79. Trip to London-14.11.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 79. Trip to London-14.11.19

Yet another of our trips to London to the theatre! My wife and I went to see the fantastic Miriam Margolyes at our favourite London theatre, The park. She was staring in an interesting and poignant play Sydney and the old girl. As usual, we went to and from London by train but both journeys were, once again, blighted by awful delays. I really think that London NorthWestern has got some serious issues to deal with, even more so as a series of weekend strikes are taking place during the run-up to Christmas over driver-only operated trains.

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

350234, LN 07.09 Rugeley Trent Valley & 06.35 Crewe London Euston (1W70, 12L) & 350253, LN 08.22 London Euston Rugeley Trent Valley (9K52, 13L), Northampton station
In the pouring rain at Northampton station another two late running London NorthWestern services pass. 350234 and another unit arrive at platform one with the 07.09 Rugeley/06.35 Crewe to London Euston service that will have come together at Birmingham. Meanwhile, the driver has just alighted from 350253 that has arrived as the 08.22 Euston to Rugeley Trent Valley. Both these trains were late being just below the delay-repay threshold.
Keywords: 350234, LN 07.09 Rugeley Trent Valley & 06.35 Crewe London Euston (1W70, 12L) & 350253, LN 08.22 London Euston Rugeley Trent Valley (9K52, 13L), Northampton station

90037 & 66083, stabled, Wembley yard
Passing Wembley yard revealed only two locomotives stabled. Still wearing its red and gold EWS livery 90037 'Ford - Spirit of Dagenham' waits its next call with 66083 tucked behind it.
Keywords: 90037 66083 Wembley yard

350258, LN 08.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, ran as 10.08 Northampton-London Euston (1W06, 17L), London Euston station
My wife and I travelled on 350258 from Northampton to Euston and the train is seen at platform eleven after arrival. However, things did not go to plan due to more London NorthWestern 'operational difficulties'. The in-coming 08.33 Birmingham New Street to Euston, that we should have caught, was mysteriously cancelled somewhere before Northampton. Therefore, the next arrival into the station from the south was terminated and immediately worked back south again, in this case as the re-timed 10.08 to Euston meaning that arrived seventeen minutes late.
Keywords: 350258 08.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 10.08 Northampton-London Euston 1W06 London Euston station Desiro London Northwestern railway delay repay late

319217, LN 19.30 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (2K31, 41L), London Euston station
On arrival at Euston it was clear that things were not going well with the concourse absolutely packed with people! The huge departures board showed a lot of trains delayed and many with no platforms assigned due to the late arrival of inbound services. All this was caused by flooding in the Coventry and Rugby area as a result of several days of heavy rain. One service that did get away was 319217 and two other former Thameslink units as the delayed 19.30 to Milton Keynes. This service was absolutely packed to the gunwales eventually arriving at its destination some forty-one minutes late.
Keywords: 319217 19.30 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 2K31 London Euston stationLondon Northwestern late delayed former Thameslink

350240, LN 19.15 London Euston-Northampton, cancelled from Northampton (9K38, 51L), Northampton station
Much discussion between train crew takes place at Northampton after the arrival of 350240 that control had just decided to cancel from here! We had taken this train back from Euston but it was not the one we were supposed to be on. Our advanced tickets had us on the 19.51 but there was no indication at Euston if this train was even going to run so we were advised to take the next service north. The 19.15 Euston to Rugeley Trent Valley left at just after 20.00 so we took this one arriving at Northampton fifty-one minutes down but only marginally later than we actually should have done. However, for passengers going on further, they had to de-train as the service was cancelled to work south to Euston again, what chaos!
Keywords: 350240 19.15 London Euston-Northampton cancelled Northampton 9K38 Northampton station lateness delayed delay reapy London NorthWestern

Tickets, Northampton-London Euston-Northampton
Our return tickets from Northampton to Euston. Neither of the booked trains that the advanced tickets had us travelling on ran due to unknown issues in the morning and flooding in the Rugby and Coventry area in the evening. It is days such as this, that London NorthWestern has far too many of, that put the railways in such a bad light.
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.