Helen was desperate for a drink of water. The little girl in front of us was getting restless from lack of food.
David Blakeley
I bought tickets to see Peter Frampton in June 2022. Helen booked the train tickets and The Premier Inn at Earls Court at the same time. We were to travel to London on Monday 7th and stay until Wednesday 9th November. Then we discover that the trains would be on strike that Monday so I suggested we change the train tickets and begin our journey on Sunday 6th. A couple of hours after buying the tickets and booking the Colliers Wood Premier Inn, the train unions decided they wouldn’t be going on strike after all. We were more than angry!
We had booked First Class so on the 6th at Leeds Station, we walked to the far end of the train to board our carriage. It seemed that none of the seats had a reservation. An announcement told us there was a problem with the reservation signs and to sit anywhere so we did. A young couple with their 3 year old daughter came to where we were. She said we were in their seats, but we told her none of the seats were being reserved today.
The train was very busy. Some people were sitting on their cases or just standing in the end vestibule. The train set off on time at least and we were given menus, so everyone was deciding what to eat. Then when the train got to Doncaster, the catering staff got off. This was shortly followed by another announcement saying there would be no catering service today as staff couldn’t get to the train, due to a fatality on the line. To make matters worse, our train was being diverted via Lincolnshire due to engineering works and would now take us an extra hour. Helen was desperate for a drink of water. The little girl in front of us was getting restless from lack of food.
When we got to Peterborough quite a few of the standing passengers got off. The remaining one member of train crew on our half of the train said that any first class ticket holders could make their way to the food bar, for whatever she could get from the fridge.
Helen had our tickets so she went off to see what she could get. She came back with a sandwich, a box containing Tacos with various dips, a bottle of water each, crisps and some biscuits. The lady and her young daughter were also brought something by her husband; he managed to get some sandwiches and a whole litre bottle of orange juice. So at least we all had something to eat and drink before we eventually arrived in London.