We chat to commuters about proposed train strikes.
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00:00We're outside Wolverhampton train station this morning, talking about disruption to the trains over Christmas and the New Year, new strikes, and train managers are going on strike.
00:12We've got Mr Miami here, and his friend, is it your friend Amelia?
00:16Yeah, you've got a bit to say because you travel regularly to London, what's that service like?
00:22It's very kind of, you know, techy really. You don't really get to go often because the strikes happen very often, especially on the weekends.
00:29And then getting back often is very horrible as well because the late trains get cancelled very often.
00:36Or you could be on a train from here to Birmingham and try to go to London and the connecting train is cancelled as well.
00:42So it's been a horrible experience.
00:44Are you going to be travelling over Christmas for the New Year?
00:47Pardon?
00:48Are you going to be travelling over Christmas for the New Year?
00:50I would try to, but I think the strikes are going to affect that, aren't they?
00:54They could be, yeah. There's one on New Year's Eve, would you go down to London for that?
00:58Yes, 100%.
01:00And Amelia, you've got a bit to say on this subject as well. Do you use the trains regularly? Where do you go?
01:06I take it to work, and I take it to pick up my son from school. I've been late many times because the train's been late, which is inconvenient.
01:15And I pay my money for it, so I just sit around and wait.
01:19Have you spoken to the train companies about it?
01:21Yeah, they do nothing.
01:23I've gotten refunds in the past.
01:24I haven't.
01:25Yeah, it's kind of hard.
01:27It is hard, they challenge you.
01:28The price of compensation is very hard as well.
01:30They do challenge you.
01:31It's not straightforward as well.
01:32Sometimes it's not even worth the fight.
01:33Where do you normally travel to for work and for school?
01:36So I work at the Kiwi Hospital, and I travel from Dublin to New York.
01:40Yeah, cool.
01:42My son's school is around here, between our areas as well.
01:45Are you going to be using the trains over Christmas and New Year, or have you got a break?
01:49I've got a break.
01:51No breaks for me.
01:52Yeah, I'll probably just catch that seat. It's more reliable.
01:57OK, thanks for talking to us this evening.
01:59No problem, bye. Have a good one.
02:01Hi Gerry, how are you doing this morning?
02:03You've got something to say on the general state of the trains in terms of strikes.
02:09New strikes have been announced January 2nd and then Sundays in January.
02:14What do you think about that?
02:15Well, I think it's disgusting, the amount that they're getting paid,
02:18especially with the pay rise they've just had, and now they want more.
02:21I think it'll be non-stop.
02:23Now, do you use the trains? You said you're about to use the trains.
02:26Yeah, well, I've just arrived. I've just come on the tram, on the Metro,
02:30but I'll be using the train to get all the way back to the National Exhibition soon,
02:34so I don't know what the delays are going to be like over Christmas and New Year.
02:39Have you used the trains this year recently?
02:43I've just recently started using them again.
02:45And how have you found them?
02:47OK, yeah, very good. It wasn't too overcrowded this morning.
02:54And were they on time OK?
02:56Yeah, yeah, they were on time.
02:58Cool. But generally you're not in favour of a strike,
03:01which is going to cause disruption over the Christmas holiday period?
03:05There's too many people struggling as it is,
03:08and yet you see the likes of train drivers.
03:11On what they're getting, they must be living a life of luxury, you know.
03:17What do you do for a living?
03:19I'm a medic on the side.
03:21Right, OK. All right, thanks for talking to me.