Ben
@bens2477
Followers
1,126
Following
610
Media
991
Statuses
5,627
🚂 Young Talent Rail Apprentice at South Western Railway (SWR) • Transport Enthusiast • All views are my own and not of SWR.
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Joined June 2021
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🌈Happy but nervous to finally to do this...
Today, I am publicly coming out as gay. This has been an extremely difficult journey for me but I have finally got the confidence to come out
I also am extremely happy to say I have a boyfriend, I will reveal who it is in due course!
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If you've replied to this thank you so much! I'm trying to reply to all of them but obviously because I wasn't expecting anywhere near this level of support it's taking me longer than I thought it would 😂
Absolutely blown away by the support yesterday, again thanks so much!
🌈Happy but nervous to finally to do this...
Today, I am publicly coming out as gay. This has been an extremely difficult journey for me but I have finally got the confidence to come out
I also am extremely happy to say I have a boyfriend, I will reveal who it is in due course!
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Trainline ads on the ticket gates at Bournemouth 😭
Can we PLEASE stop encouraging apps which cause so many problems???
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Currently wondering why SWR has added a message saying "Tickets purchased with a railcard are not valid on this service" to their screens?
I think it may be about the time restriction on some railcards but it really could be clearer
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Can any train drivers confirm, if you drive past a house with Sky TV do you get to finish your shift at the next station and if it starts raining during your break you get to restart it?
Equally, because of the "Spanish working practices", do you get free paella on your break?
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TOCs really need to hire more of their own gateline staff, having agency just doesn't work. I had to explain what delay repay was to one yesterday when asking to keep my ticket...
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What's the end of this phrase?
See it, say it, ______
(wrong answers only)
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1000 followers, thank you so much!
Genuinely so surprised at how many people replied and followed after I came out and I really hope that it inspires others to do the same. It's taken so much weight off my shoulders.
Thank you again, I never thought I'd hit this milestone!
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Glad that SWR has announced that all Weymouth services will be 15 carriages to Bournemouth, will really help capacity
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School done! I am extremely happy to announce that in September I will be joining South Western Railway's Resources team at Bournemouth as an apprentice.
It has been a long journey to get to this stage, but I'd like to thank every single person who has helped me get here.
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Because it's trans day of visibility, anyone got any good photos of pride trains? Trying to make a trainbow thread!
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More Trainline advertising, this time in a 444 vestibule.
Make it stop... this app removes money from the industry, charges fees the TOCs don't, makes up train times and had an extraordinarily suspicious role in the ticket office closures.
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Honestly the railway needs to take revenue protection more seriously. Went all the way from Manchester to Bournemouth with no ticket check recently. We really need more RPIs, new gatelines and existing ones staffed at least at peak times.
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I know I'm late, I was trying to find a pride train today but didn't manage :(
Happy pride month to everyone else in the LGBTQIA+ community, you all bring so much to the community and are always welcome in it 🌈
We won't stop until we've truly achieved equality
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Like many others, I was shocked to see the abuse directed towards one of the kindest and most genuine people in this community a couple of days ago when they had the courage to come out.
My support is fully with them, incidents like this show why pride is so important.
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So with the paperwork almost complete, I think it's time to reveal what I've got planned!
In May, I'll be joining the team at Govia Thameslink Railway for a work experience placement. Feels very surreal actually getting a place at a TOC because I've tried with quite a few!
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Is there some form of new law that means that caps on plastic bottles cannot fully detach from the bottle, it's so annoying!
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I know I've already done one of these but thanks so much everyone for your support - it's so much more than I thought I'd get and I'm so confident I made the right decision!
I've gone through and tried to like as many replies as possible but due...
🌈Happy but nervous to finally to do this...
Today, I am publicly coming out as gay. This has been an extremely difficult journey for me but I have finally got the confidence to come out
I also am extremely happy to say I have a boyfriend, I will reveal who it is in due course!
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3 derailments in the space of a month. We're cutting it unbelievably fine here, I dread to think what we could see due to
@Mark_J_Harper
's NetworkRail funding cuts.
#RailCutsCostLives
@RMTunion
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701 first impressions: Wow what a train! The seats actually aren't bad, legroom is pretty good, air conditioning and heating.
These will be a real upgrade for passengers on SWR!
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My (cis person)'s view on trans rights: Why is it our business? Surely we should just leave transgender people to be who they truly are?
It doesn't affect anyone else and it shouldn't be anyone else's decision.
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This would have been a good April Fools if I made it earlier 😂
Oh look at this new announcement I saw on the 158s the other day
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Very important phone call complete and it's what I wanted!
Never thought I'd make it to this stage!
(screenshot is awkwardly cropped as to not show the date/time)
Morning everyone, it's Thursday and for me it's the last day of the week!
Should be getting a very important phone call today or tomorrow 👀
Anyway, have a great day everyone! (Photo from a couple days ago)
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Sorry but this strikes me as unnecessary and aggressive - passengers who do have tickets could be quite insulted that they're effectively being asked "Are you a criminal?" and fare evaders will just ignore it.
I of course oppose fare evasion but this is just too far
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So the UK has only made 1 rolling stock order since 2019 which is extremely disappointing and bad for the industry.
In your view, what trains should we order and what should they replace?
I'll start - something to replace the turbos on Cardiff to Portsmouth
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You can WHAT 😭
In all seriousness please don't go off at XC's social team for this they're incredible and probably under pressure which causes replies like this 😂
@SophieLizzieJxo
You can eat the children in any of the seats you have reserved as you so choose. ^SR
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Really nice sign at Dorchester South yesterday, still incredible how we
#SavedTicketOffices
.
Ironically the plan to close them got me using them, and with the amazing service you get I haven't stopped 😂
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Absolutely unacceptable. Ticket offices are a vital service assisting customers who can't travel any other way. We really don't want to send even more people away from the railway, do we?
🚨 Industry sources tell us that operators have been secretly preparing for mass ticket office closures since early June. The DfT wants these plans to be announced as soon as NEXT WEEK.
Pls RT and tell
@Mark_J_Harper
he'll have a massive fight on his hands if he goes ahead.
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Periodic reminder not to use Trainline and book directly through your train operator, remember every TOC can sell tickets for any journey in Britain, not just on their own trains!
Trainsplit is also another option, I've never had an issue with them!
Dear
@thetrainline
,
I’ve just tried to amend one leg of an upcoming journey from one off-peak time to another off-peak time.
The extra charge for the amended ticket was £39 - bad enough - but you also wanted a SEVENTY QUID admin fee.
Explain this daylight robbery.
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Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. It's important to remember that these problems are still sadly very real and I have experienced abuse myself and know many other people who have too.
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🌈 Another reminder that I fully stand with the LGBTQIA+ community, always here for a chat if needed if it's getting difficult.
Remember, the GC 'community' are a VERY loud minority. Most of us, including me, fully support the trans community 🏳️⚧️
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Isn't it incredible that when a train's cancelled due to something which is very much the fault of the industry, the TOC won't organise ticket acceptance or anything and just go "yeah get the one an hour later" when I actually needed that train!
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📍The best London terminal (no argument)
I rather like this photo from earlier
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Well hello from Reading. No clue how long I'll be here, could be an hour, could be until tomorrow.
We'll see. All I know is nothings working and there's no way to get back to Bournemouth.
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Random question I've been wondering about, what station has direct trains to the most stations?
Probably Manchester Piccadilly or something to be honest
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Hopefully we'll see these in service soon! (Not at the station this photo was took at though!)
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The MoD have confirmed to me in a FOI request that the station is open for the public to use and the signs are incorrect and are being changed.
If you're visiting Lympstone Commando soon I'd recommend you save their response (attached) to your phone to show if needed.
Lympstone Commando ✅
53/444 in 2024
Yeah this is one of those ones where you're just glad you don't have to go back to be honest!
Guard was fine with it though, but if you go expect someone to magically appear out of that hut by the exit to tell you off 😂
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"hi the air con is too cold and my train is full and standing"
"what service are you on"
"NOT TELLING YOU"
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So I won't be on here much for a bit, school once again has reminded me how little they care about my mental health condition and parents similarly do not care.
Today was sadly the closest I've come to acting on thoughts which have troubled me for years.
Schools must do better
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Following on from my tweet earlier I've realised I haven't exactly been that clear about how this all happened 😂
53 days ago, on the 22nd April, I sent in my applications for various apprenticeships at South Western Railway (SWR), my local train operator.
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(I must clarify that this is sarcastic, I do and always will support our drivers and the challenging role they do)
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So we've now had 2 derailments in 2 and a half weeks.
This worryingly seems to be becoming a theme
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Just saying...
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BREAKING: Defibrillators are... woke?
Why are there now public defibrillators everywhere in the UK?
Does anyone know of a single person that has been publicly defibrillated?
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Sadly Alstom's Litchurch Lane works could close as soon as Thursday with 3,000 direct job losses and a further 12,000-15,000 through the supply chain
Once the factory closes, there's likely no going back
A sad example of our incompetent
@transportgovuk
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AQA THAT LANGUAGE PAPER WAS AMAZING
WHOEVER MADE IT ABOUT TRAINS
YOU ARE A LEGEND
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Time for a couple of train reviews as well!
CLASS 720 (Greater Anglia)
Well it's an awful interior and the train is quite loud... good luck getting down the aisle without hitting your bag against every seat 😂
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Once again, can people stop using the lives of trans people as political points. These are people who are struggling enough from gender dysphoria and don't need pressure from others deciding whether they deserve equal rights. They of course do.
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How dare southern and Thameslink run a service! The entire railway should stop when a steam train is in a 5 mile radius obviously!
Guys excitement seeing a steam train turns sour real fast
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I don't tend to do these type of posts but it turns out I've also passed 400 followers!
Thank you everyone for your support, it means a lot! Onwards to 500 I guess, will that be before or after I start at GTR?
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While the railway is a great hobby, can certain enthusiasts please remember that its primary purpose is for passengers and not enthusiasts.
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Hello I exist!
After heading to SWR's meet the manager at Salisbury it's time to head home. Having got to Southampton it's the one and only 444019 taking me to Bournemouth!
Might even say it's fitting... if you know you know!
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Like genuinely this same app causes so many issues for railway staff, charges a booking fee and promotes itself as official even though it is nowhere near. Advertising it on ticket gates just pushes the "Trainline is the only way to buy your tickets" line
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Lympstone Commando ✅
53/444 in 2024
Yeah this is one of those ones where you're just glad you don't have to go back to be honest!
Guard was fine with it though, but if you go expect someone to magically appear out of that hut by the exit to tell you off 😂
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Sad to see passengers being turned away from the railway like this. However, it's important to clarify that the fault for our train services being unreliable is not with operators, but with the DfT.
Since COVID, all train operating companies (TOCs) have been running on...
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Can a machine help a passenger lost in our complicated ticket system? No.
Can a machine issue rovers, plusbus (retrospectively) and many other tickets? No.
Can a machine help a vulnerable passenger? No
Can a machine issue advance tickets to those without computers? No.
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Thought I'd make a concept of what it would look like if SWR had those TV screen style PIS systems
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There's an infinite amount of reasons why we need ticket offices. They're not "old-fashioned", we still need them every day. The DfT eventually wants to remove almost all staff from the railway, which would make it unsafe, unfriendly and overall a poor alternative to other modes.
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Just got a 64p rail travel voucher... can't wait for the fun handing that over to a ticket office 😂
"Oh, I also have the world's most pointless rail travel voucher"
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Time to head home (not on this train, I've got a bus!)
Thanks to
@abstractgamer7
and
@EthanAfro
for coming down to the coast as well as
@SWTrainspotter
for heading slightly further up the coast!
Thanks for a great day all, next train trip Wednesday!
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OK I'll say what I did!
I had an assessment with SWR recruitment, I think it went quite well and hopefully can be the start of a career on the railway!
I'll have a further update next week!
What a day! Great to see
@adamdoesphoto
,
@SWTrainspotter
and
@All_UK_Stations
and get a few stations on the way back. Thanks all for a great day!
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Well hello London, my new home for 1 week only!
This should be an incredible week full of trains, as well as finding out about GTR behind the scenes! Thanks to
@SWTrainspotter
and
@abstractgamer7
for joining me briefly on my way up earlier.
Day 1 of 4 with GTR begins tomorrow!
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I can't help but think this is the one place you don't need to put an advert about visiting Bournemouth...
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phew, mum said she'd vote reform but she isn't registered to vote so I just reminded her she couldn't vote as she didn't register :)
now to try and convince her why voting reform is a stupid idea
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Northern's journeycheck really shows the state of the railway right now...
- Landslip
- Landslip
- Derailed train
- Safety inspection of the track
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If you could bring back 1 service that used to exist from your local station but doesn't now, what would it be?
For me it'd probably be the Poole stopping services
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Made it onto the train! Absolutely rammed, 9 people in this vestibule 😭
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444019 in what surely must be one of the most photogenic stations on the SWML!
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@HuwMerriman
This upgrade was started years before you scrapped HS2 and you know it. Stop lying.
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Looks like Poole Bus Station has got some shiny new departure boards, a massive improvement over when it had very limited passenger information!
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Absolutely rammed this is, might need to start looking into where I'd be able to stand in the vestibule
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Well hello from Reading! I'm on the
@HastingsDiesels
#CogloadClimber
railtour with
@SWTrainspotter
.
Really looking forward to this!
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Concerning, we as a country are consistently cutting this way too fine in these two examples as well as what happened on the SWML last Monday, it was pure luck that wasn't a complete disaster
This country is sleepwalking towards the next big rail disaster. Two landslides in a week (Oakengates and now Pontefract). Maintainance funding has been cut time and time again, and this is where we're at.
How long before a train ends up down a bank??
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"Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "This is a significant intervention by the government to cap the increase in rail fares below last year's rise. "
No, its RPI+1% as usual. Your "significant intervention" doesn't exist clearly.
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Evening
@AvantiWestCoast
, are you aware of the below accounts impersonating you as well as
@WestAvanti7
? Thanks! There's so many of them it's worrying, searching "Avanti" brings up so many!
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Witnessed this conversation a few weeks ago (C is customer, S is gateline staff member)
C: Hi is the 1222 to Waterloo running? Trainline emailed me to say it was cancelled
S: Hi, it's running yes, should be arriving any moment now
*announcement plays and train arrives*
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A new takeaway has opened near me, it sells Chinese food and fish and chips. As a half British half Chinese person, I'm speechless and offended.
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Most ridiculous tweet I've seen in a long while. Threatening to report people to employers because they respond to your abuse is harassment. So is using fake aliases to message people's mothers. If that isn't your definition of harassment, have another look into it.
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Schools should instantly fail an Ofsted inspection if it's found out that they briefed all the students on what to say
Not much use asking students for their opinion if the school is pressuring them to say a certain thing
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