c2c Rail - Your comments

Advice for UK Consumers

Calling at Shoeburyness, Thorpe Bay, Southend East, Southend Central, Westcliff, Chalkwell, Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet, Pitsea, Basildon, Laindon, West Horndon, Stanford-le-Hope, East Tilbury, Tilbury Town, Grays, Chafford Hundred, Ockendon, Purfleet, Rainham, Dagenham Dock, Upminster, Barking, Limehouse and Fenchurch Street

We now have a c2c discussion forum, replacing this page as the place to discuss c2c
Visit our new forum

Your comments...

From: David (dave.dobson@crowngroup.co.uk)
Comment: Whe I moved to Stanford Le Hope some two years ago, I was told I would be positioned on what was known as the misery line.
I would like to say that in the past two years, I have suffered only minor delay and are more then pleased with the service I have received. For all those that fear continuous delays when commuting and stay clear of the line, rest assured its the best service in and out of London you could ever want. The trains are comfy and clean and the cost is does not run in to half your salary like some other lines. Go for it and move to south Essex.
Received on: Mon Nov 3 17:06:00 2003 from IP address: 81.137.212.205

From: Paul H (vhba22600@blueyonder.co.uk)
Comment: Has anyone noticed that c2c may be pulling a fast one on the citizens charter. Recently the reliablity figure up to the end of September has dropped quite a lot. I noticed this morning that so had the minimum percentage on the performance chart which triggers the discounts had all of a sudden been lowered so the reliability figure was still over the discount threshold. Funny that, isn't it??? Anyone else noticed this??
Received on: Mon Oct 6 22:59:12 2003 from IP address: 82.34.13.25

From: Geoff (Email)
Comment: Guess what? The service is now so good that discounts on Season tickets will not apply. Oh well, at least I wont have to pass the time waiting for my delayed train trying to guess how much discount I'll receive next year.
Received on: Thu Sep 25 15:53:00 2003 from IP address: 212.137.57.25

From: john dawkins (john.dawkins@publicis.co.uk)
Comment: I have noticed an increasingly 'wobbly' and 'snatchy' ride on my journey into London between Laindon and west Horndon over the last couple of weeks. Work colleagues of mine have also noticed it. It is not my imagination - i have been travelling on this line for 34 years. I e-mailed c2c about this yesterday requesting a prompt reply - which i have not yet had. But this morning my train slowed down to about 30mph at the very point i mentioned - coincidence or what?
Received on: Fri Sep 19 11:19:01 2003 from IP address: 193.201.132.40

From: Derek Lane (Email)
Comment: Its amazing how the various companies that have owned the line get amnesia when it comes to fulfilling promises! I well remember MANY years ago the complaints about the disruption that the fitting of the new signalling caused. The upside was a promise of big improvements with faster trains & later/earlier services via Rainham, as the reason we had none was the prohibitive cost of manning all the signal boxes. We still have none, & a glace at the timetable shows services are slower than with the old signals! LTS rail promising all night services once the new rolling stock was in service. No chance! At least C2C have promised (and delivered) absolutely nothing. LTS instigated the new trains, not them, so If they want to take credit for that (which they seem to) perhaps they can honour the other commitments of their predecessors.
Received on: Tue Aug 12 17:12:32 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Pauline Cridland (Email)
Comment: Okay Frank the trains are cool. However they are not running on time as they should (particularly out of peak), there is no long term planning within the next 7 years to improve the service, no track/line improvements to allow more trains to run via Chafford, the stations are dirty and not cleaned well, c2c have not got enough staff (either clerks or drivers)and although they are improving could still do with a swift kick up the you know where occasionally!

Joking apart, the service cannot improve much more than it is so your wish for better train services via Chafford is not likely to happen in the next 7 years without intervention from the SRA etc. Also for your information c2c are not responsible for running the service on the Romford branch, this belongs to Great Eastern so perhaps you would be better off addressing your complaints to them.

Meanwhile, those of us who campaign for a better service on the c2c routes will continue to do so.
Received on: Tue Aug 12 16:12:07 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Frank Butcher (Email)
Comment: If you don't like it don't use it.
Received on: Tue Aug 12 11:19:46 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Frank Butcher (Email)
Comment: C2C is absolutely fantastic with the best trains for summer - great air conditioning - can't wait to get on the trains. On time most of the time, always get to my destination. However, the connections at Upminster with the Romford train HAS to be improved. Always half hour wait to get to the Chafford branch. All those poxy trains that go to Laindon - what a waist of time - there should be more going to Lakeside and Southend.
Received on: Tue Aug 12 11:17:08 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Jacky MacIsaac (Email)
Comment: I wondered how many of your customers were aware that they will not be able to obtain a duplicate season ticket if they have the misfortune to lose or have stolen their ticket on more than occasion in the ticket's lifetime? I asked c2c if they advised purchasers of this at any time and was emphatically told no as it wouldn't look very good on advertisements and to others waiting to buy tickets! Apparently you can get replacement passports, driving licences etc but c2c expect you to pay again for their overpriced poor service!
Received on: Mon Aug 11 11:46:44 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Pauline Cridland (molesworth@passim.co.uk)
Comment: Thurrock Rail Users Group - AGM
("TRUG")
TRUG will be holding its AGM on Tuesday 2nd September 2003. The venue will be Committee Room 1, Thurrock Council Offices, New Road, Grays. The meeting commences at 7.30 p.m.

All rail travellers on the Branch line are welcome, particularly new members. It costs nothing to join TRUG, which is an organisation run by local rail travellers in conjunction with Thurrock Council and local Councillors. TRUG campaigns for a better deal for all travellers using the Tilbury and Ockendon branch lines. With many important issues on the agenda in the coming few years, TRUG urgently needs input from all rail travellers, both commuter and leisure, to help in their planning and campaigning for train services within the area. If you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to become a member of TRUG please contact me and I will send an email membership form. TRUG is anxious to obtain as many members as possible to show that it has a clear mandate to speak for travellers on the branch lines. We believe strongly in strength through numbers and feel that a strong voice is essential to put across the views of travellers in the local Thurrock areas. There are many issues under current discussion by TRUG including the new fare structures which will come into force next year, late night train services from London and the need for later trains to serve the Purfleet/Ockendon loops, future planning for strengthening services offered via the loops, particularly in connection with the growth of traffic via Chafford Hundred and the plans for the Thames Corridor and Thames Haven and bids for money from the Dartford Crossing revenue which is being made available for transport within the Thurrock area. This is your opportunity to have a say on what you would like to see for the future and also to put forward any points you would like raised. If you are prepared to invest a little of your time by assisting TRUG in collating and collecting information all the better. Please consider giving up an hour or so of your time to attend the AGM - without support from the travelling public TRUG cannot be considered a force when negotiating with the SRA, Regional Passenger Committees and Government officials.

Thank you.

Received on: Mon Jul 28 10:02:44 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Mary (Email)
Comment: Can't really complain about the firemen shutting the line, HOWEVER I can certainly complain about c2c leaving passengers at Purfleet Station for in excess of 2 hours without any sign of the much promised bus! Finally caught a taxi (Cost £15) and the driver told me that there were SIX buses operating a shuttle between Ockendon/Chafford/Grays. He was amazed that there had been NONE AT ALL to Purfleet.

Raised a verbal complaint with c2c on Wednesday and told they didn't need to supply a bus at that stage ...

Also could not use the pre-paid All Zones Card I had bought for Wednesday travel because they had no trains. Grays Station said they could not refund the cash and that I would have to send a letter to Cambridge.

All in all Total Crap as usual ....
Received on: Thu Jul 17 14:38:36 2003 from IP address: 195.217.206.93

From: Andrea Preston (paulpreston1@hotmail.com)
Comment: Appeal for witnesses. On Sunday 3 March 2002 I caught the 19.50 pm C2C train from West Ham to Barking (final destination Southend). I sat in the second carriage from the end. As the train approached Barking Station I got up and stood in the doorwell. The train halted and the female passenger in front pressed the door release button. I followed her off the train. The next minute I felt a sharp blow to the left hand side of my head and body and was sent hurtling across the platform. My impetus forward was stopped by a male and female passenger who shouted out a comment about the doors. I turned round and there was a commotion as passengers from the last carriage rushed to press the release button on the doors which had closed trapping a passenger behind them. Did you see this incident, if so then please contact me as a matter of urgency. I have been left disabled with a worsening head injury which was caused by the doors closing on my head. Thankfully I had a green holdall on my right side which stopped the doors impacting on the right side. C2C's response, they have no record of the incident, despite my having reported the incident to the station official behind the'help and Information' point, telephoning the following day and writing on the Wednesday, illiciting no response.
This could have been a fatal incident and it could be you next time. C2C need to realise a simple fact, train doors should not shut on passengers heads. CAN YOU HELP.
Received on: Thu Jul 17 11:58:04 2003 from IP address: 195.92.67.74

From: Tom ()
Comment: Can someone confirm something I heard from a WAGN employee the other day? Apparently rail companies (I use C2C) are not obliged to include the number of telephoned complaints made to them in the figures they supply as the official number of complaints received each year, BUT they are obliged to include all written complaints? I always write in with my issues and now have a standard letter on my work pc ready to fire off to C2C when the need arises.

If what I have been told is correct then I would urge everyone to write to C2C, not phone them, otherwise thousands of complaints are not being registered each year.
Received on: Thu Jul 17 10:50:55 2003 from IP address: 159.104.212.22

From: Name (Email)
Comment: Yet another day of nightmare journeys. Still no Tilbury line services and to add insult to injury the so called revised service between Pitsea and Grays packs up and is replaced again by buses due to overhead problems at east Tilbury! Basically the whole line is being propped up by a bus service! Wot amazes me is that with all the major disruption we have had in the last few months we will not get any discounts. I love this citizens charter crap! I wonder if they fiddle their books in the same way the reliability figures are but leaving out the really bad days?
Received on: Wed Jul 16 20:54:09 2003 from IP address: 62.30.254.147

From: Name (Email)
Comment: What a F***ing nightmare. Firstly to have no trains but then to be directed to Barking for a Bus which was no where in site!! Utter chaos but then c2c live up to their name yet again crap2crapper.
Received on: Tue Jul 15 20:51:04 2003 from IP address: 62.30.254.147

From: martin (Email@yahoo.com)
Comment: I would love to write what i think about the c2c service but unfortunately i only have an hour & half for lunch,so i will round up what i think:
Over priced tickets for a crap service & a good old saying regarding their helpful staff "pay peanuts,get monkey's". Enjoy your Friday & i hope your not planning on getting home in time!
Received on: Fri Jun 27 13:44:02 2003 from IP address: 195.7.250.136

From: A Heydn (Andrew@Heydn.net)
Comment: All

I think its time to stop ranting at C2C, since this seems to do absolutely no good whatsoever. Certainly complaining at ground roots level is a waste of time and the complaints system would seem to be designed to allow people to complain, not to get anything done about the issues.

Might I suggest that we firstly direct complaints in writing to the CEO for C2C, I am sure someone can give us his home address. Maybe when he sees the issues on his doorstep he will take notice.

Second, I suggest we start banding together to look at the possibility of legal action.
Received on: Tue Jun 24 08:54:08 2003 from IP address: 195.166.96.132

From: A Heydn (Andrew@heydn.net)
Comment: Why after weeks of problems with tickets being overwritten are we still being told that this is not fixed. At Benfleet we are advised not to use the barriers at Fenchurch St as they wipe the stripe on the ticket and at Fenchurch Street they say its "The Crappy machines at Benfleet"
Received on: Tue Jun 24 08:43:53 2003 from IP address: 195.166.96.132

From: Claudine Wykes (claudine_14@hotmail.com)
Comment: On 13 June got to Fenchurch for 19.08; caught 18.50, chucked off, changed platforms, got 19.20 arrived at Grays 20.05. 17 June F'church 19.10, got 19.20 chucked off at Upminster for train to go "mainline" arrived Grays 20.20. 18 June Grays for 8.37, pulled in 8.39 4 carriages!!! 23 June Grays 8.55 problems with overheads and a bag left on a train, next train 9.41. And they say this is an improvement in services!!!!
Received on: Mon Jun 23 16:12:50 2003 from IP address: 195.157.221.17

From: C2C PAYBACK. FIGHT THEM!! (Email)
Comment: If C2C screws up your (or your friends, colleagues, whoevers) journey then make sure to complain to them. They shouldn't get away with such a shit service and we need to make a stand somehow.
I was one of the many people walking the tracks to Laindon station that night (and also on the same stretch of line 2 days previously) - I have complained for each journey and received one reply. The reply from C2C stated that they 'couldn't find the incident you refer to'. Says it all really doesn't it? Maybe something more drastic is called for? If I did my job as badly as C2C do theirs I'd have been sacked immediately.

Received on: Thu Jun 19 17:12:30 2003 from IP address: Unknown

From: Kieran (kieranmcghee@yahoo.co.uk)
Comment: I recently moved to Leigh-On-Sea, and since I still work in London, I sent off a cheque for an Annual Season Ticket starting in June to the C2C ticket office in Sheffield at the start of May (I moved to Leigh on the 23rd May).
On the day we moved I had still had no ticket from C2C, even though the cheque was cashed. I phoned them and found that somehow it had been sent to the correct street but wrong house number. The person who had received this package had done the right thing and sent it back to C2C.
I informed them once again of my correct address, and was told that it would be sent back out to this new address.
I waited over 1 week and received nothing. In this time I phoned their office over 10 times. Each time I was forced to explain the whole story over again, as no-one was able to find any record of my transaction. Also each time I was told that they would call back. They never did.
This was now the start of June. and I had still not received what had been paid for. I finally got to speak to a supervisor, who informed me that it had been lost internally in their system and I would now be issued with a duplicate. They would send out a form to fill, I would return this immediately with a new passport photo and they would send it back to me. I received the form 2 days later and immediately returned it.
I phoned them again 3 days later and asked why I had not received my ticket as I had been informed I would. Again, nobody knew where my form was or my details. Finally, after 5 days I managed to speak to someone who found my details. I asked if it had been sent out in the post, and was told no it hadn't, but it was next in line.
I asked at this point for the name of the Head of Customer Relations. The operative didn't know the name of the person in question.
Then 2 days later I receive a flimsy white envelope in the post, addressed correctly but with my name misspelt. Inside is a One Day Travelcard, but no Photocard and a receipt of sorts with my name misspelt again. There is a Christian name on the receipt so I phone to speak to the person who has, I assume, dealt with my purchase. Unfortunately, for the whole of the next day, she is A. either not in yet, B. busy, C. popped out or D. 'she's left'.
I finally get to speak to someone who tells me that he has spoken to this operative and she has sorted out my details and sent out my ticket.
I eventually pick up my season ticket at my local Post Office along with a photocard where my name is misspelt. precisely two weeks after my season ticket was due to have started.
I have subsequently been told that the head of Customer Relations is a Fay Forster, and I have sent, so far two letters in the space of 8 days and received no replies.
I am absolutely shocked that this sort of incompetence goes on unpunished, the thing that irks me is that a business that helps run part of the transport infrastructure is allowed to operate like a used car dealer.
Has anybody managed to reach a satisfactory conclusion to a problem with C2C?
Regards
Kieran McGhee
Received on: Tue Jun 17 08:54:40 2003 from IP address: 193.201.132.94

From: Paul H (paulhumphreys31@hotmail.com)
Comment: As if the overhead line problems were not enough twice in one day both trains I used stopped short of platforms leaving 3 to 4 coaches of the end of them. The first happened aboard the 7.47 from Stanford le hope which arrived at Rainham on time at 8.12 but the driver forgot he had 8 coaches and the back four ended up off the platform and over the level crossing. Then on the nightmare of a journey home the train which should have been the 17.24 from Limehouse (which arrived around 18.00) stopped short at West Ham. This train was seriously over crowded and the driver activated the doors with the back 3 coaches off the platform!! Thank god no one lent on the open door button otherwise quite a lot of passengers could have fallen either onto the up line to Fenchurch street or down onto the road below as we were on a bridge!
Received on: Sun Jun 1 18:34:43 2003 from IP address: 82.34.8.103

From: Pauline Ilesley (www.pilesley@farrer.co.uk)
Comment: I am thoroughly disgusted with the driver and guard who threw us off of our train after being trapped between West Horndon & Laindon stations for two hours on Friday 23rd May. We were given hardly any information and did not know how long we would be stranded, therefore people forced doors open and started walking along the track which meant that NO trains could move, we were then told by the driver to jump down onto the track and walk to Laindon. He and his guard offered no help to passengers whatsoever with the climb down which was very high and quite daunting (especially to older people like myself who are not so agile), but left it to others, then when we were all out-when asked why they could not have tried to obtain a ladder, we were told that there was one in the carriage cupboard all along. I am so angry at this treatment and think that we should have some kind of compensation for the distress caused.
Received on: Tue May 27 16:54:45 2003 from IP address: 217.169.36.164

From: C2C PAYBACK (c2c_must_pay@yahoo.com)
Comment: I hate c2c. Consistently rude staff, overcrowded trains, skyhigh fares and a total inability to run a half-reasonable train service.

C2C what is wrong with you?? Why aren't there any drivers available? Why do we sit outside stations with no information? Why are trains replatformed without telling the customers? Why does the SAME FAULT KEEP OCCURRING time after time and you DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT?

Received on: Tue May 27 15:47:54 2003 from IP address: 193.117.79.10

From: Paul (Info@stationparking.com)
Comment: Guys, This will help with Commuter parking.

Take a look at www.stationparking.com
Received on: Tue May 13 08:02:09 2003 from IP address: 81.152.133.152

From:Name (Email)
Comment: I know what you mean Darren Lewis
Received on: Wed May 7 15:17:57 2003 from IP address: 195.166.96.132

From: Chris ()
Comment: During the past 4 weeks,I have experienced more and more problems in simply buying my ticket and getting into and out of Grays station.

Passengers are therefore missing their trains.

The problem lies with an insufficient number of employees selling tickets. This isn't helped by the fact that both ticket machines rarely work and the bus station side ticket office is closed. If you can't sort this problem out, we should be able to travel free.

Sort it!
Received on: Wed May 7 10:42:57 2003 from IP address: 195.166.96.132

From: Pauline Cridland (molesworth@passim.co.uk)
Comment: For the past 15 months c2c have offered a ticket called an All Zones All Day Travelcard. This ticket offers the same facility as the Off Peak Travelcard in that it allows multiple journeys within the London Zone Network. This is an innovative ticket which c2c should be applauded for introducing. However c2c are still failing to programme their ticket machines to sell this type of ticket. When the problem was first pointed out to c2c management in January 2002 they assured me that the problem would be rectified and that all ticket machines along the line would be programmed to sell these tickets within 6 months. To date they have still failed to ensure that you can purchase a ticket of this nature at Grays station when the booking office is closed.

c2c should hang their heads in shame that they cannot even ensure that their one specially introduced ticket is readily available.

To all travellers on the c2c Tilbury/Rainham/Ockendon branch lines I would point out the existence of the Thurrock Rail User Group (TRUG). This campaigning action group is there to represent you. If you would like to join it is free. Please contact in the first instance Thurrock Council (Faye Cox, Thurrock Council Transport Unit) and she will provide details of how to join.

Received on: Thu Mar 27 16:10:37 2003 from IP address: 195.217.206.93

From: Name (Email)
Comment: Who is responsible for maintaining the entrance and surround to Ockendon station it is nothing short of a disgrace. there are two old sign post that have been in the same broken position for over ten years, the car park was resurfaced last year and the debris left all over the grass verge areas,. such as they are. The litter is allowed to accumulate for months, the wheely bin by the entrance is always overflowing - get another one! Thurrock council spent hundreds of thousands of pounds planting trees and flowers to make the approach by road to Ockendon more respectable. Anyone arriving by train would think they have arrived at a third world country. It may also be of interest to the authorities concerned that there is also a Rat infestation. Do C2C's insurance carriers know this?
When was the last time any body from c2c in authority visited and inspected the surrounds, we are not talking millions of pounds here, just a bit of concern and common sense.
Received on: Tue Mar 18 17:06:30 2003 from IP address: 194.203.251.194

From: Shirley (Email)
Comment: This is a long post!
On the same vain as Duncan Ireland's comments regarding season tickets....

Since I moved my season ticket from Basildon to Limehouse in Dec 2000 I have encountered sheer incompetence which has cost me a considerable amount of money whilst trying to change/ renew it from rude, lazy, ignorant and downright stupid staff at C2C ticket offices.

Dec 2000
I tried to change my annual ticket from Basildon to Limehouse. I started at Limehouse station, was sent to Fenchurch Street where they apparently deal with such "difficult" issues. Fenchurch sent me to Basildon. Basildon sent me back to Limehouse who sent me back to Fenchurch Street. Fenchurch sent me back to Basildon. All the time this is costing me money due to the value of my existing unutilised train ticket plus travel costs to drive back and forth between these station and most importantly for me, my time. Finally I travelled back to Basildon on a Sunday afternoon and demanded that somebody action my request. By this time I had had over two weeks of running around and listening to crap from lazy staff who can't be bothered to process the change. I am met by "I hope you don't expect me to do this today, leave it here and someone else will do it tomorrow". As if I'm going to do that. How would I travel to work on Monday without my ticket? Why should I waste my evening driving back down the next day to pick it up just because he was too lazy to process the ticket there and then? How stupid are these people?

It took just under 2.5 hrs to get my amended ticket. I lost over £100 because they wouldn't process the change when first requested and wouldn't give me good value for it even though I had requested Fenchurch Street to date stamp the amendment application form the first time I was sent there. To add insult to injury I had to pay upfront for my amended Limehouse - London ticket and then wait over six weeks for the refund due on my Basildon - London ticket. Any sensible person would have issued the ticket and refunded the difference but he [the assistant] wouldn't consider such sensible action.

When I rang the head office four weeks later chasing my refund they told me the assistant at Basildon had been wrong recharge me upfront. Funny that.

October 2002
For the first time in seven years I lost my season ticket. The day after I lost it I went to Fenchurch Street station to report it and request a duplicate. Immediately the girl behind the counter dismissed me, telling me to go to Limehouse and get it done there. I explained that my season ticket is held at Fenchurch Street, (as a by the by, the reason being that the Limehouse ticket office is unofficially closed during peak times approx. 3 evenings each week (the attendant usually being on the payphone outside the building during these times). I pointed out to her that the previous year when it was time to renew I deliberately chose to renew at Fenchurch Street and at that time she had told me to go to Limehouse but I had refused pointing out it was my choice where my ticket was processed and I wanted it done at Fenchurch Street because it was the day before fare rises and when I got to Limehouse I could guarantee the blind would be down and the attendant would be on the public phone. She argued about that saying I was lying and I had to force her to process my ticket. When I got to Limehouse that evening the ticket office was indeed unofficially closed).

Back to 2002. She finally accepted my ticket was issued at Fenchurch Street and I was issued the relevant form to complete and told to return with a £10 admin fee the next day

I returned the next day to be told I didn't hold a season ticket. I argued with her and told her to recheck the computer records again. I was sent away for a further 3 days and told to buy daily tickets. I returned to be told I still didn't hold a season ticket. By now a supervisor was involved. He was emphatic and helpful. I told him the date it was bought and was told to bring in evidence of payment. I returned with a copy of my credit card statement as proof and was told to return in a couple of days. I returned to be told the price paid did not match the season ticket prices. I pointed out that as the ticket was bought in the evening the date the statement was debited was not the date the season ticket was purchased and as the ticket was purchased the day before the fare rises then they could not compare the price paid to ticket prices on the date the statement was debited. They didn't seem to understand this point and sent me away again. I returned to be told they understood the pricing issue but they had now found my details on the computer and could not issue me a new ticket as the ticket was from Limehouse but my address on their system was in Benfleet. I pointed out I had moved twice since leaving Benfleet in 1999, had completed all my season ticket application forms at Limehouse and Fenchurch Street correctly and if they were too lazy to update the details it was not my problem. Again I was sent away.

Finally I received a duplicate ticket over 3 weeks after the original request. During this time I had been buying daily tickets, many of which were retained by the barriers. I returned to the ticket office with my remaining tickets and asked for a refund form. I was given the form and told "here's the form but I hope you don't expect me to deal with those now." This kind of comment is typical of the attitude of C2C ticket staff.

Jan 2003
I tried today to renew my annual season ticket. I approached the counter at Fenchurch Street and stated this adding I didn't have my old ticket with me. Immediately the badgeless girl behind the counter launched into an aggressive tirade of how I couldn't have my renewal discount without the old one to surrender.
I hadn't even mentioned the discount but as she was so rude I thought I'd get stuck into her. I have a collection of old season tickets which have not been requested in the past so was did she want my old one now? She had the details on the computer so knew I was a season ticket holder in 2002. Indeed, she had only a few weeks earlier been as rude and obstructive as possible when I was trying to get a duplicate ticket issued. Why couldn't she just look it up on the computer? To this she said if I could show her my photo card I could have the renewal discount. I pointed out that as it's both logical and sensible to keep the ticket and photocard together that is what I had done so I didn't have the photocard but offered another photo to make up a new id card, what was the big deal? Apparently that wasn't good enough as she didn't know for sure I was who I said I was. I offered various forms of ID which would be sufficient in any high street store or bank to get credit and this wasn't proof enough as it wasn't photo id. I offered my work pass clearly showing my name and photo and this wasn't good enough.

Whenever I have renewed my ticket over the last seven years I have just completed the form, the details of which have (apparently) been input into the computer, and a new ticket has been issued which I have kept along with my old ones and photo card.

She ended by stating she wasn't responsible for looking after my ticket and without the old one I would have to pay £408 versus the £268 I paid last year. I told her the DLR is only £600 for a frequent, reliable service so she could forget it. I asked for the name I should complain to and she told me to get a "voice" form from the information desk. As if I'm dumb enough to waste my time filling that in for her to put it straight in the bin as soon as I handed it back in at the station. I'll go direct.

Received on: Sun Jan 5 22:59:02 2003 from IP address: 62.60.74.190

From: jayne ()
Comment: has anyone actually ever got information from the c2c information line?
i called them a couple of weeks when Fenchurch St was shut at about 6pm. i was told that the station wasn't shut (must be my imagination then) but then i managed to convince them that it was.
i was then told that they didn't know why, couldn't tell me for how long I'd be stuck in the rain for, what the problem was or if my ticket was valid on the Liverpool St line. so i gave up and decided to get the underground to Upminster and get a cab home from there.
there was an announcement at tower hill that Fenchurch St was shut and they didn't know when it would be re-opening.
so my advice is, don't waste your time calling c2c!!! as they haven't a clue about anything - but i guess we all knew that anyway!!
Received on: Thu Dec 12 10:57:13 2002 from IP address: 62.72.46.2

From: Derek Lane (derek_lane@hotmail.com)
Comment: Why can't C2C send accurate info to the screens at West Ham? Every time there's a problem, requiring services to start from Barking, they all show as CANCELLED at West Ham!
Received on: Tue Dec 3 13:02:51 2002 from IP address: 217.39.46.73

From: John Duffy (John.Duffy@ubsw.com)
Comment: Has anyone else noticed that through a masterpiece of design, the doors on the new trains open exactly in front of the various seats dotted around the platform? This means that at peak times, the gap between the seats and the trains is packed solid with people waiting for the train, so it is extremely difficult to get past, leading some individuals to walk along OUTSIDE the yellow line. Surely this in not something thatC2C can be happy with? Why don't they move the seats?
Received on: Fri Nov 22 14:13:11 2002 from IP address: 139.149.1.195

From: Chris (ct_collins@hotmail.com)
Comment: Why is the Tilbury loop so pants at the weekend? If it isn't closed for'essential engineering works', the trains are just non existent. Also why do they go so slow between Chafford and Upminster.
Received on: Fri Nov 15 13:13:05 2002 from IP address: 193.35.125.3

From: Laura Bedford (anansie_uk@yahoo.co.uk)
Comment: C2C is the best train service I have ever been on. The trains were all on time with no graffiti or rubbish at all. The trains also had a colourful and modern design. All staff were friendly and helpful.
Received on: Wed Nov 6 02:05:02 2002 from IP address: 62.31.224.2

From: andy (Email)
Comment: 30/10/02 7.12 Southend East to Fenchurch St. Where was it? Never showed up, no announcement. 7.15 arrived 7.21, was packed by the time it got to London.
Received on: Wed Oct 30 09:54:54 2002 from IP address: 62.140.196.133

From: Name (darren.lewis1@ntlworld.com)
Comment: 18.20 Fenchurch St to Shoeburyness- we keep meeting but never say anything- there's something going on between us but I know you're too scared to talk. You cross your arms so no one knows. Don't be scared.

You know where I'll be.
Received on: Tue Sep 24 20:28:14 2002 from IP address: 62.253.64.8

From: Joe (joe@21fun.co.uk)
Comment: I'm a c2c driver and if there's any questions email me.
Received on: Wed Sep 4 15:50:19 2002 from IP address: 80.225.197.36

Date: Sat Aug 31 09:17:29 2002
From: Duncan Ireland (irelanddj@yahoo.co.uk)
Comment: The station screwed up my monthly ticket renewal, and put the transaction through twice. I was charged twice on my account, and am told that it will take 2-3 weeks to receive a refund. I explained that without this money I would have difficulty meeting my monthly financial commitments, only to be met with "there's nothing we can do - you'll have to wait". They don't understand the people's real world commitments can't be put off for 2-3 weeks. I'll be progressing this issue with my local paper and the consumer watchdogs!

Date: Mon Jul 8 17:24:02 2002
From: Save Our Railways (saveourrailways@hotmail.com)
Comment: This site & hundreds of others for campaigners and general railway information
are listed at http://www.saveourrailways.com. Our lively forum is online now!

Date: Mon May 27 00:15:32 2002
From: mike (mike@microlyn.com)
Comment: A useful link on your site would be
www.peoplespage.info

Date: Sun Apr 28 19:56:56 2002
From: AJB (bishoaj@hotmail.com)
Comment: I attended the recent AGM of the SRTA. This was the first meeting I had ever attended and can only describe the proceedings as dreadful. c2c were only available for one hour so what did the chairman do? He insists on wasting time introducing all the people on the top table, even though their name plates were there for all to see. He then creates embarrassment when he doesn't actually know the names of all these people. He then stands up and delivers one of the worse examples of public speaking I have ever seen. His points were rambling and poorly made. Eventually he sits down and passes over to David Taylor who spoke openly and honestly and was interesting. With over half of the c2c time now used up the chairman then finally opens the meeting up to the floor with many people keen to ask questions. The chairman insists on all questions going through the chair and even tries to answer some of them despite having the general manager of the company there who could give a much better informed answer. The co-chair interrupts David Taylor at one point just to get the name and station of the person asking the question. Inevitably time ran out with many people unable to ask the questions they wanted. People went to hear what c2c had to say not to watch the chairman blunder through the proceedings and waste the limited time that c2c were prepared to allot to the evening. And as for the leak to the local press of the £20 million - sure it is not good news but National Express haven't got the money and the deal has been brokered with the SRA so regardless of the rights and wrongs the chances of now getting the money must be pretty close to zero. The meeting was happy to criticise c2c but the SRTA needs to look closely at its own proceedings if you want to attract new members to the association as the events of last Monday were a wasted opportunity for everyone to make the most of access to the people who actually run the rail company we all use.

Date: Tue Feb 26 10:06:07 2002
From: Siân (sianclawrence@yahoo.com)
Comment: The boycott is a start but we need to make our voice heard. How about on one particular day all commuters send a postcard to the Minister of Transport (whoever that may be) with details of their train journey/ies. This shouldn't be too hard on finances as lots of places offer free postcards and a second class stamp only costs 19p.

Date: Wed Jan 2 21:34:51 2002
From: Paul Nelson (atwbt@mailandnews.com)
Comment: A great start to the year - 15 minute delay this morning due to THREE train failures, then the 1820 cancelled due to train failure. My journey was 50% longer. Happy New Year c2c...

This site is not run or endorsed by c2c. Consumerdeals cannot be held responsible for any comments posted by visitors to this site. Please refer to our disclaimer.

c2c Discussion Forum | c2c Mailing List | Back to c2c page

Bookmark this page:

Del.icio.us |

Digg |

StumbleUpon |

Technorati |

Facebook