMidRailway currently travelling on diverted 1L07, the train crew did a good job advising passengers of the problems before Notts. Hoping to make @greateranglia ‘s 2L75 from Ely for Bury SE. Passed Oakham about 2 mins ago. If a hold at Pbo isn’t possible is Ely, please? 🙏

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@DkwonMark @ChimeWhistle An improvement in my view, gives our hard working DM’s more breathing space and less paperwork. In practice; I’d say this would only affect about half of the drivers, currently. As we have quite a large number who are < 5 years driving.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@marksandspencer Great, thanks Elsa! 🙂

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@marksandspencer been to M&S bakery at your Market Street store in Manchester, fantastic service from the bakers today!

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@PeterGriffins1 @greateranglia I’m not saying you would have been, personally. But people do get confrontational towards station staff when people get told things they don’t want to hear. So for the staff it’s easier to just pass the buck.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@PeterGriffins1 @greateranglia Because they don’t want to deal with the inevitable confrontation when people don’t get the answer they want.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@PeterGriffins1 @greateranglia You were given the correct information at the point of sale, regardless of what station staff say. Terms and conditions of an Advance Single state booked train only. Sorry, but the Conductor is right. If you want flexibility, pay for it with a flexible ticket.

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@Martin_H_1986 I did wave as I passed. And thought oooo, I’m sure that’s Ginger Martin 😂

[TheMeerkatExpress @MeerkatExpress]

@Martin_H_1986 was that you at Farnworth last night around 1930 as I came the other way?