A Magical Christmas and Train Operator Comparisons

No Blog entries for a while - Christmas in Gerrards Cross.  My first visit there since my big fall so a personal milestone.   Trips on the Big Train to and from Kings Cross were an absolute delight - a seasonal treat in themselves.  In contrast, our local train operator Northern failed us.  Our train from Settle was quite simply 'cancelled' with no more explanation than 'it did not leave the depot' (earlier in the day from Leeds).  Hardly a reason to satisfy.  1 1/2 hours wait for a bus so our pre-booked LNER seat went to London without us.  Settle station's Lisa rescued a bad start by providing free coffee etc.

LNER train to London made up for the disappointment.  Here is my main course of roast beef and Yorkshire, washed down with three glasses of wine:

Then, Chiltern Line from Marylebone, clean, reliable and sweet as a nut as usual.

 and my first glimpse of daughter Lorna's new kitchen and dining room extension.  Took away with us some bright ideas too!

Back in Leeds and here is a Northern TWO car train for Manchester and Chester waiting, empty, for a platform full of people who were denied entry until it suited the crew or their rule-book, with standing room only for many.  An absolute disgrace and such a contrast with Chiltern's customer focused practice of letting people on to the waiting train in comfort and safety.

More people still squeezed on later . . . .