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Out Of This World

caldrail

Entry posted by caldrail

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Swindon to Newcastle is about six hours by train. Time to settle into the seat, relax, let the train take the strain. I watched the towns and countryside roll by. It was all going too well. The stop at Sheffield Station was a long one. The minutes ticked by and there was no sign of movement. Platform staff who usually shepherded the trains away were curiously absent. Please don't tell me another strike is in progress... Then the tannoy bleeped into life to make a passenger announcement.

 

"If I could have your attention please," The Train Manager said, "I'm afraid there will be a delay before we can depart for Doncaster, as the track is broken."

 

Broken? You broke the track? What did you do? Drop it? In situations like this all you can do is grin and bear it. Oh hang, the tannoy is bleeping again...

 

"I apologise for the delay in services, but we're waiting for the track to be repaired. There will be a delay of at least another half an hour."

 

Ok, I'll try to grin. I look around for something to occupy myself with and quietly lift a newspaper from the opposite seats. There's a story about scientists finding another planet thousands of light years away. I've decided to name it Sheffield. Hang on, the tannoy is bleeping...

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Since the delays to services will probably be at least two hours, we're going to divert to another route. We will not therefore be calling at Doncaster so any passengers who wish to get off at Doncaster should leave the train to await further assistance."

 

Nobody moved. Perhaps Doncaster isn't a popular stop? Or does no-one wish to admit they live there? We will never know. At last! The train edges forward out of Sheffield and my journey continues. About five minutes later the Train Manager enters the carriage.

 

"Can I have your attention please? Is there anyone in here who is travelling to Doncaster? Only we're not stopping there... Ok."

 

I settle back to enjoy the rest of my journey to Newcastle, and ten minutes later, the tannoy bleeps again...

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, our next stop is Doncaster..."

 

Douglas Adams Moment of the Week

There's a cut on my left knee. According to Douglas Adams, the sci-fi/comedy author, this sort of thing happens all the time. But in case you're worried, I can assure you I return from Newcastle unscathed. Don't know what happened to the whale...

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caldrail

It caused network delays over the weekend, but very kindly they had it fixed for my return to Rushey Platt This sort of thing is expected on british railways. In autumn we get too many leaves on the track, in winter its the wrong kind of snow.

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docoflove1974

The line between Sacramento and San Jose in the summer, the rails get so hot that they warp, and the trains have to slow to a crawl. I used to hate taking the train home in college during the summer. In the winter, because some of the tracks are along a slough and the delta, there's flooding and that also slows down the train. But when one doesn't have a car, one doesn't have much choice!

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caldrail

Yes I've seen that problem in the railroad mags we get over here, and I've wondered how you guys cope with it. Over here, train services are cancelled until further notice. But hey - our country grinds to a halt after three snowflakes hit the asphalt.

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caldrail

Our government thinks we drive like idiots regardless. I do think they'd rather we had gizmo's fitted so the we all get chauffered to our destinations by a microchip. Then again, they'd rather we didn't drive cars at all. That way their gas guzzling limousines would be a sign of status and not a green embarrasement.

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