Peshwari Naan
Peshwari Naan shows that Salsabil is not on her own. National Express does not operate as well as the company wants the public to believe. In this blog Salsabil republishes material that she has found on the internet to demonstrate that she is not the only one who knows just how badly National Express operates it's coach services in the UK.Saturday, June 28, 2008
Slightly off-topic but A Transport of Delight reports on 27th June 2008...
'Salsibil' reported recently on the case of the driver of the National Express Service 777 coach that overturned at Newport Pagnel services being sentenced. 'Salsibil's' site does not have links to each post, which makes it a little difficult to link to itself, so if reading this well after today's date, scroll to 24 April on her website.
...Salsabil - note the spelling of my name - is a little confused here. The time stamp on each post creates a link and there is no post dated 24th April 2008. Why would I want to link things to "itself"? If the Editor of The official blog of the Lincolnshire & East Yorkshire Transport Review would like to leave a comment in the box below, I would be most grateful. I rather like your blog which like mine is written in the public interest. I was rather surprised that the quality British newspapers did not cover the story of the sentencing of Leslie Weinberg although the BBC News website reported this story.
Salaam.
'Salsibil' reported recently on the case of the driver of the National Express Service 777 coach that overturned at Newport Pagnel services being sentenced. 'Salsibil's' site does not have links to each post, which makes it a little difficult to link to itself, so if reading this well after today's date, scroll to 24 April on her website.
...Salsabil - note the spelling of my name - is a little confused here. The time stamp on each post creates a link and there is no post dated 24th April 2008. Why would I want to link things to "itself"? If the Editor of The official blog of the Lincolnshire & East Yorkshire Transport Review would like to leave a comment in the box below, I would be most grateful. I rather like your blog which like mine is written in the public interest. I was rather surprised that the quality British newspapers did not cover the story of the sentencing of Leslie Weinberg although the BBC News website reported this story.
Salaam.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
BBC News website shows on 24th June 2008...
M1 coach crash driver is jailed
The driver of a coach who was drunk when it overturned at an M1 service station in Buckinghamshire injuring 33 people has been jailed for 10 months.
Leslie Weinberg, 35, was cut from the wreckage of the National Express coach when it crashed at Newport Pagnell Services on the M1.
Weinberg, formerly of West Bromwich, pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to driving dangerously.
He admitted driving with excess alcohol and was also banned for four years.
Weinberg had a drink-drive reading of 145mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg per 100ml.
He had returned from holiday the day before the crash and had stayed up all night drinking alone.
He then drove the coach on a regular service from Birmingham to Stansted Airport, the court heard.
After overtaking a lorry on the approach to a junction on the M1 he cut inside but mistook the entry road to the service station for a slip road off the motorway.
The coach tachograph showed he was travelling at 57mph (92kph) when he left the motorway.
The coach hit a kerb and passengers later said it took off before turning on its side and sliding.
After overturning the coach hit a tree and a lamppost.
After the crash, on 3 September 2007, casualties were treated at hospitals in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Oxford.
Seven passengers suffered serious injuries, including one man whose arm was amputated.
At Aylesbury Crown Court, Weinberg was also fined £500 and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving, to run concurrently with the four year ban for drink-driving.
Birmingham Mail reports on 24th June 2008...
Drunk coach driver jailed
A MIDLAND coach driver who was almost twice the drink-drive limit when he lost control and crashed on a motorway slip road, leaving passengers seriously injured, was today jailed for ten months.
Father-of-two Leslie Weinberg, 35, of Meyrick Road, Hill Top, West Bromwich, was also banned from driving for four years when he appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court.
He was driving a National Express coach when the accident happened at Newport Pagnell Services, next to the M1, on September 3 last year.
Weinberg had previously admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving.
He had 145 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.
More than two dozen coach passengers were injured in the crash, with some having to crawl free through the skylights after the coach overturned.
Weinberg himslef was injured in the smash. Thirty of the 34 people aboard the Birmingham to Stansted Airport service were hurt.
Judge Christopher Tyrer, sitting at Aylesbury Crown Court at the previous hearing on April 14, told Weinberg that because he was intoxicated he had mistaken where he was and did not realise where the motorway exit was.
Weinberg was suspended by his bosses, Veolia Transport, hired to operate the busy 777 route for National Express, immediatley after the accident.
He joined the company just four months before the accident.
Weinberg lives with his wheelchair-bound wife Kendra and their two children.
Express and Star reports on 24th June 2008...
Coach crash driver jailed
The National Express coach driver who crashed injuring 25 passengers had been drinking until five in the morning on the day of the accident, a court heard today.
Les Weinberg was still intoxicated as he drove from Birmingham to Stansted on the 777 service down the M1 on September 3, Aylesbury Crown Court was told. He mistook a slip road for junction 14 and overturned.
Prosecutor Alan Blake said: “The speed the coach was travelling at was far too fast for the bend.
“Passengers recalled screaming as they realised the bus was not going to be able to negotiate the bend.”
He described how the coach then began sliding sideways before it was on two wheels and hitting the raised kerb.
“People recalled the sensation of the coach becoming airborne,” he said.
As the coach slammed into the ground most passengers were saved from serious injury by their seatbelts, although several suffered broken limbs.
Tests carried out by police found Weinberg was one-and-a-half times the drink drive limit.
Weinberg, 35, of Meyrick Road, Hill Top, admitted dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol at an earlier hearing.
Mr Simon Davis, defending, said his client was genuinely remorseful and ashamed of what he had done and that his actions had been out of character.
He said Weinberg “buries himself in drink” to escape personal problems, although stressed he was not an alcoholic.
Judge Christopher Tyrer described the crash as a “terrifying and horrifying accident” and jailed him for 10 months.
“You were in drink, one and a half times over the limit, in your position you shouldn’t have been in drink at all. You were driving when you knew you were deprived of rest and sleep.”
He was also disqualified from holding a licence for four years and was fined £500 for driving with excess alcohol.
Bournemouth Daily Echo reports on 23rd June 2008...
Lunch at airport. Shopping in NYC. Luggage on M3.
A HOLIDAYMAKER endured a miserable trip after her suitcase was thrown from a National Express coach and left on the motorway.
Kerry Morton, 31, was travelling to Heathrow to jet off to New York when her belongings were unceremoniously dumped on the M3, thanks to a faulty luggage hold.
On arrival at Heathrow, Ms Morton discovered her case was missing, only to receive a call from the Highways Agency telling her it had been picked up near junction five.
She said National Express had showed minimal regard for her inconvenience, nor the danger the falling case could have caused on the motorway.
Ms Morton said: "I can't express the extent of distress this has caused and it has completely overshadowed the enjoyment and memory of our holiday.
"The first day was very reluctantly spent shopping - in the clothes I had travelled in for 13 hours - for everything from a toothbrush to a coat and scarf."
advertisement
Ms Morton said the driver of the 9.35am coach from Parkstone had twice stopped on the hard shoulder and got out to check the baggage hold.
"On neither occasion did he inform the worried passengers of what was happening," she added.
National Express's initial offer of £100 compensation was slammed by Ms Morton as "unacceptable" for the distress and inconvenience caused.
But after the Daily Echo got involved National Express amended their offer.
A company spokesman said: "We apologise for the delay in resolving this issue and as a gesture of goodwill we have refunded all costs incurred by Miss Morton above the initial agreed compensation of £100.
"The bag was located prior to Miss Morton's departure to New York and all items contained were returned following her trip.
"We have fully investigated the issue and hope to have restored confidence in our service."
M1 coach crash driver is jailed
The driver of a coach who was drunk when it overturned at an M1 service station in Buckinghamshire injuring 33 people has been jailed for 10 months.
Leslie Weinberg, 35, was cut from the wreckage of the National Express coach when it crashed at Newport Pagnell Services on the M1.
Weinberg, formerly of West Bromwich, pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to driving dangerously.
He admitted driving with excess alcohol and was also banned for four years.
Weinberg had a drink-drive reading of 145mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg per 100ml.
He had returned from holiday the day before the crash and had stayed up all night drinking alone.
He then drove the coach on a regular service from Birmingham to Stansted Airport, the court heard.
After overtaking a lorry on the approach to a junction on the M1 he cut inside but mistook the entry road to the service station for a slip road off the motorway.
The coach tachograph showed he was travelling at 57mph (92kph) when he left the motorway.
The coach hit a kerb and passengers later said it took off before turning on its side and sliding.
After overturning the coach hit a tree and a lamppost.
After the crash, on 3 September 2007, casualties were treated at hospitals in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Oxford.
Seven passengers suffered serious injuries, including one man whose arm was amputated.
At Aylesbury Crown Court, Weinberg was also fined £500 and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving, to run concurrently with the four year ban for drink-driving.
Birmingham Mail reports on 24th June 2008...
Drunk coach driver jailed
A MIDLAND coach driver who was almost twice the drink-drive limit when he lost control and crashed on a motorway slip road, leaving passengers seriously injured, was today jailed for ten months.
Father-of-two Leslie Weinberg, 35, of Meyrick Road, Hill Top, West Bromwich, was also banned from driving for four years when he appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court.
He was driving a National Express coach when the accident happened at Newport Pagnell Services, next to the M1, on September 3 last year.
Weinberg had previously admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving.
He had 145 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.
More than two dozen coach passengers were injured in the crash, with some having to crawl free through the skylights after the coach overturned.
Weinberg himslef was injured in the smash. Thirty of the 34 people aboard the Birmingham to Stansted Airport service were hurt.
Judge Christopher Tyrer, sitting at Aylesbury Crown Court at the previous hearing on April 14, told Weinberg that because he was intoxicated he had mistaken where he was and did not realise where the motorway exit was.
Weinberg was suspended by his bosses, Veolia Transport, hired to operate the busy 777 route for National Express, immediatley after the accident.
He joined the company just four months before the accident.
Weinberg lives with his wheelchair-bound wife Kendra and their two children.
Express and Star reports on 24th June 2008...
Coach crash driver jailed
The National Express coach driver who crashed injuring 25 passengers had been drinking until five in the morning on the day of the accident, a court heard today.
Les Weinberg was still intoxicated as he drove from Birmingham to Stansted on the 777 service down the M1 on September 3, Aylesbury Crown Court was told. He mistook a slip road for junction 14 and overturned.
Prosecutor Alan Blake said: “The speed the coach was travelling at was far too fast for the bend.
“Passengers recalled screaming as they realised the bus was not going to be able to negotiate the bend.”
He described how the coach then began sliding sideways before it was on two wheels and hitting the raised kerb.
“People recalled the sensation of the coach becoming airborne,” he said.
As the coach slammed into the ground most passengers were saved from serious injury by their seatbelts, although several suffered broken limbs.
Tests carried out by police found Weinberg was one-and-a-half times the drink drive limit.
Weinberg, 35, of Meyrick Road, Hill Top, admitted dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol at an earlier hearing.
Mr Simon Davis, defending, said his client was genuinely remorseful and ashamed of what he had done and that his actions had been out of character.
He said Weinberg “buries himself in drink” to escape personal problems, although stressed he was not an alcoholic.
Judge Christopher Tyrer described the crash as a “terrifying and horrifying accident” and jailed him for 10 months.
“You were in drink, one and a half times over the limit, in your position you shouldn’t have been in drink at all. You were driving when you knew you were deprived of rest and sleep.”
He was also disqualified from holding a licence for four years and was fined £500 for driving with excess alcohol.
Bournemouth Daily Echo reports on 23rd June 2008...
Lunch at airport. Shopping in NYC. Luggage on M3.
A HOLIDAYMAKER endured a miserable trip after her suitcase was thrown from a National Express coach and left on the motorway.
Kerry Morton, 31, was travelling to Heathrow to jet off to New York when her belongings were unceremoniously dumped on the M3, thanks to a faulty luggage hold.
On arrival at Heathrow, Ms Morton discovered her case was missing, only to receive a call from the Highways Agency telling her it had been picked up near junction five.
She said National Express had showed minimal regard for her inconvenience, nor the danger the falling case could have caused on the motorway.
Ms Morton said: "I can't express the extent of distress this has caused and it has completely overshadowed the enjoyment and memory of our holiday.
"The first day was very reluctantly spent shopping - in the clothes I had travelled in for 13 hours - for everything from a toothbrush to a coat and scarf."
advertisement
Ms Morton said the driver of the 9.35am coach from Parkstone had twice stopped on the hard shoulder and got out to check the baggage hold.
"On neither occasion did he inform the worried passengers of what was happening," she added.
National Express's initial offer of £100 compensation was slammed by Ms Morton as "unacceptable" for the distress and inconvenience caused.
But after the Daily Echo got involved National Express amended their offer.
A company spokesman said: "We apologise for the delay in resolving this issue and as a gesture of goodwill we have refunded all costs incurred by Miss Morton above the initial agreed compensation of £100.
"The bag was located prior to Miss Morton's departure to New York and all items contained were returned following her trip.
"We have fully investigated the issue and hope to have restored confidence in our service."
Saturday, June 07, 2008
On a slightly lighter note Ralph Swift writes on 7th June 2008...
Panic on the streets of Chester
as the 0840 National Express
cites Durham as its destination.
Bank holidaying hoards wave tickets
like desperate market traders on
Black Wednesday. Blue Monday
is, however, avoided by a series of
Cestrian whispers, confirming that
this is, in fact, the London service.
Further developments as three
passengers are told that they shan’t be
alighting at Marble Arch. Regulations
state that large luggage cannot be carried
from the coach onto Central London pavements.
Terms and conditions are presented by the driver
and the bureaucrats seem to take the upper hand.
Although I’m now hearing that a fierce war of words
has ensued and one of the aggrieved is quoted as saying:
Get a life.
Get a life.
I bet your wife left you
for the man next door.
This man has yet to be identified and thus the accusations
remain clouded in uncertainty. We will keep you posted.
Manchester la la la
Manchester la la la.
Stockport County Supporters Club
have taken the Corley services.
As yet there appear to be
no fatalities but
the pride of Rochdale
displays serious wounds.
Let's all go to Tesco’s
where Rochdale buy their best clothes
la la la la
la la la la
Latest from the M6:
The beautiful woman in F11
has succumbed to sleep deprivation,
prompting a dejected sigh from the young man
in the adjacent seat.
This can only be taken as a suggestion
of said gentleman’s attraction
towards his fellow passenger.
la la la la la la la la.
The man,
whose name has
not yet been released,
is around 5’10”, with
short
brown
hair,
and presents a nervous demeanour.
Due to this factor
it appears increasingly unlikely
that any interaction between the pair
will commence.
Now at 12.10 on
Monday 26th of May,
an update:
Traffic conditions are
good
as we pass the Watford Gap and enter
‘the South of England’.
The M1 is clear in
both directions,
thought to be due
to the late departure of
thousands
of holiday makers.
Weather is overcast with
severe showers.
Storms are expected
and windscreen wipers
have been deployed.
12.25 and there are
severe delays
on the M1 southbound.
All four lanes are at a standstill.
Earlier predictions have been described as
‘misleading’.
Headlights are in operation
as at a quarter to one in the afternoon,
Hertfordshire
is enveloped
in a tempestuous darkness.
Early reports of a
Vogon Destruction Vessel
orbiting the area
have been labelled ‘fantastical’
by the Home Office.
The cause of the midday blackout
is currently being credited to
‘typical British weather’.
In entertainment news;
a baby is crying and the woman in F11
has awoken from her slumber.
Her young admirer
has yet to make eye contact.
We interrupt to bring you developments
in the ‘baggagegate’ scandal.
Since the 11 o’clock driver interchange
there has been little to report
but,
in the last few moments,
one of the ‘Marble Arch Three’
has approached the driver
in an attempt to end the stand-off
and reach a diplomatic reconciliation.
This move has incited an angry response
from other daytrippers.
Fuming at the picket-crossing,
one customer exclaimed:
‘You’re risking our lives.’
This was met, in turn,
with a scathing attack from the MA3’s
most
vocal
member:
‘Shut up. Calm down.
Shut up you Scottish twat.’
A race-hate enquiry has been set up
to investigate the remarks.
In sport;
today’s downpours are likely
to have flooded venues nationwide,
leaving many bank holiday plans
washed-out.
While in travel and finance;
I hope the Victoria line is running and
that I have enough money on my Oyster.
Gully writes on 29th May 2008...
Here is a mention to the dopes at national express who imagine that coaches have left, call you a liar, and then find out it never arrived.Whats even more annoying when you complain you get put on this merry go round of emails and false promises to call you back when you have called and email several times over a month.Apparently the person dealing with my problem of seven hour journeys when its meant to be five and allot of bad customer service only works part time was meant to be in today but today works at home and they cant call her.I think she is some kind of time lord or omni-present coach master at there offices. When anybody calls she is away at home or saving the coach Galaxy from some sort of tyre emergency.I think they need to wake up and stop treating its customers like fools and cattle.
AWPL writes on 29th May 2008...
Today is public holiday, but my time can only be for the journey back to Bournemouth. Last Friday, the traffic back to Norfolk was fairly good, only half hour late. My husband and I were all happy for the coach 'on time'. Although the A11 was blocked, we went through Bury St Edmunds up to Thetford. However, today has very heavy rain, water just falling down. One of two coaches from Norwich to London Victoria didn't turn up. Left many passages at Norwich station. I was luck to get on the first coach as I held a connection ticket. then, the coach was half hour late departing from Norwich. All the way to London is stressed as worrying about lossing connection in London. What can I expect? This is the best public transportation in this country. It is better than Train. If I use train service, It will take me 7 hours and 5 changeover. I wander why the Railway engineering work always hold up on Public holiday. I can't give any comment on the service in this country. If it were in Hong Kong, I would never suffer such 'brilliant' service. Just no complaint at all, as nowhere, nobody is or will listen to me. What a hell of learning CRM (customer relationship management)? the CRM definitely doesn't work in this country. Don't believe Business excellent or Best practice. It doesn't exist in this country although news, books, magazine are all talking about the business excellent. My legs were swollen again and result pain very much. I hope and pray for not having problem for my legs. My Buddha, please bless me.
Panic on the streets of Chester
as the 0840 National Express
cites Durham as its destination.
Bank holidaying hoards wave tickets
like desperate market traders on
Black Wednesday. Blue Monday
is, however, avoided by a series of
Cestrian whispers, confirming that
this is, in fact, the London service.
Further developments as three
passengers are told that they shan’t be
alighting at Marble Arch. Regulations
state that large luggage cannot be carried
from the coach onto Central London pavements.
Terms and conditions are presented by the driver
and the bureaucrats seem to take the upper hand.
Although I’m now hearing that a fierce war of words
has ensued and one of the aggrieved is quoted as saying:
Get a life.
Get a life.
I bet your wife left you
for the man next door.
This man has yet to be identified and thus the accusations
remain clouded in uncertainty. We will keep you posted.
Manchester la la la
Manchester la la la.
Stockport County Supporters Club
have taken the Corley services.
As yet there appear to be
no fatalities but
the pride of Rochdale
displays serious wounds.
Let's all go to Tesco’s
where Rochdale buy their best clothes
la la la la
la la la la
Latest from the M6:
The beautiful woman in F11
has succumbed to sleep deprivation,
prompting a dejected sigh from the young man
in the adjacent seat.
This can only be taken as a suggestion
of said gentleman’s attraction
towards his fellow passenger.
la la la la la la la la.
The man,
whose name has
not yet been released,
is around 5’10”, with
short
brown
hair,
and presents a nervous demeanour.
Due to this factor
it appears increasingly unlikely
that any interaction between the pair
will commence.
Now at 12.10 on
Monday 26th of May,
an update:
Traffic conditions are
good
as we pass the Watford Gap and enter
‘the South of England’.
The M1 is clear in
both directions,
thought to be due
to the late departure of
thousands
of holiday makers.
Weather is overcast with
severe showers.
Storms are expected
and windscreen wipers
have been deployed.
12.25 and there are
severe delays
on the M1 southbound.
All four lanes are at a standstill.
Earlier predictions have been described as
‘misleading’.
Headlights are in operation
as at a quarter to one in the afternoon,
Hertfordshire
is enveloped
in a tempestuous darkness.
Early reports of a
Vogon Destruction Vessel
orbiting the area
have been labelled ‘fantastical’
by the Home Office.
The cause of the midday blackout
is currently being credited to
‘typical British weather’.
In entertainment news;
a baby is crying and the woman in F11
has awoken from her slumber.
Her young admirer
has yet to make eye contact.
We interrupt to bring you developments
in the ‘baggagegate’ scandal.
Since the 11 o’clock driver interchange
there has been little to report
but,
in the last few moments,
one of the ‘Marble Arch Three’
has approached the driver
in an attempt to end the stand-off
and reach a diplomatic reconciliation.
This move has incited an angry response
from other daytrippers.
Fuming at the picket-crossing,
one customer exclaimed:
‘You’re risking our lives.’
This was met, in turn,
with a scathing attack from the MA3’s
most
vocal
member:
‘Shut up. Calm down.
Shut up you Scottish twat.’
A race-hate enquiry has been set up
to investigate the remarks.
In sport;
today’s downpours are likely
to have flooded venues nationwide,
leaving many bank holiday plans
washed-out.
While in travel and finance;
I hope the Victoria line is running and
that I have enough money on my Oyster.
Gully writes on 29th May 2008...
Here is a mention to the dopes at national express who imagine that coaches have left, call you a liar, and then find out it never arrived.Whats even more annoying when you complain you get put on this merry go round of emails and false promises to call you back when you have called and email several times over a month.Apparently the person dealing with my problem of seven hour journeys when its meant to be five and allot of bad customer service only works part time was meant to be in today but today works at home and they cant call her.I think she is some kind of time lord or omni-present coach master at there offices. When anybody calls she is away at home or saving the coach Galaxy from some sort of tyre emergency.I think they need to wake up and stop treating its customers like fools and cattle.
AWPL writes on 29th May 2008...
Today is public holiday, but my time can only be for the journey back to Bournemouth. Last Friday, the traffic back to Norfolk was fairly good, only half hour late. My husband and I were all happy for the coach 'on time'. Although the A11 was blocked, we went through Bury St Edmunds up to Thetford. However, today has very heavy rain, water just falling down. One of two coaches from Norwich to London Victoria didn't turn up. Left many passages at Norwich station. I was luck to get on the first coach as I held a connection ticket. then, the coach was half hour late departing from Norwich. All the way to London is stressed as worrying about lossing connection in London. What can I expect? This is the best public transportation in this country. It is better than Train. If I use train service, It will take me 7 hours and 5 changeover. I wander why the Railway engineering work always hold up on Public holiday. I can't give any comment on the service in this country. If it were in Hong Kong, I would never suffer such 'brilliant' service. Just no complaint at all, as nowhere, nobody is or will listen to me. What a hell of learning CRM (customer relationship management)? the CRM definitely doesn't work in this country. Don't believe Business excellent or Best practice. It doesn't exist in this country although news, books, magazine are all talking about the business excellent. My legs were swollen again and result pain very much. I hope and pray for not having problem for my legs. My Buddha, please bless me.
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