I thought leaving Oxford at 7-30 I would catch the same time train as I did a couple of weeks ago leaving at 6-30. Either I was too late or no CrossCountry train, which I had assumed runs hourly. Wait until 2006 and catch train for Paddington which stops at Reading.
Train ran slow. I just missed a train from Reading.
Next train at 2235, no trains for two hours for what is a service of two trains an hour.
What of trains to Gatwick, planes to catch, what alternative transport has been arranged? Nothing, no information, no announcements.
I was told to find a Duty Manager.
A train to Basingstoke, leaving at 2107. I could go a very long way round. Guard and driver see me not looking very happy. Asked what’s up, I told them. I asked could I catch the Basingstoke train. They said yes.
At Basingstoke just missed a train. Have to cross to a central platform to see display for trains, then cross back again. A girl came in late from Salisbury, next rain to Reading cancelled.
She asked did the train I was waiting for go to Woking. I said yes, then told her she had just missed a Woking train.
On reflection I realised if she wanted Reading, she wanted Wokingham not Woking.
I caught the train to Woking, then bus. Arrived home 2220, 15 minuted before the train would have left Reading had I waited two hours.
Nightmare. Go out anywhere, never know if will get back home. Last week stranded at Alton, no trains, all trains cancelled, no information.
Situation is not helped by stations not manned, or at large stations like Reading, no staff to be, no announcements, no apology. And no one cares, at least the train companies do not care. The staff are almost begging for the trains to be taken into public ownership as they a see on a daily basis how bad the service has become.
Keithpp's Blog 