Anyone else get caught up in yesterdays rail meltdown?
My journey went like this:
Arrived at Portsmouth Harbour station for the 1115 to Waterloo, many trains cancelled, my train indefinitely delayed. All caused by a train passing too slowly over the points between Fratton and Portsmouth, losing the electric rail and becoming stuck. After a chat with the guard I leg it to the bus station and take a 40min bus ride to Havant and so bypass the blockage. At Havant there are still long delays but I eventually get to Waterloo for 1420.
I get to Kings Cross by Boris Bike intending to catch the 1500 to Newcastle only to find even more chaos there. All trains North delayed or cancelled due to lightning strikes at York and Doncaster. Staff trying to get people out of the station due to over crowding and advising that people travel tomorrow instead.
I decided that a better plan would be to walk over to Euston and head up the West Coast line to either Manchester or Carlisle at than take it from there. That was all so far so good until I got to Manchester and found that all the trains to Newcastle were cancelled. Eventually one did depart and I got to Newcastle by 2145, 5 hours late.
At least I can put in for a delay repay, you can't do that after a crappy car journey.