No smoke without Ire

Good to see that the railway is showing its traditional contempt for the passenger.

First ATOC threw smokers off platforms for no good reason now Network Rail at Waterloo has gone one better - corraling them like cattle.


Presumably this at least prepares them for the journey home with South West Trains.

For Pity's sake can the railway not do better than this for its customers?

What price a canopy and some ash trays?

Smokers may now be social pariahs but they still pay real money.

UPDATE: This from Health and Efficiency...

Smoking is an absolutely disgust... (Owing to shortage of space Eye reserves the right to shorten or edit comments in the interests of clarity.)

UPDATE: This from Ian Rodd (RN) Retd...

The 'new' arrangements for smokers at Waterloo are in fact a long standing (sic) feature, by which NR has tolerated illegal acts on the premises, much in the same way that some cities manage prostitution by having areas where it is tolerated so that the management of the fall-out - in this case 'butts' - is focussed on a single area.

It is a great coincidence that when the ban took effect cycle theft from the adjacent overfilled racks dropped dramatically - so the addicts provide enhanced security on the cheap.

Also the cumbersome structures placed in the roadway to deter terrorist attacks have been removed and there are suggestions that the new security measure is to block the access with concentrated crowd of addicts (or out bacca's) high on nicotine and therefore practically immune to any incoming threat.

Germany calling #5

Telegrammed by Lord Tee Hee
The German ICEs are impressive machines, but one thing seems to have been overlooked - smoke detectors in the toilets.

Then again this was probably a wise move as the damn things would be going off every five minutes as smokers have a less than crafty fag in them.

Every ICE I've been on during the trip has stunk of cigarette smoke. The crew can hardly claim to be oblivious to the problem, but I haven't seen anyone reprimanded or even warning announcements made..

What a contrast to British railways where staff are much more proactive and smoking passengers generally more considerate.

Whilst UK passengers may be more considerate the TOCs certainly aren't. Smokers are banished to the outside of stations and not even afforded shelters. What a fine way to treat paying customers.