Published on 12, July, 2020
Just letting off steam... Not diagnosed autistic (yet), but this is the sort of thing which happens to me.
I had to undertake a relatively short (hour or so) train journey at the weekend. Signalling failure meant that there were loads of cancellations. When services resumed obviously there was a massive backlog of people which meant that trains were rammed. Instead of sitting down I spent the journey standing, pressed hard against others. Added to this there was the constant noise of groups of people talking all at once. At every stop, more people would attempt to squeeze into the already packed carriage. Inevitably, the journey took much longer than it was supposed to. By the time I reached my destination, I was pretty well shut down and it took me several minutes before I even realised that we were at the terminus where I was supposed to get off. Shuffling out of the station amid the crowds, trying to avoid any more physical contact with people, I would flinch whenever anyone so much as brushed against me. Outside the station I had to leave my group immediately and get as far as possible from the crowds to try to decompress. Having been shaking physically to the point that I thought I was going to collapse, I eventually recovered to the point where I was just twitching internally, and finally back to "normal".Now, this may not be autism, but it's one of the things which leads some people to suspect it.
I used to travel by coach a lot, but it's got harder as coaches don't go to as many places as they used too. It might be a set number of passengers, but being squeezed into a coach seat with someone who takes up half of your seat and snores is no fun. Nor is being surrounded by people with headphones and all you can hear is biddly biddly noises all night.
Organised labour means a greater likelihood of a fairer distribution of wealth.
This is why I travel in England and Scotland by coach. You can travel overnight, and it's a set number of passengers.
Same is true with the US Unions.
No wonder all production went to Asia. Organised Labour is, indeed, the road to Hell paved with good intentions.
this is why I will always be a car user I can pick the times do my own diverts stop for break etc
it is but it was alos rubbish when British rail in my view the unions are a lot to do with the problems
Whether it is Autism or not I share your pain.I mainly drive because of what happens with you seems to happen with me.i find with the trains if i can get a train running on time get a seat and read my paper happy days.
I am afraid all governments are useless with trains and all the unions want is more money to run a useless service.
Instead of levelling up and expensive projects I would immediately fund independent local transport to get lines re opened trams etc.I would also separate this one tk not go to councils that would screw it up.The mayors seem the best route ?
Three weeks ago, it took me six hours to get from Cambridge to Worcester on the train. Last week, my train from Winnersh to Waterloo was delayed by over two hours. £25 for the privilege of receiving this 'service'. I get stressed just thinking about getting the train. Unbelievably bad in the sixth richest country in the world. Even my wife (no Communist) says, 'It's all to do with privatisation.'
Travelling is no fun anymore, no matter how you journey, its fraught with delays.
I think trains ought to have a maximum passenger number like buses do, it can't be safe having people rammed in like sardines. The other thing that annoys me about train journeys' is all the empty seats that have been booked but are never used. Rail travel is so expensive and to not even get a seat and have to stand for ages is ridiculous, theres a lack of luggage space too. I used to travel on by train from Reading to Eastbourne changing at Gatwick airport, the first part was fine, but the train to Gatwick never had enough luggage space and people had lots of luggage as you'd expect for a train going to a large international airport. How does this country manage to get it all so wrong when other countries manage it so well?
What a rough trip (both the transport conditions / poor service and the internal experience).
Never a nice thing to battle through.
Well done; for being able to step away from your Group to take the necessary decompression time to look after yourself (it doesn't always feel easiest to do so).
Wishing you a smoother experience for your next similar journey.
I totally relate.
The possibility of this makes me fearful of journeys. My wife is always a bit "that wasn't so bad was it?", but my anxiety beforehand is mostly for if it goes wrong, like you describe. She travels loads more than me, and her trains get cancelled so many times. No phrase makes me feel sicker than "replacement bus service"