In the 1930s a newspaper once used the now-famous phrase “Fog in channel - Continent cut off”. In November for 12 days residents of Felixstowe were feeling rather “cut-off’ as their train service was temporarily abandoned by train operator Abellio Greater Anglia, which has a desperate shortage of fit-for-use diesel trains and this was exacerbated at the time by the ‘autumn leaf-fall’. This mocked-up newspaper display stand gives an indication of how seriously stakeholders are treating this complete failure to provide a contacted service.

Railfuture shows their complaints and includes a communication from Abellio Greater Anglia to give reasons why they had utterly failed to deliver the contracted service. Now that almost all leaves have fallen the service is back to normal but only time will tell how much damage has been done to passenger confidence and short-term patronage.

Rail passengers have increasing expectations and we all need them to be satisfied if the railway is to continue to grow and take an increasing market share. So, what matters to them? This photo montage may give some ideas.

The Woodlesford Train Users Action Group has been formed by disgruntled passengers fed up with overcrowding and late trains after being told that no improvement was on the horizon.