Trains, pains and outtahavesomethinginplace II: The Sequel.

Apologies in advance for the overall rantiness of this post but it's basically a freeform riled piece.

You have been warned.




Regular readers (of this blog I mean, not just folk who read regularly) may remember this post regarding train travel and the lack of Autism resources when things go wrong.

If you've not read it go do it now - I'll still be here when you've finished.


Anyway, when I'd finished writing/ranting I tweeted the link to both Scotrail and transport minister Humza Yousaf in the hope of hearing back - folk usually jump at the chance to talk Autism with me - but heard nowt.

Maybe an email would have been better?

Well I'll never know now.

Anyway, as you may - or may not know my twin girls are absolutely Beatles mad and as a treat - and because boychild went to Spain with the school - Mrs Ash decided to take them on a three-day break to Liverpool over the summer.

Actually they're traveling today.

And this is where the problems start.

A train of the type Virgin allegedly run.

Arriving at the station the laydees found out that the train they were meant to be on was canceled but there would be another 20 minutes later.....all well and good till you then realise that the next train was delayed too leaving passengers with no idea what was going on.

Well that's OK I hear you cry, a staff member could help.

Indeed, if there were any from Scotrail or Virgin around.

You see I was having to relay the info via phone after tweeting both Virgin and Scotrail customer services from home.

To find any information Mrs Ash would have had to leave the queue losing their place in the hope of anyone being able to help.

So she was left surrounded by angry and late passengers tutting loudly and staring (and they say it's us Autistic folk that don't have social skills or manners) at the two Autistic teens getting a wee bit meltdowny because not only was the beginning of their (first ever) holiday away unraveling in front of them but they had no idea or information as to why.

Here's a group photo of all the Scotrail help staff working at Glasgow Central today.

Had there been (any) staff about then she could have explained the situation and hopefully got the girls some reassurance, we're not even looking for a quiet sit down area or even maybe getting taken to the train (tho' that would be nice), just a wee bit of thought.

Yes both Virgin and Scotrail's online customer services were quick and helpful but both missed the point that it shouldn't be me delivering the information via a mobile phone as both myself, stuck powerless at home, and my girls get more and more stressed due to what is a basic "can't be arsed" attitude.

Mrs Ash is made of sterner stuff so she was probably OK or at least gave the semblance of OK-ness.

But that's because she's amazing quite frankly.

Fingers crossed the rest of their holiday is better.

Rant over.