Dear Translink,
I use your website frequently to check my train times. I want to use the train, I want to save the world/environment/money on taxis.
So on Saturday I negotiated your slightly clumsy website (we’ll overlook that for now) to check the trains from Carrickfergus to Botanic and back again. Trains out were fine. This is what the website said for returning trains:
So, we leave our restaurant having NOT HAD DESSERT to catch the alleged 2302 train home. We arrive at 2250 to give reasonable amount of time. There don’t seem to be any trains listed for Carrickfergus. I ask the lady at the desk – she says “the next train to Carrick is the 2320″, thirty minutes later. I politely show her what translink website says are the trains on my phone. She says “Yes we are having a few complaints about the website”.
LIKE SERIOUSLY. The information is actually WRONG, BUGGY with no indication of that fact and you’ve had complaints already but haven’t passed them on to somebody to deal with?
Who project managed the change of train times and like, FORGOT to update the website, TEST the update or some other such obvious thing?
How hard is that to do in a public service or even a warning on the website that says “TIMETABLE HAS CHANGED – PLEASE CHECK SOME OTHER PLACE FOR CORRECTIONS”.
I planned my night round those facts Translink so you owe me dessert.
I’m talking maybe even a cheeseboard as well.
Grump over.
Vox O’Feckin’ Malley
Posted by David on February 21, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Typical! That typo has probably been there for months and they can’t afford the update fee. They could actually be building in some time for people to consider if they actually really want to go to Carrick ?
Posted by Stephen Orr on February 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Dear Translink,
I’ve recently been struggling to stay within the recommended guidelines for sugar intake, of 40 grams per day. Due to your dodgy website I managed to avoid an unnecessary dessert on Saturday evening.
Thanks for your assistance in this matter,
Vox O’Johnson
Posted by Nelly And I on February 21, 2010 at 9:20 pm
i try and keep a copy of the pdf timetables on my iphone so i don’t even have to go near the website. I imagine they’re as flawed as the site though.
just think of the calories translink saved you…
Posted by voxo on February 21, 2010 at 10:43 pm
You guys.
Posted by carrieohara on April 6, 2010 at 3:37 pm
On my last adventure out to meet your beautiful lady wife I too met with the disappointment of the Translink website who not only fabricate trains from Belfast to Carrick but buses from Donaghadee to Belfast. I ran (and Carrie don’t do running) through the Dee in my heels to arrive a panting, make up smudging mess only for the driver and his friend to laugh at my misfortune…
(The story and the night ended well- which is not, I get, the point)
Let’s rage agains this machine Vox…