Birmingham Moor Street Station
In their infinite wisdom Network Rail closed the lines from Birmingham New Street to London Euston (the Virgin fast trains) over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Work on the line!
Luckily the slower, cheaper line from Birmingham Moor Street station was still running to London Marylebone. The trains stop at every station along the way giving an old fashioned feeling of earlier times.
At the small, brick ticket office the ticket seller asked if I would like assistance to get to the platform. A young man in a sparkling white shirt appeared from a side door and took me across the bridge to Platform 1.
Birmingham Moor Street Station platforms.
There are only two platforms.
Once there, he explained that there would be two local trains before the one to London. Then he left. The platform filled up with refugees from the modern main line station and the local trains duly came and went. Then across the railway lines I saw the sparkling white shirt appear. The young man hollered across the lines ‘the next train is yours’ and I hollered back ‘Thank you’.
There was consternation among the other passengers. Was there another delay? I explained that the message was directed at me because I couldn’t read the signs. Consternation subsided.
Embarrassing? Yes. Kind and thoughtful? Yes. Perks (Railway Children) would have been proud of him. That’s what I call customer service.
Have you had any experience of eccentric and unexpected help?
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Lovely day out on Bank Holiday Monday at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. Wonderful rhododendrons and azaleas.
Sadly Eylea treatment hasn’t worked as well as hope for so more injections to come.
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Great details again, Bridget. I’m impressed that the man in the crisp white shirt followed up on his instructions, to inform you that the next train was yours–even if it had to be shouted in front of a crowd. The visual impairment leads to the most interesting social experiences.
It’s all in the context. Slightly embarrassing and not at all pc but kindly meant. It was so strange being in this tiny station in the city centre only a few hundred yards from the massive, ultra modern main line station. Like a time capsule with behaviour to match.
I love Moor Street! And lovely to hear of someone clearly interested in helping rather than just in his wage packet.
I agree! Moor Street is an oasis in among all the metal and concrete of the rest of the city. I wonder how it escaped the planners.
I’ve always been fond of Moor Street station and this confirms how lovely it is. I think this chap’s attitude was commendable!
Probably not very pc but it came from the heart and very much in keeping with Moor Street. They are helpful and professional at New Street as well but its just not the same.