Fire in The Thameslink Core Tue 12 Aug/Wed 13 Aug

[Jan Mayen]

Around 0025 this morning, I arrived at Blackfriars with the intention of getting the 0032 to Three Bridges, and home to bed after a 12 hour day.
However, I was greeted with the sight of three fire engines. Although I was allowed upto the platform (two, which is usually the Northbound), there were no trains running.
Regular announcements made of the 'dont bother waiting here, find an alternative' type were being made.

I realised that my options were:
1. Taxi, and claim back the fare
2. Wait it out, hope for the best
3. Hotel

I stayed at a hotel, which has made a bit of a dent in the holiday fund, as I didn't fancy the long taxi journey or hanging around the station.

So, three questions:
Was there another option?
What would you have done?
Can I claim for the hotel?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What would you have done?

If the railway wasn't arranging an alternative, having given them an opportunity to do so (i.e. spoken to any staff present), taken an Uber and attempted to claim it back. It's rather less likely a hotel would be paid unless arranged by the railway.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

It looks like the first train to arrive at Three Bridges after the 00:02 from Victoria was the 01:39 from East Croydon, if you could have been at London Bridge for 00:35 you could have made that train getting to Three Bridges at 01:57

 

[Jan Mayen]

It looks like the first train to arrive at Three Bridges after the 00:02 from Victoria was the 01:39 from East Croydon, if you could have been at London Bridge for 00:35 you could have made that train getting to Three Bridges at 01:57

Sadly, arrival at Blackfriars around 0025 would make that unlikely, even if I'd been aware of it. Good to know for next time, thank you.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Sadly, arrival at Blackfriars around 0025 would make that unlikely, even if I'd been aware of it. Good to know for next time, thank you.

It looks like the train from East Croydon was a VST path meaning it was put in at short notice, it may not have been an option at the time you were at Blackfriars.
Yes 10 minutes to get between the two really is cutting it tight, you'd definitely need a bike.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Looks like there was also an 0145 from London Bridge to Three Bridges, albeit late - departing London Bridge at 0204 and arriving Three Bridges at 0256. Far from ideal though, and again a VST path which may not have been showing/known about at the time.

Realtime Trains | 0145 London Bridge to Three Bridges | 13/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 0145 departure from London Bridge to Three Bridges on 13/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk