Snow

[Wanted Man]

As always in the Netherlands, as soon as a single snowflake falls, public transport is fucked. Buses not running, only 15% of the trains, etc. Pathetic. A couple of weeks ago, the German rail company Deutsche Bahn issued a press release in which they offered to "help us out" by showing the Dutch companies how to deal with winter weather, considering that nearly all German trains run on time in similar conditions. :lol: Now, snow has fallen again, so perhaps they should take the Germans up on their offer.

Fuck privatised public transport.

[NecroCommie]

We have been laughing our asses out at southern europe because of this phenomenon. Our public transportation is somewhat on time at -25 celsius and in the middle of a fucking apocalyptic snow storm.

[Wanted Man]

Yeah man. The railways here should allow the Germans (or Scandinavians) to help us out. It's only fair. The Dutch railways were also very helpful to the Germans 65 years ago. ;)

Anyway, experts argue that all of these problems are not inevitable, but were directly caused by privatisation. Before the privatisation, the rail company and its entire staff were directly responsible for small maintenance (getting rid of snow, making sure the switches are still operational, etc.), but it has since been outsourced to private companies who can't respond to situations quickly, because they need to send out a van to the location in the middle of the bad weather.

The experts go on to say that "When snow falls, it's like the railways are hit by the Plagues of Egypt, but nothing could be further from the truth; they are simply ill-prepared." (http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article2945878.ece/Een_lik_vet_op_de_rails_zou_al_wonderen_doen_.html )

A typical image of these times:

http://www.destentor.nl/multimedia/archive/01322/ST_9890016_9890016_1322469b.jpg

"Advisory: if at all possible, do not use the train." :lol:

[Honggweilo]

A couple of weeks ago, the German rail company Deutsche Bahn issued a press release in which they offered to "help us out" by showing the Dutch companies how to deal with winter weather, considering that nearly all German trains run on time in similar conditions. http://www.revleft.com/vb/../revleft/smilies2/laugh.gif Now, snow has fallen again, so perhaps they should take the Germans up on their offer. Because when the Germans ran things around here, all trains were running on time right :laugh:

[Panda Tse Tung]

That was Italy, but nice try anyway :p.

[RedStarOverChina]

I used to like winter. Almost had an accident out on the road half an hour ago...I'd surely have died if it weren't for the quick wit I didn't know I had.

[Dr Mindbender]

I used to like winter. Almost had an accident out on the road half an hour ago...I'd surely have died if it weren't for the quick wit I didn't know I had.

shit...what happened?

[RedStarOverChina]

shit...what happened?
It's Canada. Ice and snow on the road, and I didnt have snow tires. My car was spinning on the road like a Ballet dancer---On the wrong lane, with a car driving towards me at 90 Kph...So I drove into the ditch to prevent being hit. Took me a while to get out, though.

[Tyrlop]

we have the same problem here in denmark, DSB (Danish State Rails) have rails in most of denmark that are almost too old to use but still they use them, they want to privatize the railway and if they use money on renovating then the budget will go down and then the state wont be able to privatize it to a high prize. also the reason the tickets cost 100 - 500 Kroners.
and our trains fucking stink, when its snow its allways delayed, when the weather is normal they are also delayed because the trains are not allowed to drive to fast because of old rails that can break. and when its a little bit hot the trains have to drive extremely slow and not only that but our trains have ernomious big windows which is good but when its hot they work as a greenhouse, and the capitalists have removed the openable windows that the trains had in the 50's and 60's because morons used to throw the seats out of the windows. so you're trapped in this extremly hot train which is usually full of people because there is not enough waggons and you cant open the windows only some small ones at the top, and the ticket costs 100 kroners which is about 20 euros.. if you want to drive to jutland with the train it is cheaper to take the airplane to berlin. even tough jutland is much closer. fucking goatssuckers capitalist pigs

[NecroCommie]

Finnish state owns the only railway company here, so it can pretty much dictate what it does and what it doesn't. That single railway company is quite obviously in charge of maintenance. Only the hardest of storms cause delays.

[Guerrilla22]

At least y'all have public transportation.

[RedAnarchist]

In Britain it's always chaos when we have wintry weather. You would think that we would have some sort of system in place, but we don't. This is in a country as far north as Scandinavia.

[BobKKKindle$]

No-one living in continental Europe has the right to complain about their own public transport unless they've sampled Britain's.

[Sasha]

No-one living in continental Europe has the right to complain about their own public transport unless they've sampled Britain's.

you know who owns the worst parts of former british rail? dutch rail....

[Vendetta]

It's been a long, long time since I've seen snow.

But I don't miss it, really.

[Wanted Man]

No-one living in continental Europe has the right to complain about their own public transport unless they've sampled Britain's.

I have made a couple of trips by Scotrail. It's pretty expensive, even by Dutch standards. But that's partly because I travelled on two different days, so the ticket was probably more expensive than a day return. All in all, I think train travel in the UK and the Netherlands is about equally expensive.

Still, I thought the travelling experience was somewhat more comfortable than over here. Slightly better seating, toilets, service, etc. Not much, but still.

[Dr Mindbender]

I have made a couple of trips by Scotrail. It's pretty expensive, even by Dutch standards. But that's partly because I travelled on two different days, so the ticket was probably more expensive than a day return. All in all, I think train travel in the UK and the Netherlands is about equally expensive.

Still, I thought the travelling experience was somewhat more comfortable than over here. Slightly better seating, toilets, service, etc. Not much, but still.

its not a true acid test unless youve spent a couple of weeks depending on it for your commute to work.

If the train was punctual or didnt derail that day you probably just got lucky.

[Ravachol]

I have made a couple of trips by Scotrail. It's pretty expensive, even by Dutch standards. But that's partly because I travelled on two different days, so the ticket was probably more expensive than a day return. All in all, I think train travel in the UK and the Netherlands is about equally expensive.

Still, I thought the travelling experience was somewhat more comfortable than over here. Slightly better seating, toilets, service, etc. Not much, but still.

It's expensive as hell in Scotland, but the travelling experience was a LOT better. Especially if you compare it with the public transport in the south of the Netherlands. Also, the trains didn't get delayed and such. Here in the Netherlands, it's hell on earth when it comes to delays. That in combination with the fact that I'm usually rather late myself makes travelling by public transport (which I do a lot, like, really a lot) pretty frustrating.

[Sam_b]

It's expensive as hell in Scotland, but the travelling experience was a LOT better. Especially if you compare it with the public transport in the south of the Netherlands. Also, the trains didn't get delayed and such

Our public transport tends to suck, seriously. Especially outside of Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Weather is fucked up here seriously. Went into the pub at 1 for a pint, came out at 2 and whoah its snowville.

I'm pretty drunk, I apologise.

[Wanted Man]

I used the buses in Edinburgh quite a bit to get to the city centre. At least they ran often enough. I didn't try any public transport in Aberdeen, instead ending up in the back of a taxi making out with a girl, and she paid for it. :thumbup1:

I got to Aberdeen by train from Edinburgh, which was comfortable enough. At least there's a nice view outside. Next time I'm in Scotland, I definitely want to see the West Highland Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Highland_Line).

[RedAnarchist]

It's snowing again. One of the very worst things is when the snow turns to ice and you can barely walk anywhere without slipping.

[Absolut]

Compared to your stories, public transportation in Sweden is awesome. A week or so before christmas, we were hit by a snowstorm, around a decimeter of snow in 24 hours. The buses were around 10-15 minutes late in the morning, but by the end of the day, they were running as usual. I dont know about the trains though, I only went by train after christmas, when the skies had cleared up, the train wasnt more than five minutes late.

[Lyev]

It's always funny when British people encounter snow. The country halts to a bloody stand still and every complains and acts as if they've never seen snow before in their lives (I'm not claiming I'm an exception to this though). We got let out of school early today because the buses came early as they didn't want to risk it when the snow intensified. Apparently there's going to be 10 cm here overnight :)

[BOZG]

No-one living in continental Europe has the right to complain about their own public transport unless they've sampled Britain's.

In fairness now, Irish public transport is worse than Britain. Because you sometimes get snow, you can at least attempt to deal with. They just hope it melts quickly here. My bus doesn't actually go to the terminus at the moment because it's too dangerous for the bus to go past the last 3 or 4 stops and they will only clear or grit main roads.

[BOZG]

As always in the Netherlands, as soon as a single snowflake falls, public transport is fucked. Buses not running, only 15% of the trains, etc. Pathetic. A couple of weeks ago, the German rail company Deutsche Bahn issued a press release in which they offered to "help us out" by showing the Dutch companies how to deal with winter weather, considering that nearly all German trains run on time in similar conditions. :lol: Now, snow has fallen again, so perhaps they should take the Germans up on their offer.

Fuck privatised public transport.

How much snow was there?

Dublin Airport has basically ground to a halt on two days in the past week because of about 2cm of snow.

[Angry Young Man]

It never bloody snows in Bristol. I should have paid closer attention to the Hallam prospectus. That way I could get a decent bag of fish and chips too.

[BOZG]

3cm of snow today and they've shut the airport and all the buses are suspended. It's a farce!

[Wanted Man]

3cm of snow today and they've shut the airport and all the buses are suspended. It's a farce!

10cm in the western part of the country here, where many big cities are located. Trains not running, air traffic down for a while, etc. Today, I'm finally glad that I live in the north and that I don't have college this week (only studying for a test at home).

[Sasha]

at least there is one person here loving the snow.... my dog

[Led Zeppelin]

Yeah man. The railways here should allow the Germans (or Scandinavians) to help us out. It's only fair. The Dutch railways were also very helpful to the Germans 65 years ago. ;)

LOL, that was a good one.

[mykittyhasaboner]

At least y'all have public transportation.

this

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

I have 30cm snow in Manchester. I built an Igloo.

[The Red Next Door]

I like the snow when it get bigger and colder, no fucking school yahoo.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

rofl @ Europeans complaining about inadequate public trasportation

guess when Brazilian buses and trains run on time?
never
under any condition

generally I manage to avoid rush hour traffic
but the other day I got fucked badly
late afternoon
in excess of 40 degrees
crammed into a bus with at least eighty other commuters
no air conditioning, mind you
took me over two hours to get home in the most miserable fucking conditions fathomable
you priviledged bastards

[which doctor]

buses/trains run equally erratic in any kind of weather in the US

but at least they don't get routinely commandeered by gangs as they do in other parts of the world

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

rofl @ Europeans complaining about inadequate public trasportation

guess when Brazilian buses and trains run on time?
never
under any condition

generally I manage to avoid rush hour traffic
but the other day I got fucked badly
late afternoon
in excess of 40 degrees
crammed into a bus with at least eighty other commuters
no air conditioning, mind you
took me over two hours to get home in the most miserable fucking conditions fathomable
you priviledged bastards

The fact you have buses show that their were some serious slackers when it came to ravaging your country.

[RedAnarchist]

rofl @ Europeans complaining about inadequate public trasportation

guess when Brazilian buses and trains run on time?
never
under any condition

generally I manage to avoid rush hour traffic
but the other day I got fucked badly
late afternoon
in excess of 40 degrees
crammed into a bus with at least eighty other commuters
no air conditioning, mind you
took me over two hours to get home in the most miserable fucking conditions fathomable
you priviledged bastards

Says he whilst typing on a computer in a foreign language. I'm sure the Third World would love to be able to have access to modern technology or have the means to learn a second language that is known all over the world.

[RedAnarchist]

(Facebook friends of mine will have seen this already) Anyway, I just went and slipped on the fucking ice tonight. I've been slipping slightly for the past month or so, but this time I fell over onto my arse (I'm really glad I didn't hit my head, which can cause serious injury or worse). Takes me about two minutes to get up (by getting onto my front and pushing myself up), during which a double decker bus passes by (I was on the corner of a residential street and a busy main road) which I actually thought was hilarious as it must have been a funny sight. It wasn't really that painful at all, mostly shock from suddenly falling and the impact of my arse hitting the ice.

I'm just glad that I'm a fairly healthy 23 year old, and not an elderly person with osteoporosis or something. What to me is a slightly annoying couple of minutes could send them to hospital or worse.

[Woyzeck]

3cm of snow today and they've shut the airport and all the buses are suspended. It's a farce!

I love how RTÉ et al only give a shit when Dublin's effected. The culchies can freeze (or drown) to death as far as they're concerned. :laugh:

[Angry Young Man]

In fairness now, Irish public transport is worse than Britain.

Do your trains lack doors and come into and announce a cancellation four hours after waiting?

[Woyzeck]

Do your trains lack doors and come into and announce a cancellation four hours after waiting?

No, but they are full of middle-aged Roma men playing really shit music.

[Angry Young Man]

Oh you poor little lamb! You have buskers on your train. Try taking the train from Bristol to Sheffield. It's like a moshpit in a sauna, except most people shower before a sauna and saunas don't spend an hour in Birmingham.

Excepting India, you have no right to say another country has a worse public transport system than the UK

ED: Sorry, forgot this. Sorry it's not from Reservoir Dogs. It was the first adequate one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ZimhaxwE0

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

I would kill for India's public transport system, you spoiled labour aristocrat fucks

[BOZG]

I love how RTÉ et al only give a shit when Dublin's effected. The culchies can freeze (or drown) to death as far as they're concerned. :laugh:

In fairness, we had to listen to them crying about the floods for too long!

[the last donut of the night]

Excepting India, you have no right to say another country has a worse public transport system than the UK

obviously you have never been in detroit or any decrepit american suburb

[the last donut of the night]

rofl @ Europeans complaining about inadequate public trasportation

guess when Brazilian buses and trains run on time?
never
under any condition

generally I manage to avoid rush hour traffic
but the other day I got fucked badly
late afternoon
in excess of 40 degrees
crammed into a bus with at least eighty other commuters
no air conditioning, mind you
took me over two hours to get home in the most miserable fucking conditions fathomable
you priviledged bastards

in rio, the bus system was privatized, as you know -- expensive and horrible

[LeninBalls]

Tons of school in my area are closing down for a day or two due to 1 or 2cm of snow which will turn into ice then melt.

[Angry Young Man]

Are your toilet carriages packed to the seams because your operating company is too bloody stingy to call a train over-crowded? And does said operating company have a monopoly on the North-South lines?

And what do suburbs have to do with it? How bad can local transport be? I'm talking long-distance. Bristol and Sheffield are about 140 miles apart.

[Dimentio]

Around -30 centigrades here I reckon ^^

Time to bring forth the sun lotion with other words

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

in rio, the bus system was privatized, as you know -- expensive and horrible

In SP the buses are also private, but fare prices are controlled by the city gov't
US$1.30
it's fucking outrageous

on every bus it says that transportation is the right of every citizen
so why are they trying to profit from it?
are they going to privatize schools next?

[the last donut of the night]

In SP the buses are also private, but fare prices are controlled by the city gov't
US$1.30
it's fucking outrageous

verdade


on every bus it says that transportation is the right of every citizen
so why are they trying to profit from it?
are they going to privatize schools next?

a lot of schools are already privatized

[the last donut of the night]

its funny that all the europeans are *****ing about their public transport being late and all. americans dont even understand the concept of a public transportation system

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

so are a lot of vehicles, but we're not talking about those are we?

[the last donut of the night]

so are a lot of vehicles, but we're not talking about those are we?

:(

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

its funny that all the europeans are *****ing about their public transport being late and all. americans dont even understand the concept of a public transportation system

Me: I don't have a car

American: How exactly do you get around easily then?

that's an exact quote from the user Manifesto

[the last donut of the night]

Me: I don't have a car

American: How exactly do you get around easily then?

that's an exact quote from the user Manifesto

forgive them for their foolishness...they've spent the last 60 years bathed in suburbia and reruns of dirty dancing

[Woyzeck]

In fairness, we had to listen to them crying about the floods for too long!

Who needs 'em anyway. Savages.

[Woyzeck]

Try taking the train from Bristol to Sheffield.

I'd rather not. The UK's like Ireland except bigger and the people talk funny putting "r" where it doesn't belong.

[Angry Young Man]

They don't do that up North.

[Floyce White]

I lived in the Bronx a couple of times in the '80s when the subway was a graffiti-covered urinal. But most US cities I lived in had no subway or commuter trains. Buses stopped running on weekends about 5 pm, so you're stuck at home. Several San Fernando Valley RTD buses ran 70 minutes apart on weekdays, while many connecting buses were rush hour only. Los Angeles was (and still is) a crazy quilt of incredibly slow systems that don't go anywhere but in their own suburb.

American "mass transit" is broken in all weather. Who cares if the bus is not badly off schedule--if the schedule is far beneath bare minimum? Many, many poor people never even try to ride the bus. If they can't get a ride, they don't go.

[BOZG]

Flights suspended out of Dublin Airport again! And I'm due to be on a plane in 2 hours!

[Patchd]

It's snowing as I type.