Dec 19, 2023 07:43 AM
(This post was last modified: Dec 19, 2023 08:02 AM by C C.)
https://www.theguardian.com/business/202...-from-hell
EXCERPT: . . . Although painful, this month’s disruption to Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express trains appears to be far from unique, judging by the stories shared with the Guardian by readers. Many have faced similar situations in recent months, for reasons ranging from flooding to faulty infrastructure and a lack of train drivers.
Karen Cherpin, from Whitstable, was looking forward to travelling to Amsterdam on the Eurostar last month to attend her daughter’s university graduation ceremony. Though the journey started well, she said the train came to a standstill about 30 minutes into the journey, as it approached the Channel tunnel.
“We were initially told that they were waiting for permission to enter the tunnel. As time went by, it became apparent that there was a bigger problem,” she said.
“The electricity eventually went out on the train, leaving us with no heat, no food and little water. The toilet flushing systems ceased to work, and toilets started overflowing as passengers were forced to continue to use them. As the hours ticked by, this became a huge issue. Passengers resorted to using bins as toilets.”
Cherpin and about 700 fellow passengers were stranded onboard the train for more than seven hours, with little to no communication from staff, she said. Eurostar said the disruption was caused by an overhead cable falling on the train. The train eventually returned to its starting point in London.
“I don’t think it was handled very well at all. By the time we were sent back to St Pancras station, I had missed my daughter’s graduation, which was devastating. I will never be able to get that back.”
Cherpin is still waiting for a refund from Eurostar. She also asked them to reimburse the hotel accommodation she had booked for Amsterdam that evening, as well as a new train ticket to return to Canterbury, but was refused, and told to recover the costs via her travel insurer instead.
“The whole experience was truly horrendous. I’m certainly not going to attempt travelling on the Eurostar again for a while.”
As Britons are gearing up for the Christmas holidays, such stories and memories of last year’s strike-disrupted travel will increase worries over any rail trips planned for one of the busiest times of the year.
Richard, a 71-year-old from Norwich, said he would think twice before booking another train journey in Great Britain, after a recent return trip from London with his wife on the Greater Anglia line was beset by problems.
“There was heavy rain in Norfolk that day. Once our journey started at 7.30pm, we were held at every station because of congestion on the line ahead. By the time we reached Ipswich, at 10pm, we were one hour late, before an announcement came that the line was flooded in south Norfolk,” he said.
After about an hour, all passengers were asked to go and sit on another train, unless they wanted to return to London. “At about midnight this second train also returned to London and we decamped to a third train,” Richard said. “We had been promised compensation if we found a hotel or a taxi to complete our journey. I tried to find either of these, to no avail.
“Refreshments were no longer available on the train or in the station. The train’s toilets were locked. Many passengers received water but this offer did not reach us. We spent a very uncomfortable night on the train – cold, hungry and unable to sleep.”
At about 8.30am the next day, the couple managed to board a coach, and finally arrived in Norwich at 9.30am – 12 hours later than scheduled. “I did complain and received £150 compensation from the rail company, but this ordeal has put me off,” Richard said. “I am likely to avoid taking trains in future.”
Lottie McAlister, 25, a water consultant, experienced a train journey from hell in August, on the TransPennine Express from her home city of Manchester to Edinburgh to visit her boyfriend... (MORE - missing details)
Train network: 'The unreliability is creeping up again' ... https://youtu.be/LdKAL-xqK3o
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/LdKAL-xqK3o
EXCERPT: . . . Although painful, this month’s disruption to Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express trains appears to be far from unique, judging by the stories shared with the Guardian by readers. Many have faced similar situations in recent months, for reasons ranging from flooding to faulty infrastructure and a lack of train drivers.
Karen Cherpin, from Whitstable, was looking forward to travelling to Amsterdam on the Eurostar last month to attend her daughter’s university graduation ceremony. Though the journey started well, she said the train came to a standstill about 30 minutes into the journey, as it approached the Channel tunnel.
“We were initially told that they were waiting for permission to enter the tunnel. As time went by, it became apparent that there was a bigger problem,” she said.
“The electricity eventually went out on the train, leaving us with no heat, no food and little water. The toilet flushing systems ceased to work, and toilets started overflowing as passengers were forced to continue to use them. As the hours ticked by, this became a huge issue. Passengers resorted to using bins as toilets.”
Cherpin and about 700 fellow passengers were stranded onboard the train for more than seven hours, with little to no communication from staff, she said. Eurostar said the disruption was caused by an overhead cable falling on the train. The train eventually returned to its starting point in London.
“I don’t think it was handled very well at all. By the time we were sent back to St Pancras station, I had missed my daughter’s graduation, which was devastating. I will never be able to get that back.”
Cherpin is still waiting for a refund from Eurostar. She also asked them to reimburse the hotel accommodation she had booked for Amsterdam that evening, as well as a new train ticket to return to Canterbury, but was refused, and told to recover the costs via her travel insurer instead.
“The whole experience was truly horrendous. I’m certainly not going to attempt travelling on the Eurostar again for a while.”
As Britons are gearing up for the Christmas holidays, such stories and memories of last year’s strike-disrupted travel will increase worries over any rail trips planned for one of the busiest times of the year.
Richard, a 71-year-old from Norwich, said he would think twice before booking another train journey in Great Britain, after a recent return trip from London with his wife on the Greater Anglia line was beset by problems.
“There was heavy rain in Norfolk that day. Once our journey started at 7.30pm, we were held at every station because of congestion on the line ahead. By the time we reached Ipswich, at 10pm, we were one hour late, before an announcement came that the line was flooded in south Norfolk,” he said.
After about an hour, all passengers were asked to go and sit on another train, unless they wanted to return to London. “At about midnight this second train also returned to London and we decamped to a third train,” Richard said. “We had been promised compensation if we found a hotel or a taxi to complete our journey. I tried to find either of these, to no avail.
“Refreshments were no longer available on the train or in the station. The train’s toilets were locked. Many passengers received water but this offer did not reach us. We spent a very uncomfortable night on the train – cold, hungry and unable to sleep.”
At about 8.30am the next day, the couple managed to board a coach, and finally arrived in Norwich at 9.30am – 12 hours later than scheduled. “I did complain and received £150 compensation from the rail company, but this ordeal has put me off,” Richard said. “I am likely to avoid taking trains in future.”
Lottie McAlister, 25, a water consultant, experienced a train journey from hell in August, on the TransPennine Express from her home city of Manchester to Edinburgh to visit her boyfriend... (MORE - missing details)
Train network: 'The unreliability is creeping up again' ... https://youtu.be/LdKAL-xqK3o