Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

There are many and varied reasons why you would chose not to delegate and just because someone is willing doesn't mean they are suitable. I would call that a sufficiency of foresight if you really needed to label basic management practices...

 

….or maybe they just couldn’t be bothered.

 

You say that because.........?

Sounds awfully like someone has a chip on their shoulder.

Peter

 

They have also introduced a £4 charge for dogs as of April, advertised as including a bag of dog treats.

A bit worrying something that could cost a lot of goodwill has been introduced for relatively small amounts of revenue to my eyes.

It could even be revenue negative if they end up having to clean carriages due to dogs having an upset stomach from eating too much of an unusual food source. Hopefully it will be hypoallergenic treats to reduce the risk.

 

I don't mind paying £4 for my dog, but i will pass on the dog treats, but with the increase in fares already, It all seems rather unnecessary, perhaps a re think might be in order, I know prices have to rise, in my view they need to think more about what added value can be gotten for minimal cost.

 

However I see some significance in the wording "the MHR rep" rather than "an MHR rep". Even if person X, who would have been the ideal repersentative, was otherwise unavoidably occupied, couldn't person Y have stood in?

 

If your railway was receiving the Queen's award for volunteering, wouldn't you rather attend the ceremony than go to a meeting?

 

Can’t help thinking some are keen to create a mountain out of a molehill here!

Tom

 

Well they do refer to their hills as the Alps so nothing unusual.​

 

Don’t know why people with dogs expect to get it for free.
As for the Southern Six meeting, it’s hardly that interesting, It’s just networking. If social media didn’t exist you wouldn’t have even known.

 

Always looks good if you have someone to represent you at a meeting like that though, as you say it’s networking but I’ve found once the formal stuff’s been dealt with little kernels of ideas can occur over a pint and a chinwag afterwards…

 

Surely the person who attends the meeting has to be in some position of authority to help make the decisions? All very well sending someone who is available, but if they don't have the right 'authority' for what is being discussed, it doesn't make sense surely?

As an aside, it may be that Amanda's inability to attend was a short notice thing...

 

In my work life I was sent to many meetings with the instruction do not say anything, and if you have to do not agree or commit us to anything. Depends if you regard attendance more important than meaningful participation

 

Well it seems to me a bit of cooperation these days is a good thing and can benefit everyone. I am sure there are somethings by being part of a bigger group even if loosely related can give more prominence to. Also a good chance to pass around good lessons learned to help all survive. While there may be an element of competition for visitors I think largely they serve a different catchment area and each have some distinguishing elements. If it leaves them all in a more healthy position then surely that is good.

 

Not if it was to the detriment of our core business.

 

Good to see SLL and MHR starting to share resources to make progress restoring locomotive 34058 Sir Frederick Pile.
. Also Bluebell and MHR restoring carriages.
https://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html

 

Since it was the first meeting of the reconvened group, I don't think any major decisions will have been made that are likely to put the mhr into penury

 

This may have been the policy for some time but it would not make me want to book on line. I would not expect a free change or refund, but this would encourage me to walk up fares as the saving would not be worth the "risk"
Is this standard for most pre booking on HR lines have never really noticed.


PLEASE NOTE
Once tickets have been purchased, we are unable to refund or exchange them.

 

The line has been actively encouraging people to bring dogs. Until quite recently the line gave you a dog ticket. This was done as they wanted to track the number of dogs, they were actively chasing dog friendly status / awards and needed to prove they had a high number of canine visitors. That's why I commented on it.

My dogs will still go but probably less than they used to. Simply because the new price structure is causing many of the friends we go with to say thanks but no thanks. They will do the RAT / events still but aren't interested in forking out the sort of sums now required for a non member standard day ticket. In turn the wife and I, long standing members, will probably go less frequently.

As an aside I'll be at Farnham Town FC tomorrow. Henry the Vizsla wil be coming and will get in free. I've never been charged for a dog at Non-league football.

 

Neither do I but I don’t think it hurts to have a rep with a watching brief, at work we have a similar thing planned for next week with our neighbours regarding a beer festival, both myself and my gaffer are in agreement that one of us should be there just so we know what’s going on.