Trains, pains and outtahavesomethinginplace.

Had a brilliant day watching Mary and The Witch's Flower with the laydees at The GFT yesterday so it was a pity that the whole thing was almost brought crashing down by the signal failure/general train brokenness on the way home.

Probably a more realistic way of getting home after the cinema.

The full story is here (for anyone interested) but for those of you who prefer a less 'news-speak' take on the whole thing.

After jumping on the train home at Queen Street our train stopped suddenly outside Partick as a crackly announcement told us that "Mumble mumble crackle signal sorry" - which translates as (I think) something was broken.

The girls were a wee bit antsy but soon settled when the train started moving, pulling into Partick station the announcement was made that a signal fault meant that the train would still be going to its destination just slightly slower and if passengers wanted to get to their destination quicker they could "Alight the train and get a bus or the subway or something(!)" which is thoughtful if a wee bit vague.

Explaining to the - by now starting to get upset - girls that the train was still going home but just very slowly they/we decided to stay on.

So imagine our surprise when we got halfway to the next stop the train shuddered to a halt and  the speakers crackled to life informing us that the train would be terminating at the next stop.

And not in an Arnie  "I'll be back way" way.

A train of the type not moving yesterday.

Stumbling off at Hyndland into a mass of seething, angry and confused passengers was enough to send the girls into meltdown as they were hustled and jostled by grown-ups who should know better - twin one with her normal Autistic meltdown trope of trying to hit her sister and twin two crying loudly - I even felt fairly meltdown-y myself but being out with them meant I really had to hold it together. 

Trying to get information was a non-starter seeing as the only member of staff on the platform was waiting for a train in the opposite direction and was more concerned with telling anyone in earshot how much he hated his job than to say anything of use and with the ticket office packed with angry passengers we had to try and calmly wait till it was less busy to ask for more/any information.

Explaining the situation (two very upset Autistic girls in the middle of a major meltdown - Autistic dad to follow) to the staff member on duty before asking if there were any buses/taxis/flying carpets yet laid on to shuttle passengers to their destinations or at least a quiet area where I could calm (or attempt to calm) the girls I was informed - really nicely I'll admit - that none of the phones were being answered and that no-one knew what was going on.

Which lets be honest if that's frustrating for the adults involved imagine how the girls felt.

We were then informed that there were some bus stops near and to try them.

Image being an Autistic adult - I had my ticket and no change - why would I need it seeing as I was expecting to get the train? That'd be bad enough (and something I've learned to deal with if I'm out alone) but add the girls to the equation - complete with knowing/judging looks from passengers and you can probably guess it was not good.

I can understand that it's something that staff quite possibly don't come across that often but training needs given and awareness raised.

The staff member I spoke to was lovely and seemed genuinely concerned - and upset that he couldn't help - but ultimately could do nothing, now replace the word Autism with wheelchair user and see if that doesn't make you realise that something needs to change.

Can you imagine what would happen if they'd have been left on the platform (or train) with no information or because the station didn't feel the need to have ramps as it's fairly rare to deal with anyone in a wheelchair?

Even a 'slush-fund' for taxis in exceptional circumstances that could be claimed back would be a start - I for one always have a carers card/DLA info with me which staff could take a note of alongside an address.

As it stood we ended up having to walk home in the rain with no idea as to what was going on till we got home.

With both girls mid-meltdown.

Not good.

The girls absolutely love the train, memorizing the announcements and stations and we're lucky enough that the staff at our local station know them (and their habits) really well so it hits harder when you discover how utterly clueless the rest of an organisation can be.

And the answer isn't "We don't know when these things will happen so we can't do anything" - the usual corporate response - alongside banding the word 'logistics' about - but having something in place for the rare occasions that they do.

With Glasgow hailing itself as being Autism friendly and aware the city really needs to realise that this should extend to it's transport network too.

Rant over.

For now.