Victoria to Gillingham 0037 Sat 27 May

[MedwayValiant]

The journey named above was not an occasion on which Southeastern covered itself in glory. This is the last service on the Chatham mainline, and last night it was cancelled (apparently for no driver available, but that is uncomfirmed).

I was planning to join the service at Bromley South at 0057, as were half a dozen other people. The service is usually well loaded until Swanley, but empties out after that.

But with it cancelled, a replacement bus service was announced, to leave Bromley South at 0107. That bus never arrived, and by 0130 a member of station staff had to call a cab for the four passengers who had not found other ways to get where they needed to be. Arrival time at Rochester 0238 as against the booked 0130, but how I prove that for the purposes of delay repay I don't really know.

I imagine that passengers from Victoria for Bromley were told to take the last Orpington service, so did that bus leave Victoria carrying only passengers for stations beyond Bromley, and not trouble to go via Bromley? Or did the bus never actually exist?

 

[Hadders]

These things happen sometimes, very frustrating if you're caught up in it.

It won't be easy to source replacement buses and drivers at that time of night. Southeastern at least did the right thing in arranging taxis.

I wouldn't anticipate an issue claiming Delay Repay. Southeastern will know they cancelled the train and you had to be transported by taxi.

 

[theageofthetra]

Was the cancellation to do with the closure of the line from Brixton to Herne Hill on the Sunday for engineering works? That service would have had to go via the Catford loop and not all drivers sign it.

Everything is normally done to ensure that service (& all last trains) runs so its not a cancellation that would be done lightly.

 

[MedwayValiant]

That required diversion does seem fairly likely to be the explanation for the cancellation.

There were two staff on duty at Bromley South. One was less than helpful and insisted that the screens are always right, but the other did all he could and arranged the taxi once he'd been authorised to.

TfL taxi inspectors were out in force in Bromley on Saturday evening, and did book a couple of taxis for only taking cash (a working card machine is now a requirement for black cabs) or for having the wrong plates. One of those was also very helpful, so thanks to him too.