Ship of Fools: Unusual apologies

Thread: Unusual apologies Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :

Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early.

What else could authorities apologise for?

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

We're so sorry that we finished the road works six weeks before the anticipated completion. Please excuse the lack of traffic delays.

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :

I was once booked on a flight out of Guernsey to France via Jersey that was cancelled due to Jersey being totally fogbound. Luckily, barely fifteen minutes later somebody in France ordered a charter from the company and since the plane had to come from Guernsey, they invited me, the only passenger on the original flight to be travelling on to France, to benefit from the ferry flight.

As I boarded the small plane, the pilot - apologetically - invited me to "spread myself around a bit" to compensate for the - to him - embarrassing lack of other passengers.

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

A couple of years ago, a new branch of Manchester's Metrolink tram system opened several months early, and they never apologised. The cads.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

The announcer at Fukushima Station sounded apologetic when my morning train was 10 minutes late. I say sounded because I didn't know what he was actually saying ... I assumed it was related to being woken 2h earlier by a magnitude 7 earthquake, and some health and safety gone mad thing like needing to confirm none of the track was damaged.

Posted by Stetson (# 9597) on :

I think it's good that the transit authorites in Japan apologized for the early departure. Schedules exist for a reason, and if I thought I still had time, however fleeting, to make the train, I'd be ticked off if they sent it away early.

Posted by Stetson (# 9597) on :

I'd also obbserve that part of the reason this is seen as such a man-bites-dog story, with the eccentricity viewed in a good light, is because people sort of treat leaving early as the opposite of leaving late. So the logic goes "Gee, our trains over here don't even apologize for leaving late, but in Japan, they apologize for leaving early", the implication being that leaving late is less of a reason to apologize, but the polite Japanese did it anyway.

Whereas in fact, leaving early can be just as bad as leaving late, if the person has planned his travel schedule on the assumption that the train would be leaving at a certain time. Having to wait six minutes for the next train because yours left early might be as much of a snafu as having to wait six minutes because your train was late in arrviving.

[ 18. November 2017, 14:18: Message edited by: Stetson ]

Posted by Nicolemr (# 28) on :

Yes, I have been late for work when my bus came early before I got there and I had to wait for the next one. Very upsetting. However, in the case of the Japanese train here, it was only 20 seconds, probably not enough time to make a difference.

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

Well, I've been known to arrive at a train just as the conductor was ready to close the doors. So 20 seconds can make a difference.

As for unusual apologies:

"Sorry, but we're letting you off work an hour early today, of course with full pay. There just isn't enough to keep us busy for the rest of the day. So sorry."

Posted by Eirenist (# 13343) on :

At our local teerminus, train doors are rregularly closed 30 seconds before the train is due to leave, 'to ensure a prompt departure'.

Posted by Polly Plummer (# 13354) on :

A few years ago the staff of the city libraries went on strike against collecting fines. Their apologies to readers were gladly accepted!

Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on :

Vicar apologising for the abundance of seating options rather than lack of it.

Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :

In DC recently, we ordered a pizza, and were told to expect it in 45-60 minutes. After it arrived in only 20 minutes, we got an apology for the early delivery, and a coupon code for a free pizza for our trouble.

[Yipee]

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stetson:
Whereas in fact, leaving early can be just as bad as leaving late, if the person has planned his travel schedule on the assumption that the train would be leaving at a certain time. Having to wait six minutes for the next train because yours left early might be as much of a snafu as having to wait six minutes because your train was late in arrviving.

The notice on Leeds station says that doors may be closed up to one minute before departure is actually true. Several times the train has pulled out up to 30 seconds early. Mostly I was on the train, (never got an apology), only once in four years did I miss it due to early departure.

What was ironic about that is that it was a VeryRareThing™ for there to be no delays showing on the departure board.

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :

Passengers on French TGV trains are now required to board at least 2 minutes before departure to ensure the train leaves on time.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Passengers on the Spanish equivalent have to arrive early enough to have their luggage scanned.

Posted by Eirenist (# 13343) on :

As you do on Eurostar.

Posted by ACK (# 16756) on :

With 3 minutes to get from one side of the station at rush hour to the other, to get my connection (assuming running on time), to have the guard watch you pound up the platform, and then the train to pull out 20 seconds early, just as you get to the door, is irritating. Don't know if it's relevant, but I think it was a female guard. Male guards seem more prone to wait for passengers obviously running for the train.

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