What happend to my train? 0718 BIW-KGX

[mallangong]

Morning,

10 of us were left waiting at Biggleswade this morning for the 0718 which didn't turn up. No announcements and the ticket office was not open. Interestingly a train heading to Peterborough pulled into platform 4 at circa 0725. It remained there so I assumed that there must be a problem on the line and that they may send that unit back to KGX.

After a 10 minute wait I saw the driver walk through the train and swap ends, so was waiting for him to shout over or for an announcement. Nothing. I could see the doors were locked so there would have been no point running over anyway.

A fellow passenger called NR who stated that the train had departed at 0718 and that he must have missed it! When the ticket office did open he could only say that it had been scheduled to depart on time.

Am I alone in thinking this lack of information is shocking? Does anybody know what actually happened to the 0718?

Ta.

 

[attics26]

according to trust left Biggleswade 0728 10 late arrived London 1 late

 

[bb21]

It shows as departed at 0728, 10 late.

However interestingly there was no log at Arlesey where it was scheduled to call at 0723. It left Hitchin at 0737 (4 late), and arrived at KGX 1 late at 0820.

 

[asylumxl]

Nevermind, beaten to it!

 

[bb21]

Great minds think alike

No replies for half an hour, and then three at the same time.

 

[mallangong]

Thanks all. Those timings can only mean that the the train they are putting down as calling at Biggleswade was the one that changed direction and didn't unlock its doors. Therefore surley it didn't call!

Why would anybody in their right mind do this?

 

[barrykas]

Looking at the revised GN timetable for today (linked to from this page), there was no 07:18 from Biggleswade this morning, the first train was the 08:17.

Prior to that, there were buses to Hitchin at 05:49 and 06:50.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Aictos]

Looking at the revised GN timetable for today (linked to from this page), there was no 07:18 from Biggleswade this morning, the first train was the 08:17.

Prior to that, there were buses to Hitchin at 05:49 and 06:50.

Cheers,

Barry

I disagree, according to the traffic notices that staff have to refer to, there was a rail replacement bus service departing Peterborough at 05:30 arriving at Biggleswade at 07:10 which was supposed to connect with the 07:18 FCC to Kings Cross.

The train which was to form the 07:18 was booked to arrive at 07:12.

Why it left 10 late from Biggleswade, I don't know but that 07:18 was certainly booked to run today.

 

[HST Power]

There are further problems on the Great Northern between Hitchin and Royston, due to level crossing issues.

 

[Aictos]

There are further problems on the Great Northern between Hitchin and Royston, due to level crossing issues.

Or to be more precise in the Royston area at Litlington.

 

[HST Power]

Full information is here. Passengers are advised to allow an extra 10 minutes for their journey. Trains are running at reduced speed in the affected area.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/plan-your-journey/live-train-updates/

 

[t0ffeeman]

The PDF on FCC's website shows:
Bus BIW 0650 arr HIT 0728. Train from HIT at 0733 which is probably the same train seen at BIW

 

[Aictos]

The PDF on FCC's website shows:
Bus BIW 0650 arr HIT 0728. Train from HIT at 0733 which is probably the same train seen at BIW

Yes but I was referring not to the PDF on the website but rather operationally what was running - sounds like a almighty cockup this morning at the moment.

 

[t0ffeeman]

Yes but I was referring not to the PDF on the website but rather operationally what was running - sounds like a almighty cockup this morning at the moment.

I don't think there was an almighty cock up to what "should" have been running. It all went to plan. Rather the information to passengers at the station showed no signs of the PDF at all. Whilst the Engineering poster described today as "Easter Sunday May 1st" with no engineering between Hitchin & Huntingdon.

Those of us who can work these things out will know that no trains stabled at PBO which usually form the 0618 and 0718 at BIW will happen. However Network Rail blocks and an over imaginative diagrams dept can change things.

 

[Aictos]

I don't think there was an almighty cock up to what "should" have been running. It all went to plan. Rather the information to passengers at the station showed no signs of the PDF at all. Whilst the Engineering poster described today as "Easter Sunday May 1st" with no engineering between Hitchin & Huntingdon.

Those of us who can work these things out will know that no trains stabled at PBO which usually form the 0618 and 0718 at BIW will happen. However Network Rail blocks and an over imaginative diagrams dept can change things.

IF that bus was suppose to run then it would have been included in the Special Traffic Notices, it had not been included which in my view means the train which was booked to departed at 07:18 did depart but with a 10 minute delay.

There was nothing in Live Departures about Buses at Biggleswade.

 

[yorkie]

Am I alone in thinking this lack of information is shocking? Does anybody know what actually happened to the 0718?

Looks like some people were told it would be empty, although it should have conveyed passengers. I would strongly advise you, and anyone else affected, to write to FCC and complain. They need to know about this mistake. Please let us know if you receive a satisfactory response.

FCC enjoy giving out penalty fares for people who make a mistake so the least they should be doing is handing out £20 to anyone affected by this mistake, in my opinion

 

[t0ffeeman]

The shunting signals at Biggleswade only cater for ECS between the Down Slow to the Up Slow Yorkie.