Each day, I commute from Codsall to my work at Birmingham International. The schedule I like to follow is indicated by a *, with alternate trains I may catch:
Leg | Before May 25 | From May 25 |
1: Codsall - Wolverhampton | *640, arr 651 649 BUS, arr 710. Taking this incurs an automatic 15 point penalty, with the clock not stopping till I see the clock inside Wolverhampton station foyer. | *701, arr New Street 723 |
2: Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street | 649, arr 715 652, arr 716 *706, arr 723 711, arr 726 719, arr 755 (taken through to International) 722, arr 801 (taken through to International) | |
3: Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International | 733, arr 744 *736, arr 748 745, arr 755 748, arr 801 | |
Part 4: International - New Street | 1738, arr 1753 *1750, arr 1806 1756, arr 1809 | |
Part 5: New Street - Wolverhampton | 1810, arr 1833 *1817, arr 1845 (taken to Codsall) | |
Part 6: Wolverhampton - Codsall |
If a train after the starred route is taken, I endeavour to reach the destination as quickly as possible. If a train above the star is taken, I will wait to return to the starred route.
There is a cop-out clause in effect. If service A preceeds service B into a station by less than 5 minutes, then any delay to service A will cause a knock-on delay to service B. In this case, I will deduct the full points from service A, but will expect service B to catch up only 2 minutes. This currently applies to the 1810 from New Street (part 5) and 1817 (part 5 preferred). If the 1810 is 5 minutes late arriving at New Street, I allow the 1817 to arrive 3 minutes late.
Each day's service starts out with 40 points. Points are deducted for any of the following reasons:
1-2 minutes: | -1 point. |
3-4 minutes: | -2 points. |
Then -1 point for every full or part minute a train is late, up to a maximum of -15 points on any single train. | |
Train is so late that I miss my closing connection: | -15 points. |
Closing connection train is cancelled: | -15 points. |
Other train is cancelled: | -10 points. |
Ticket inspector not wearing name badge: | -1 point. |
No apology for delay: | -2 points. |
Toilet I wish to use out of use: | -3 points. |
Have to stand on 1817 from New Street: | -3 points. |
Have to stand on any other train: | -4 points. |
I reserve the right to deduct other points based on unusual circumstances; similarly, I reserve the right not to deduct points, or award bonus points, if circumstances dictate.
90% is an excellent week. 80% is good. 75% is acceptable. Anything below 70% will cause me to send a letter to Central Trains.
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