Making the strain

FOR many years, we have used Angmering station for travel and have seen many changes over that time.

Last week, I took my wife to make one of her regular journeys to our caravan in Christchurch, which used to be a direct journey but now entails changing at Southampton.

The time was just before 1pm and the first problem was the booking office was closed. In the past, my wife has bought a ticket on the train but, because of the new barriers, as in the past, decided to ask permission to get onto the platform and buy a ticket on the train.

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This was refused on the basis she might get fined – we actually know of someone who was fined because they could not make the ticket machine work, and the railway proved the machine was working “at the time”. It was suggested our only option was to use the ticket machine.

We are both in our 70s and my wife has the full use of only one arm.

However, we attempted to buy a ticket from the machine. After trawling the alphabet for Christchurch, entering our payment card, etc., the machine advised it was not working and we were to contact help through another machine by pressing an audio button.

This took us right back to the attendant on the opposite platform manning the barriers, who conceded to press a button and let my wife onto the platform. Bearing in mind she was carrying luggage with only one hand working, and a rucksack slung over her good shoulder, I did not dare try my luck and ask if I could be let through the barrier, help her on the train, and send her off with a loving kiss!

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I am pleased to say my wife was not fined and was issued with a ticket by the conductor.

However, this was not the end of the story.

When I returned to my car, I found it boxed in by two taxis (without their drivers), one cab in front of my car and one at the rear.

It was at this point I noticed new markings on the road showing the dropping-off area had been moved, apparently, only two weeks before.

Obviously, if I had noticed this, I would have complied, so, when I got home, I rang the taxi office to apologise.

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From the conversation I tried to have, I could tell they were not happy with the new arrangement.

I know the taxi drivers are very frustrated by the lack of number of rank places issued to them and neither they, nor I, can understand why they were not given a rank along the fencing in what is the car park area.

So, fellow travellers, beware! In this enlightened age there are even bigger hazards out there, apart from the high cost of the travel you are endeavouring to make.

David H. Bailey,

Merryfield Crescent,

Angmering

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