[Kaz]

I mentioned on the ‘Convention’ thread that I’d had an ‘eventful' journey home . . . . . . this is my sorry tale of woe – I hope you’re sitting comfortably!

The morning after the Convention, I woke around 8 o’clock feeling remarkably good, considering . . . . So, after I’d spent the rest of the morning being entertained by Graeme’s fantastic magic tricks , and Janette had returned briefly to the land of the living , we set off to Manchester Piccadilly Station. We arrived about 3 o’clock in plenty of time for my train to Glasgow which was scheduled for 15:22. All going well, I would reach my destination at 21.10.

We checked the board to find out which platform it was leaving from and arrived there with about 15 minutes to spare. About 5 minutes before the train was due, it was announced that the train had been delayed by 44 minutes …… then 53 minutes ….. then 57 minutes ….. finally ending up at 64 minutes. As I only had an hour in which to get my second train at Glasgow at 19.40, that obviously meant I was going to miss my connection.

I retraced my steps to the Information Desk to check when the next train from Glasgow would be, to be told there would be one at 21.40. Great, I thought – I’ll have a couple of hours to relax and get something to eat. Half an hour before my train was due, I said goodbye to Janette and Graeme who had to get back to rescue their car as it only had an hour’s parking ticket, and finally the train arrived at around 16:25.

Off we set and all was well until we arrived in Preston Station. They announced that they would be joining 4 carriages bound for Edinburgh onto the front of our train, due to a shortage of drivers, and would then be disconnecting them again at Carlisle where the Edinburgh passengers would be finishing their travel by bus. We sat for a while, then felt a ‘bump’ as the carriages were connected, then . . . . . . . . nothing! After a while another announcement was made that although the carriages had been joined, one of the brakes had jammed on and they were trying to release it. They tried, and tried, and tried again – and finally after a 50 minute delay we were on our way again.

Then at Carlisle, another bombshell. They had decided that, rather than disconnect the front carriages and move them out of the way, it would be ‘easier’ if the Glasgow bound passengers got out of the back carriages and moved into the front ones!!!!! Much disgruntlement and moaning followed, but we all duly piled off the train and back on again.

We finally got into Glasgow Central at around 21.10. I then made my way to Glasgow Queen Street, stopping only briefly to collect a claim form!!!, to get my second train, which remarkably left on time at 21.40. Hurray, I thought – plain sailing from now on.

And so it was, until half way between Gleneagles and Perth when suddenly, all the lights went off in my carriage, leaving us sitting in the pitch black. What else could I do but burst out in hysterical laughter!!!!!! Another announcement to apologise, and let us know that we would be stopping in Perth to rectify the problem. A relatively small delay of 20 minutes, and we were on our way again, and I finally reached my destination at 23.30 (almost 2 and a half hours later than anticipated, where OH was waiting to collect me, bless him. We drove home, me spitting feathers and uttering every profanity known to man about ****** **** Virgin Trains, and arrived at my house at exactly 5 minutes past midnight.

I can laugh about it now – nearly – but at the time it was an absolute nightmare. The Government are encouraging us to use public transport . . . . . . but can you blame us for avoiding it like the plague???

I know a couple of you also had nightmare journeys home from the Convention – can anyone top this? I’d love to hear from you!