Train service is a joke!!

Admiral Huddy · 10-06-2008, 11:45

The National Express train service between London Liverpool St and Ipswich is becoming a bit beyond a joke now. For the fourth time this year we’ve had a total suspension of service. The first three were due a new bridge being built as part of the East London Line extension into Shoreditch. On all three occasions I’ve been forced to take a days leave.
This was the last time when the bridge collapsed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/7424757.stm

Anyway, last night, I got the 5:20 from Liverpool Street to Ipswich when the train sudden anchored its brakes after a rather loud explosion. It pretty much shook everyone. It felt like we hit something and there was this awful feeling that it was car or something. It turns out that the train managed to bring down the overhead electric cables but we didn’t know this at the time.

After an hour with no open windows or air conditioning, we instructed to leave the train and wait for further instructions at the line side. I wasn’t quite sure were we were. I know we had passed Ingatestone but it was hard to tell as we were in a slight embanked cutting.

got some pics:

We were kept on the line for nearly 2 hours before a train on the opposite side rescued us. This meant walking along the line to get on the Inter-city train. I seemed weird being at ground level with the trains.

It was quite scary really but in all credit, it was dealt with quite well. I guess since this is such a regular occurrence, they must get used to the drill. The police were on the scene in no time and track marshals weren’t far behind. The driver must have been waiting for these to arrive before opening the doors. You’d think there would have been panic but in general everyone was patient and compliant.

As the rescuing train pulled away, I realised I was 30 minutes walk from home. I got in the end just after 9:30. A friend of mine got a slightly later train got home about 11:30pm.

This morning, the service is running a limited service and the train I was on was still there. You can see the damage just behind. Loads of tangled over head cables and engineers scratching their heads.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7445445.stm

Mark · 10-06-2008, 11:56

The trains do like pulling down the cables on that line. Lost count of how many times I've heard reports of that. :/

I'm surprised National Express rebranded so soon given the shambles that was 'one', but at least they kept everyone safe.

Dee · 10-06-2008, 12:02

Flog them to the papers Huddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Admiral Huddy · 10-06-2008, 12:03

yep you are right. Always the same stretch of line too. Near Ingatestone.

Joe 90 · 10-06-2008, 12:41

trains annoy me but at least i've never had owt like this happen on the trans-pennine line \o/

Nutcase · 10-06-2008, 17:40

Trains are big when you're on the floor aren't they?

Probably a pantograph fault on the train, but could have been faulty wires. Whichever it's going to cost either Nat Exp or Net Rail plenty!

Bad luck on being on the one to pull them down, but an experience for you

Zirax · 10-06-2008, 18:34

I'm glad I didn't stay for that extra pint in the afternoon otherwise I would have gotten caught as well. It is beyond a joke now though, they keep bodging repairs on that section, its around every 4 months that the line goes iffy in that spot.

After network rail just announced record profits...... I hope they get fined and the government uses the opportunity to increase the financial penalties for their continually shoddy work.

Luckily I don't need to be in this week and I wouldn't head in anyway as I would have to use the C2C service from Chafford Hundred. This means that I get in at 10 and leave at 3 due to wanting to get home. In this weather I always carry some water for the reason above, its not nice being in there not moving with no ventilation

Garp · 10-06-2008, 19:41

Wow, that's taking Huddyism to a whole new level! I'm not sure I want to know how you can possibly best that!!

Admiral Huddy · 11-06-2008, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garp

Wow, that's taking Huddyism to a whole new level! I'm not sure I want to know how you can possibly best that!!

I only flushed the toilet!

10-06-2008, 11:45	#1
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	Train service is a joke!! The National Express train service between London Liverpool St and Ipswich is becoming a bit beyond a joke now. For the fourth time this year we’ve had a total suspension of service. The first three were due a new bridge being built as part of the East London Line extension into Shoreditch. On all three occasions I’ve been forced to take a days leave. This was the last time when the bridge collapsed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/7424757.stm Anyway, last night, I got the 5:20 from Liverpool Street to Ipswich when the train sudden anchored its brakes after a rather loud explosion. It pretty much shook everyone. It felt like we hit something and there was this awful feeling that it was car or something. It turns out that the train managed to bring down the overhead electric cables but we didn’t know this at the time. After an hour with no open windows or air conditioning, we instructed to leave the train and wait for further instructions at the line side. I wasn’t quite sure were we were. I know we had passed Ingatestone but it was hard to tell as we were in a slight embanked cutting. got some pics: We were kept on the line for nearly 2 hours before a train on the opposite side rescued us. This meant walking along the line to get on the Inter-city train. I seemed weird being at ground level with the trains. It was quite scary really but in all credit, it was dealt with quite well. I guess since this is such a regular occurrence, they must get used to the drill. The police were on the scene in no time and track marshals weren’t far behind. The driver must have been waiting for these to arrive before opening the doors. You’d think there would have been panic but in general everyone was patient and compliant. As the rescuing train pulled away, I realised I was 30 minutes walk from home. I got in the end just after 9:30. A friend of mine got a slightly later train got home about 11:30pm. This morning, the service is running a limited service and the train I was on was still there. You can see the damage just behind. Loads of tangled over head cables and engineers scratching their heads. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7445445.stm __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

10-06-2008, 12:03	#4
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	yep you are right. Always the same stretch of line too. Near Ingatestone. __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

10-06-2008, 12:41	#5
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	trains annoy me but at least i've never had owt like this happen on the trans-pennine line \o/ __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

10-06-2008, 19:41	#8
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Wow, that's taking Huddyism to a whole new level! I'm not sure I want to know how you can possibly best that!! __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

10-06-2008, 11:56	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The trains do like pulling down the cables on that line. Lost count of how many times I've heard reports of that. :/ I'm surprised National Express rebranded so soon given the shambles that was 'one', but at least they kept everyone safe.

10-06-2008, 12:02	#3
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Flog them to the papers Huddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10-06-2008, 17:40	#6
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Trains are big when you're on the floor aren't they? Probably a pantograph fault on the train, but could have been faulty wires. Whichever it's going to cost either Nat Exp or Net Rail plenty! Bad luck on being on the one to pull them down, but an experience for you

10-06-2008, 18:34	#7
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	I'm glad I didn't stay for that extra pint in the afternoon otherwise I would have gotten caught as well. It is beyond a joke now though, they keep bodging repairs on that section, its around every 4 months that the line goes iffy in that spot. After network rail just announced record profits...... I hope they get fined and the government uses the opportunity to increase the financial penalties for their continually shoddy work. Luckily I don't need to be in this week and I wouldn't head in anyway as I would have to use the C2C service from Chafford Hundred. This means that I get in at 10 and leave at 3 due to wanting to get home. In this weather I always carry some water for the reason above, its not nice being in there not moving with no ventilation