FRANCIS On the last part of my shift yesterday, I had to take a train from Shrewsbury back to Machynlleth. It was a busy train, nothing out of the ordinary, with a lot of people going on summer breaks. I went through the train to check all tickets and to make sure everyone was in the correct portion of the train, as it divides into two services at Machynlleth. One goes to Aberystwyth and one goes to Harlech, where road transport continue for stations to Pwlhelli, due to line closure caused by flood damage earlier in the year. I remember talking to a gentleman who was travelling to Porthmadog, meaning he had to travel on the road transport from Harlech. He checked the details of his journey with me and seemed a little apprehensive, but I reassured him. A little later I received a phone call from our control centre in Cardiff advising me that I had a passenger on my train called Francis (surname omitted), travelling to Porthmadog from Kent. They advised me that he suffered with Asperger syndrome and had been held up on his journey near Coventry due to a person being hit by a train. They advised that Virgin Trains would lay on a taxi from Machynlleth to his hotel in Porthmadog, if he required it, as to make his journey a little easier being as he was two hours late. I went to see Francis. I sat next to him and explained the offer of a taxi, letting him know that I knew about his problem during his journey. Francis was about 70 years old, very smartly dressed and very well spoken. He was sat upright in his seat with his old fashioned small suitcase at his feet. He told me about his journey and his Aspergers. He also went on to tell me that he was going to a narrow gauge railway festival. He was concerned that he didnt like travelling in a car and sometimes suffered from car sickness, so wished to decline the taxi. He had, after the delay, his journey mapped in his head, which had been organised by his Guard on the Virgin train from London, who he named, so changing again would probably cause him more trauma. I told him I would let them know that he would continue his journey as planned. He could not thank me enough for the concern and help of the Guards on the London train, all railway staff and myself. He was so sincere in his gratitude. I eventually handed the train over to a colleague, who I introduced to Francis, that was taking the train to Harlech. Again Francis was overwhelming with his gratitude. If there was no Guard on the trains that he travelled on, or any staff on the stations he travelled through, what would have happened to him? Where would the care and attention come from? Where would he get information to restructure his journey? Could he cope with the disruption? Would he have got to his destination safely? ENOUGH SAID! KEEP THE GUARD ON THE TRAIN, KEEP THE TRAIN SAFE NO CUTS TO STATION STAFF, KEEP TICKET OFFICES OPEN
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:20:23 +0000
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