petertenthije
09-09-2003, 08:13 PM
Well, the title describes it quite good so I will begin. A story I read on the internet.
Freight driver. (from Drente Courant, 03/12/1996)
A freight train driver that had to wait at Assen regularly had taken the opportunity to walk to the nearby snack bar. This time though he was given the green light while the driver was still waiting at the snack bar. The result was that many car drivers had to wait quite a while at a railroad crossing till the driver had taken his fries to the train so as to continue his journey.
The police contacted the NS (Dutch Railways) and they said they would investigate. What happened with the driver since has not been revealed.
Broken cable. (own story, happened about 2 years back)
While driving between Arnhem and Utrecht in one of the new air conditioned double deckers (DD-IRM) we found ourselves in a bit of a mess.
A train before my train had broken down. This was only 30 min before Utrecht (the largest station in the Netherlands) and we where assured a train would come to pull it away quickly.
One hour later over the intercom, "Ladies and Gentlemen, there seems to have been a problem. We will be here for another hour at least. Those that are in a hurry to catch a plane or for exams can take busses waiting at station ***. This station is about a 10 min. walk in the driving direction of the train. We will continue the voyage soon."
For some reason I decided to stay in the train, after all it would leave soon, no? NO! Another hour later the announcement came, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it will take longer then expected. In an hour we will be going. The train before us cut the electricity wire overhead and it is being repaired. We will be passing out free drinks". Five minutes later: "Ladies and Gentlemen, since this is a doubledecker (two EMU's coupled together) the pasengers in set **** will not be served, our apologies". Guess in which train I was?
So, there we where. In a very hot train (no power = no airco and no opening windows) with nothing to eat and drink. So the passengers in our train set got together and started playing cards. What else can be done?
An hour later we saw the very friendly NS official. She joined with a few card games since she had nothing to do anyway but to wait.
Alright, at that time I had been in the train for 4 hours (total journey time normally 1/2 hour). The announcement came. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls (when they say boys and girls you know something has gone seriously bad) We would like everyone to get of the train and walk to the train station just 10 minutes walking away. From there busses will await you to bring you to Utrecht. There you will get a drink on the house".
So we had to leave the train. Easier said then done. The doors would not open (you know, that electricity thingy) so we had to get out through the drivers cabin. That door is only 1,5/2 metres above the ground. No problem for me, but not everyone is in their prime. So we had to help stumbling elderly and mums with small kids.
We walked the ten minutes which, surprisingly, took 30 minutes. It seems that whenever there is an official delay announced by NS you can multiply it with 3.
At this very small station there was 1 (one) bus. The capacity of the bus was 40 seating and 20 odd standing. The train had a capacity of 300 odd, but was only filled with 100 odd. Math a la Enron would be involved in getting everyone to Utrecht. Another option would of course be another bus which arrived, NS style, 30 minutes later.
We drove the 30 minutes to Utrecht where we did not get a free drink. Figures.
All in all what would normally be a 1/2 hour trip took now 5 hours. Had a nice day, sorta.
Now you guys, write your your weirdest, funniest, stupidest story you can think of. It must have really happened!
Freight driver. (from Drente Courant, 03/12/1996)
A freight train driver that had to wait at Assen regularly had taken the opportunity to walk to the nearby snack bar. This time though he was given the green light while the driver was still waiting at the snack bar. The result was that many car drivers had to wait quite a while at a railroad crossing till the driver had taken his fries to the train so as to continue his journey.
The police contacted the NS (Dutch Railways) and they said they would investigate. What happened with the driver since has not been revealed.
Broken cable. (own story, happened about 2 years back)
While driving between Arnhem and Utrecht in one of the new air conditioned double deckers (DD-IRM) we found ourselves in a bit of a mess.
A train before my train had broken down. This was only 30 min before Utrecht (the largest station in the Netherlands) and we where assured a train would come to pull it away quickly.
One hour later over the intercom, "Ladies and Gentlemen, there seems to have been a problem. We will be here for another hour at least. Those that are in a hurry to catch a plane or for exams can take busses waiting at station ***. This station is about a 10 min. walk in the driving direction of the train. We will continue the voyage soon."
For some reason I decided to stay in the train, after all it would leave soon, no? NO! Another hour later the announcement came, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it will take longer then expected. In an hour we will be going. The train before us cut the electricity wire overhead and it is being repaired. We will be passing out free drinks". Five minutes later: "Ladies and Gentlemen, since this is a doubledecker (two EMU's coupled together) the pasengers in set **** will not be served, our apologies". Guess in which train I was?
So, there we where. In a very hot train (no power = no airco and no opening windows) with nothing to eat and drink. So the passengers in our train set got together and started playing cards. What else can be done?
An hour later we saw the very friendly NS official. She joined with a few card games since she had nothing to do anyway but to wait.
Alright, at that time I had been in the train for 4 hours (total journey time normally 1/2 hour). The announcement came. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls (when they say boys and girls you know something has gone seriously bad) We would like everyone to get of the train and walk to the train station just 10 minutes walking away. From there busses will await you to bring you to Utrecht. There you will get a drink on the house".
So we had to leave the train. Easier said then done. The doors would not open (you know, that electricity thingy) so we had to get out through the drivers cabin. That door is only 1,5/2 metres above the ground. No problem for me, but not everyone is in their prime. So we had to help stumbling elderly and mums with small kids.
We walked the ten minutes which, surprisingly, took 30 minutes. It seems that whenever there is an official delay announced by NS you can multiply it with 3.
At this very small station there was 1 (one) bus. The capacity of the bus was 40 seating and 20 odd standing. The train had a capacity of 300 odd, but was only filled with 100 odd. Math a la Enron would be involved in getting everyone to Utrecht. Another option would of course be another bus which arrived, NS style, 30 minutes later.
We drove the 30 minutes to Utrecht where we did not get a free drink. Figures.
All in all what would normally be a 1/2 hour trip took now 5 hours. Had a nice day, sorta.
Now you guys, write your your weirdest, funniest, stupidest story you can think of. It must have really happened!