A particularly crappy journey home last night. A very slow roll-out from London and then, as we got to Ilford, full stop as the driver rebooted the train. Whatever was wrong – something about the safety systems, apparently – she said she couldn’t fix it, so after 15 minutes or so we were turfed off.

The usual promises followed about the next train down the line stopping to pick us up, but when it arrived it was full to standing. We traipsed over to platform 4 and there waited for a train to Romford (ultimate destination Gidea Park – I’ve never understood that). It arrived late, inevitably.

At Romford we had to change onto a train to Shenfield, and there change again back to Ingatestone. We eventually arrived home two and a half hours after leaving work.

I could excuse breaking down trains – these things happen – but it’s the lack of organisation and provision that infuriates. They didn’t make a good job of directing us to the right trains at Ilford, which ended up on some Shenfield people getting on the Gidea Park train and then off again, and the trailing train that was going to pick everyone up being mis-announced.

Even the announcer seemed embarrassed about it. He blamed it all on only just being told.

Not good enough.