I was due on the Grand Central 15.52 from York. I saw this whilst the at the National Rail Museum on the departure board near the viewing platform. That was close due to the rain. So I headed off to the station. I then saw the 15.52 was delayed so said to me friend, no hurry. Once I reached his house I saw it was on time with no chance of me catching it now because we had taken our time.
Once at the station the lady, Jenny, suggested Sheffield. We went off to find a pub with a departure screen. Soon the Jenny came running after us, slightly out of breath sounding, to inform us the person had been hit by a train. Really nice of her. Thanks. I hope the drive on the other train that hit the person is okay and things were not to bad for everyone concerned.
The pub didn't have any departure boards so no money from us went there. Instead it was to the waiting room and cafe which did at departure boards. I think the pub is missing a trick there.
Soon I noticed that the 15.52 was no where to be found on the national rail enquiries app. Not even on the timetable pages. Not even from Sutherland wasn't it shown. Or on the arrives at Kings Cross. Now with the app you can search into the past. I went onto real time times and that showed it as cancelled. How can a train that left 2 minutes late be cancelled? Any one know? I suspect something was wrong with NRE. After all I believe the back end system is fairly old.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y20176/2013/10/21/advanced
So hung around some more. Always the chance tomorrow morning but no certainty trains will be running tomorrow morning and I do need to get to work.
Eventually a Leeds train at 17.45 is suggested. Connecting train due to leave in about 3 minutes. Cue walking over to platform 11, hoping to catch it. I had a heavy bag so I am not rushing. That train eventually left 10 mins late, as it was waiting for it's joining portion.
As I left I then find the Leeds train cancelled according to NRE app and I then lose all mobile phone reception. Guard soon suggests going to Manchester and down.
Now I needed to get to Kings Cross to claim back a TFL refund and I'm not often passing through London using my Oyster Card. Shame refunds can't be claimed from ticket machines. I think buses wouldn't work. However once we arrive near Leeds, the guard is informed that a train is now running. Turns out the 17.45 was cancelled but the coaching stock was used to form another 17.45. This 17.45 is stopping at every station served by East Coast. Guard says we are due in by 20.00 but he doesn't know if that will actually happen. Depends on the line between Peterborough and Grantham.
I'm not sure how anyone staying at York fared. Probably worse.
I also get free wi-fi thanks to East Coast. I had to ring up because I was getting error code 102. When you get that, it means they have enabled free wi-fi and all one needs to do is enter anything in the passcode box and it works. Instead they just enabled it free for my ip address as I was then struggling to bring up the passcode box. Very good of them.
All in all I'm fairly happy with the service they have tried to provide and the information given.
As usual the screens have had problems. the 16.32 to Kings Cross changed platform 16.55 and was shown as leaving in 1 minute. 1 minute after it left it was still shown as leaving at 16.56! They were aware of the problem at least. It actually wasn't going anywhere.
Now at Grantham. Have to see what happens from here. I'm less concerned about things today because I'm in my own free leisure time and not trying to get to and from work.
Here's an example of how well the online live departure information is right now. We were due to leave Grantham at 18.49 but left at 19.05, 16 minutes late. However East Coast wifi page is still saying we are due into Peterborough on time at 19.07! So just the two minutes to travel along the affected section. I'm sure we can manage that in no time at all. It's only 19.33 now! Ha-ha. Still I'm on a warm train which isn't massively packed, considering. Still seats available and first class didn't even need declassifying. East Coast are doing the best they can I'm sure.
Any photos from the affected site. It's too dark to see anything from this train. I don't know if electric trains are running through the site. This is a diesel one.
Once at the station the lady, Jenny, suggested Sheffield. We went off to find a pub with a departure screen. Soon the Jenny came running after us, slightly out of breath sounding, to inform us the person had been hit by a train. Really nice of her. Thanks. I hope the drive on the other train that hit the person is okay and things were not to bad for everyone concerned.
The pub didn't have any departure boards so no money from us went there. Instead it was to the waiting room and cafe which did at departure boards. I think the pub is missing a trick there.
Soon I noticed that the 15.52 was no where to be found on the national rail enquiries app. Not even on the timetable pages. Not even from Sutherland wasn't it shown. Or on the arrives at Kings Cross. Now with the app you can search into the past. I went onto real time times and that showed it as cancelled. How can a train that left 2 minutes late be cancelled? Any one know? I suspect something was wrong with NRE. After all I believe the back end system is fairly old.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y20176/2013/10/21/advanced
So hung around some more. Always the chance tomorrow morning but no certainty trains will be running tomorrow morning and I do need to get to work.
Eventually a Leeds train at 17.45 is suggested. Connecting train due to leave in about 3 minutes. Cue walking over to platform 11, hoping to catch it. I had a heavy bag so I am not rushing. That train eventually left 10 mins late, as it was waiting for it's joining portion.
As I left I then find the Leeds train cancelled according to NRE app and I then lose all mobile phone reception. Guard soon suggests going to Manchester and down.
Now I needed to get to Kings Cross to claim back a TFL refund and I'm not often passing through London using my Oyster Card. Shame refunds can't be claimed from ticket machines. I think buses wouldn't work. However once we arrive near Leeds, the guard is informed that a train is now running. Turns out the 17.45 was cancelled but the coaching stock was used to form another 17.45. This 17.45 is stopping at every station served by East Coast. Guard says we are due in by 20.00 but he doesn't know if that will actually happen. Depends on the line between Peterborough and Grantham.
I'm not sure how anyone staying at York fared. Probably worse.
I also get free wi-fi thanks to East Coast. I had to ring up because I was getting error code 102. When you get that, it means they have enabled free wi-fi and all one needs to do is enter anything in the passcode box and it works. Instead they just enabled it free for my ip address as I was then struggling to bring up the passcode box. Very good of them.
All in all I'm fairly happy with the service they have tried to provide and the information given.
As usual the screens have had problems. the 16.32 to Kings Cross changed platform 16.55 and was shown as leaving in 1 minute. 1 minute after it left it was still shown as leaving at 16.56! They were aware of the problem at least. It actually wasn't going anywhere.
Now at Grantham. Have to see what happens from here. I'm less concerned about things today because I'm in my own free leisure time and not trying to get to and from work.
Here's an example of how well the online live departure information is right now. We were due to leave Grantham at 18.49 but left at 19.05, 16 minutes late. However East Coast wifi page is still saying we are due into Peterborough on time at 19.07! So just the two minutes to travel along the affected section. I'm sure we can manage that in no time at all. It's only 19.33 now! Ha-ha. Still I'm on a warm train which isn't massively packed, considering. Still seats available and first class didn't even need declassifying. East Coast are doing the best they can I'm sure.
Any photos from the affected site. It's too dark to see anything from this train. I don't know if electric trains are running through the site. This is a diesel one.
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hock: 