Rage rising.... red mist descending...

Yes, it's a chance to enjoy more of that timeless comedy classic: Glenatron vs the rail system. Recalling classic past episodes such as "the one where Glenatron was reduced to flinging his bicycle down the platform in inexpressible rage", "the unbearable confusingness of trying to plan a complex journey through a call centre in India" and "Oh my god what do you mean I had to know those codes I was given six weeks ago when I booked? Why wasn't I told? It's only five minutes until the sodding train goes" today's is entitled "no, seriously Virgin Trains, wtf???"

It began innocently enough with me checking the train times for a trip to the office at the end of the week. The Office is in Stockport, so it's preferable to rail than drive, especially if work are paying and they're happy for you to go first class. I amble through the rail timetables until it comes time to buy a ticket. But wait, there is no "buy a ticket" link. Why is there no "buy a ticket" link? I have no idea, but my assumption is that because of the inspired idea that having a bunch of powerless companies who can put their branding on trains and offer no benefits to the customer (or rail privatisation as Conservatives and Gordon "duuuh hey boss lets do the same thing with Transport for London" Brown might refer to it) would make a few old school ties very rich, Network Rail aren't allowed to pretend they do anything. Well, nothing apart from changing their name whenever their corner-cutting cheapskate contractors kill a bunch of punters through their dire and culpable incompetence anyways. So I can't go directly from the timetable and find somewhere to buy tickets. That's fine, I'll try a couple of the operators- Virgin trains run the thing so they should be able to do me a good deal...

I have just written them an email. Here it is:
( The Message )