Thames Trains dump train passengers in a cold cold carpark
glad to be home | 19.10.2003 23:23 | Oxford
A trainload of passengers travelling into Oxford tonight were left stranded about 12 miles away in Heyford.
Our train stopped at Heyford; the driver told us the line was blocked by some kind of 'incident'. So we waited. We waited on the train for about 20-40min for news of a bus that we were told would be laid on instead. Eventually, the driver announced that a bus was waiting for us in the car park. People surged onto the platform and up the footbridge, eager to be on the move again.
We thought that would be the end of the problems; a bus was here, and we were nearly at Oxford, after all. But when we got to the car park, we found nothing but a dark starry sky. We began to resign ourselves to waiting just a bit longer, hoping the driver had meant a bus was just around the corner...
We were 40-100 people, clustered together, chatting & shivering. After about 15min, a taxi appeared, some people jumped in, and it drove away. It was only when this was repeated 5min later, with the driver shouting 'free ride', that we realised that this was their 'bus'. One of our group managed to squeeze into this second taxi.
Meanwhile, the train surreptitiously slid away, leaving us without warmth, shelter - or anyone to complain at! We expected a steady stream of taxis after that, but apart after the first 3, the minutes stretched out and it became clear we were in for a long night.
We managed to get in touch with somebody who could come and pick us up, but would take 45 minutes to reach us. Meanwhile, I decide to announce to everyone that you can claim compensation by writing to train companies, or filling in a claim form (they do *very little* to draw this to anyone's attention, unsurprisingly). People agreed that this was the least we should do.
Using mobiles and a nearby phonebox, we set about pestering various people. National Rail told us they would ring us back, then didn't (not sure about this bit). Then we tried the British Transport Police, who said they'd contact Thames Trains. Hmmph, we thought, not much help there.
Later they rang us, to assure us that TT would get us to our final destinations 'tonight'. This was pretty meaningless to a group of cold and tired people who had already been lied to. Another person was told a 'fleet' of taxi would be with us in 10-15min, but 25-40min later there was no sign of them.
And then, for us at least, it was over. Our lift arrived. We managed to squeeze a spare person into the boot, and went home.
So: a bus becomes 3 taxis, and a FLEET of taxis disappear into a black hole.
As far as I know, those poor people are still waiting there now....
[BTW, does anyone know what happened in Oxford that stopped the trains??]
We thought that would be the end of the problems; a bus was here, and we were nearly at Oxford, after all. But when we got to the car park, we found nothing but a dark starry sky. We began to resign ourselves to waiting just a bit longer, hoping the driver had meant a bus was just around the corner...
We were 40-100 people, clustered together, chatting & shivering. After about 15min, a taxi appeared, some people jumped in, and it drove away. It was only when this was repeated 5min later, with the driver shouting 'free ride', that we realised that this was their 'bus'. One of our group managed to squeeze into this second taxi.
Meanwhile, the train surreptitiously slid away, leaving us without warmth, shelter - or anyone to complain at! We expected a steady stream of taxis after that, but apart after the first 3, the minutes stretched out and it became clear we were in for a long night.
We managed to get in touch with somebody who could come and pick us up, but would take 45 minutes to reach us. Meanwhile, I decide to announce to everyone that you can claim compensation by writing to train companies, or filling in a claim form (they do *very little* to draw this to anyone's attention, unsurprisingly). People agreed that this was the least we should do.
Using mobiles and a nearby phonebox, we set about pestering various people. National Rail told us they would ring us back, then didn't (not sure about this bit). Then we tried the British Transport Police, who said they'd contact Thames Trains. Hmmph, we thought, not much help there.
Later they rang us, to assure us that TT would get us to our final destinations 'tonight'. This was pretty meaningless to a group of cold and tired people who had already been lied to. Another person was told a 'fleet' of taxi would be with us in 10-15min, but 25-40min later there was no sign of them.
And then, for us at least, it was over. Our lift arrived. We managed to squeeze a spare person into the boot, and went home.
So: a bus becomes 3 taxis, and a FLEET of taxis disappear into a black hole.
As far as I know, those poor people are still waiting there now....
[BTW, does anyone know what happened in Oxford that stopped the trains??]
glad to be home
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Cause of delay
20.10.2003 10:27
eileen
The details
20.10.2003 12:09
"A man was also killed after being hit by a train north of Oxford.
The rail death, which involved a Virgin Trains express heading north from Oxford, happened just before 8pm.
The driver was travelling on a fast stretch between Yarnton and Kidlington, approaching the crossing at Partridge Place, when he spotted a pedestrian on the track.
Insp Ian Butterfield, of British Transport Police, said there was no indication as to what speed the train was travelling, but that the speed limit on that section was 95 mph.
A white man, aged either in his teens or early 20s, was standing between the rails and facing the train.
The driver sounded his horn, and applied his emergency brake but the train hit the man, who was certified dead at the scene. The line was closed for half an hour.
His family have been informed, but a formal identification of the body is yet to be carried out. "
Frostbite Fodder
post your comments at this websight its an oxford project
20.10.2003 22:19
vagabond
what they should have done
21.10.2003 15:29
1. Admit that they were having problems organising alternative transport.
2. Allow us to remain on the (warm) train during the wait.
As for what they should do now ;), place control of the rail network in the
hands of the passengers and rail workers, of course!
glad to be home