November 9, 2010 — No comments — Is Orwell running the trains these days? None of my trips to or from work have been without problems this last week or so. Yesterday’s total morning journey took an hour longer than usual, door to door, and this morning it was a good 30 minutes over the usual stretch. Why? Well, this morning it... Read more...
January 13, 2010 — No comments — A frustrating, long journey to work as points failure leads to cancellations and broken down trains cause short formations, overcrowding and further delays as we must wait to board a train.
January 11, 2010 — No comments — The snow has hampered the smooth running of the railways for most of a week, and now some trains are being made up with fewer coaches than normal, leading to overcrowding.
December 14, 2009 — No comments — The problem of stealing copper from the railway lines is getting worse. Today it's stopped us getting into London at all.
October 6, 2009 — No comments — A horse on the line this morning.
September 17, 2009 — No comments — A fallen tree, which should have been removed long before, causes serious delays and, a day later, a suicide on the line means a day spent working from home.
September 2, 2009 — No comments — Another couple of bad journeys yesterday. A delay in the morning getting my train into London late and then, in the evening, equipment problems, which meant the next Chelmsford train leaving Liverpool Street wouldn't be for 25 minutes.
August 25, 2009 — No comments — 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.
August 19, 2009 — No comments — Well there's irony. This morning's train arrives 15 minutes late and they still have the tenacity to ask that you close the windows and doors to assist staff in the 'safe and punctual' departure of your train. Punctual.
July 13, 2009 — No comments — It's Monday, so of course the trains were delayed this morning. This time around it was problems with a level crossing in Norfolk that caused the 09h02 to be 21 minutes late leaving Chelmsford.
Recent posts
November 30, 2010 | No comments
Facebook protest group

A new Facebook page is angling for free Underground and Overground travel for the whole of January, but what will it achieve?

November 29, 2010 | No comments
Tube map showing disruption

Today’s tube strike is just a taste of things to come with the unions promising further action in 2011.

November 23, 2010 | No comments
What does each pound of your ticket price pay for?

Rail fares are heading skywards next year. Atoc has confirmed an average increase of 6.2% for 2011, starting in January.

November 23, 2010 | No comments

An answer to my question. I’d emailed to ask what ‘poor track conditions’ means, and it seems it’s a cover-all for general rail problems. I wonder if that’s a reaction to the general ribbing the train operators got to the ‘wrong kind of snow / leaves on the line’ excuses they gave years ago, as… Read more…

November 9, 2010 | No comments

Is Orwell running the trains these days? None of my trips to or from work have been without problems this last week or so. Yesterday’s total morning journey took an hour longer than usual, door to door, and this morning it was a good 30 minutes over the usual stretch. Why? Well, this morning it… Read more…