Friday, April 19Royal Holloway's offical student publication, est. 1986

Tag: Trains

South Western Rail Criticised
News

South Western Rail Criticised

South Western Rail has come under fire after allegations that it is refusing to properly staff Egham station. Although the station is frequently busy due to it being the closest rail link to Royal Holloway University and Strodes College, the ticket office has often been forced to close due to a lack of staff to operate it. This disruption caused by the lack of employees has also been exacerbated by the 24 hour strikes that have been affecting this service continually in recent months. Monday January 8, Wednesday January 10 and Friday January 12 saw the station remain unmanned due to a walkout over a long-running dispute over the role of the train guards. One local resident angered by the frequent closing of the ticked office has reported to Get Surrey that “we have enough passengers ...
A Practical Guide to Interrail
Features

A Practical Guide to Interrail

An article recently published by another media outlet, which I won't name, attracted considerable attention when it stated that a trip Interrailing wasn’t complete unless you had something stolen from you. Whilst the article might have had some useful information, don’t believe the headline for a moment. (more…)
Rail Fare Increase to Hit Royal Holloway Commuters
News

Rail Fare Increase to Hit Royal Holloway Commuters

A rise in train fare prices in England and Wales came into affect on the 2nd January 2015. Regulated fares, including season tickets, increased by on average 2.2%, although some rose by 2.5%. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has tried to justify the increase by citing the need for the vital maintenance and improvement of the country’s rail infrastructure. This major investment in the train industry aims to continue the modernisation to stations, as is happening currently at London Bridge, and to the railways themselves. Although, as the government was quick to point out, the increase is the lowest annual rise in five years, it is higher than the current level of inflation and more than the current increase in annual wages. Britons now pay some of the highest train fares in Europe. ...
News

Egham Station Vendor Forced Out of Business

After 18 years of business at the railway station, selling hot drinks, newspapers and snacks Monday to Saturday, Mohammad Asif Minhas, 60, was was ordered by South West Trains to "move from the premises of Egham Station" by Christmas Eve. Knowing full well that Mr Minhas usually closes for business on Christmas Eve and reopens after New Year, South West Trains forced the vendor to sign an agreement stating the company could evict him from the spot with six months notice: which they did. A spokesman for South West Trains clarified that “As part of plans to deliver major improvements for customers at Egham station, we are introducing a new 'Access for All' funded toilet facility and automatic entrance doors to the main entrance and platform side of the station building.' The current shop ...