Once again we had just a four coach train back from London this afternoon, instead of an eight coach train. It was packed, with passengers standing all the way to Headcorn. And with his apologies the guard repeatedly told us that the train would go to Canterbury with passengers for the coast having to change at Ashford.
And, again, as we got to Ashford, the coast bound passengers all got off and then got back on again - with others waiting there - as the platform announcements were that the train was going to Folkestone and Dover. What was not reassuring was that as these platform announcements were being made, the driver was announcing to the train that it was going to Canterbury. Passengers didn't know what to do with some sticking to their seats - it was still full and standing - and others milling at the door.
It was not just the passengers. Being at the front of the train it was not difficult to hear the driver and the platform staff having a row. The driver was insisting to them that he was going to Canterbury while the platform staff were telling him he was going to Dover. So how was the poor passenger to tell?
Just before the train actually left a truce was declared with the platform staff winning. This resulted in all the Canterbury passengers having to hurry off and push through the standing passengers at the vestibule to get off and avoid being whisked away to places they didn't want to go to.
What a shambles, and nothing that couldn't have been avoided with a bit of communication and thought in advance.
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