Stephen Kell

I am a tortoise.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@Interrail ... that one must what? Also I was talking about late October; when does the off-season begin?

I found out from the excellent @seatsixtyone (thanks!) that Eurostar capacity is down, causing problems such as these. May be useful if other customers inquire. https://t.co/RRDH9x53Ac

[The Man in Seat 61 @seatsixtyone]

Essential reading to understand Eurostar's situation: Main problem = Brexit, St Pancras can process max 1500 passengers p/hour vs 2200 in 2019 = unable to increase timetable to meet demand = volume/growth strategy suspended, concentrating on high-yield/full trains - no Kent stops

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@Interrail What is going on with Eurostar passholder fares? Web interfaces claim no availability even weeks later in October. Your web site still talks about "summer" (summer's gone!) and lame advice like "try again in the off season" (which includes October!). Why the shortage?

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@O2 Thanks. I had already checked those... the problem is they don't tell me (1) how long this disruption has been going on, (2) anything about when it might be fixed, and (3) what is supposed to work -- does the known mast issue affect all of 2G, 3G and 4G?

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@O2 Am a new O2 customer in the CB3 0 postcode area. Enabled my SIM today to find almost no signal on 2G and 3G, can't connect to 4G. Can you give me more details on the local network outage and when it might be fixed? If not, caution demands I stay with my existing provider.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@GeorgeMonbiot Thanks for highlighting that "the underlying reason for high house prices is not the lack of supply". This is a much bigger issue than second homes. Maybe you could write a whole column about this? The story needs telling... most of the media completely miss it.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@RamblersGB Hello. I'm looking for some advice in connection with preventing a public right of way from being extinguished, perhaps unlawfully. Do you have any pointers or contacts? I have borrowed the Blue Book but it does not seem to cover the Planning Act 2008.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@Eurostar Hello. Since Ashford stops have been cancelled, my journey is now impossible. Aside from extra cost, I can't get to St Pancras early enough to join the train. But your "disruption web form" does not let me request a refund, only "next available train". What should I do?

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@RailwayHeritage I was just at Buxton station where the fan window has one of (I think) your blue plaques, saying the window is "all that remains" of the LNWR station. But the surviving station is the LNWR one, not the Midland one. Who is confused -- me or the plaque?

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@thegraceldn Hello... can you confirm whether any tickets remain for Dawn Landes tonight? Thanks!

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@VirginTrains @thetrainline @nationalrailenq Since @nationalrailenq has yet to answer, here is one answer I have been able to find so far: @RailOmbudsman will most likely be hearing from me soon.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

Hello @VirginTrains. When are you going answer my complaint, case no. VT0808248?

Someone called Josh at 'https://t.co/pwvVhSk2a2' sent me a bogus reply and hasn't followed up. Honest complaint by an honest customer... please don't try to ignore, evade or lie your way out of it.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@VirginTrains @thetrainline Dear @nationalrailenq: if a train company refuses to handle a complaint about a mistake made by their ticket issuing services, who do I write to?

@VirginTrains are denying all responsibility for their call centre's mistakes... truly "award-winning" service.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@VirginTrains @thetrainline @nationalrailenq I trust that they will, and soon. The initial injury was bad enough... still you continue to pile on the insults.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq Thanks!

Sometimes I don't know exactly what journey I want to make... it's useful to be able to find out exactly what a certain ticket will allow (e.g. to see what is affordable!) rather than a trial-and-error process interrogating the Journey Planner.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq Hello. When using the web Journey Planner, how do I discover the two-digit 'Restriction Code' for a fare I'm seeing? This page https://t.co/NWMt61XYGr mentions "the Journey Planner ticket terms and conditions page" but I can't find it, even after doing "Buy Now".

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq For the record, I found that if I follow through with the purchase process as far as the train company's site, some of them display the codes -- but others don't. For example, on this particular journey, LNER does but Scotrail doesn't.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq Thanks for confirming. But in that case please could you update the web page that I linked to? It's this one, currently saying that I should be able to find the codes: https://t.co/NWMt61XYGr

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq Great -- thanks! For future reference, can you confirm whether that information is available on the Journey Planner, and if so where?

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq I don't think so, to either of those. I'm mostly trying to find outter the restriction code for the Super Off-Peak Return that is Not Via London. It is supposed to be linked from somewhere, but I couldn't see it.

[Stephen Kell @stephenlamppost]

@nationalrailenq Yes, that is correct -- thanks!