Friday 9th August 2019



Eva had a horse riding lesson booked for tomorrow, so I took the kids home. We had all had a lovely time, it was great to have them, but sad, taking them back.

The trip started heading in the wrong direction, back to Reading, on a local train that stopped everywhere except Timbuktu. There was disruption on the route to Birmingham with works in progress on overhead lines at Coventry and Birmingham International Airport. These two destinations were missed and the train went along a little used single track to reach Birmingham actually 5 minutes ahead of time. All good so far.

It is easier if the kids are taken to Winsford Station en-route on a Liverpool bound train. There are two trains per hour from Birmingham to Liverpool, one at 36 minutes past the hour and one at 4 minutes past. Only the 4 minutes past stops at Winsford. The 4 minutes past 12 train was cancelled. As I was watching the information board, all trains on it were first delayed and then cancelled, including all trains heading for London.

There was a lot of confusion in the station and the staff themselves did appear to be certain what was going on. It was as though The Bomb had been dropped.

Eventually, just to get out of Birmingham and at least to be heading in the right direction, we caught a train to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent where Tracey met us.

I turned around and headed straight back. While the return journey was easier, I was still travelling for over 10 hours and it all made for a long day.

This had been the first time I had used the Family and Friends Rail Card that gives 30% discount on tickets when travelling with the kids. So I now use my Senior Rail Card to travel on my own when picking them up, and the Family and Friends Card to travel with them. All in all, a big saving.

Brenda spent her day cleaning the boat and a bit of shopping. She also had to pay extra for staying over on the 24-hour mooring, £5.

  






Comments

  1. EleishaAugust 15, 2019 at 1:10 PM

    Terrible train delays , i was lucky on the way down when traind were delayed and cancelled around me but very delayed on the way back and missed my connection .

    ReplyDelete

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