Looking At Low-Cost Lumo ...
.. where we can explore and enjoy a brand new service from Stirling to Euston. The timetable started on 17th May.
only it didn't.
Apparently to run a train service you need trains! And Lumo didn't have any!
Bur, undaunted First Rail managed to get one whole train working to start running on 25th May ...
... but only if you want to go from Stirling in the morning and come back straight away.
That's the trouble with these low cist operations. They are super smashing if you are happy to travel when Lumo wants you to!
Anyway, on Monday of this week you couldn't!
The only Lumo train that was working wasn't. The headline writer implied that this disaster was announced in Parliament by the current Transport Minister Heidi.
It wasn't - but journos just love a joyous jape at others' misfortune.
Many would say that Lumo was loony to start the service with only one working train.
But maybe they are due for enormous fines for not operating their booked schedule?
But in a few days ...
If they both work! Stock up with gaffer tape, super glue and fuse wire. Have a lump hammer handy and a well greased mole wrench - and. ta-da,
You might keep both running until ...
Of course these panels tell you nothing about intermediate timings which are, as ever, available on the journey planner.
So, basically, if you know what the timetable IS, before you can find the timetable details!
GREAT!
So fbb guessed that these build-up journeys were actually part of the full and eventual timetable. So the brave old bloke, frail and hospitalised, decided to click on "timetables" on the Lumo web site.
Well done, First; so typical of your reliable web presence!
But, as ever, there is another Lumo web site which does work.
So, here, complete with a troupe of cheer leaders, a four piece jazz combo and a guest appearance of Heidi Alexander, is the Monday to Friday Lumo from 17th May which isn't ...
Due to fbb's current frailty, the old bloke cannot arouse his ferroequinological fervour to check whether the interim times are truly a subset of the " running a.littlr late" full timetable.
Eager readers can enlarge and check below..
Seemples!
For the record, the train at the head of this article is NOT a Stirling Euston train. The slowly evolving Stirling to Euston service will be rub bt refurbished class 222 diesels.
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As promised .. R D & E Hospital Food
Dateline Tuesday 2nd June
From out on-the-spot correspondent
0700 Nreakfast
Choice of cereals ...
1030 Tea, coffee biscuits
1200 Lunch
.Fruit juice and/or soup, main (sausage, onion gravy, beans and choice of potatoes, the latter declined by fbb.
Pud, pear half and I've cream. fbb too his pud course as a started to avoid structural degredatio if the ice cream.
There is a voice of five mains and three puds.
T and C apply as usual
1500 Afternoon bevvy
Biscuits and snacks available. But look, posh crisps?
1700 Supper (i.e. High Tea)
Similar range to lunch.
T & C of course
2000 Bedtime (?) drink ...
... taken with a bedtime snack.delivered with the evening meal.
Your crackers, fbb!
O.K. It's not quite The Ritz, the grub is obviously "caterings" rather than Master Chef. But there is plenty of it. And if you are struggling with the poor image of hospital food, move to Exeter before you become ill.
It seems to be working OK for fbb.
Interesting to note that, in the national train database, the Lumo trains to Stirling are categorised as special trains - empty coaching stock - run as required!
ReplyDeleteI spent eight nights in the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital about two years ago and agree that the food was pretty good, served by helpful and caring staff.
ReplyDelete