Trains in adversity (with added breaking news)

The train line between Alton and Farnham broke this week.

There has been an embankment failure (good thing there wasn’t an Embankment failure in London as that would potentially lead to flooding at the heart of the Best City in the World (™)).

There was a already a burgeoning suspicion in my mind about the track; as the journey home, between Farnham and Alton, the previous night was very tentative. (Can trains drive in a tentative manner - science ed).

That is, there was some sort of speed restriction, which is what happens on the railways when something is broken, all the trains go much more slowly than usual (Not that the trains between Alton and Farnham ever go particularly quickly - well perhaps when there is a following wind - Christian Woolmar)

Well, bless South-West trains, they have put on the dreaded, “Bus Replacement Service”. This is a service that does not quite match up with the normal train timetable - in that if you head for the usual train you will end up catching a later train from Farnham than you would have got if the train was running.

(Eh? - clarity ed)

Let’s me try that again.

The 6:12 train is now the 6:25 bus.

This will get you into Farnham in time for the 6:58 from Farnham.

The 6:12 train usually hits Farnham for 6:24 - so as you see you end up on a train half and hour later than you expected. (Thanks for that - much clearer - clarity ed)

So if I want to get into London for the equivalent 6:15 train - I need to catch the 5:55 Bus Replacement Service - which sadly on this overcast, mild, damp, dreary, heart crushingly dull Friday morning I saw leaving the station as I arrived, “Poop”, I thought. Well perhaps that was not the word that I used but it will do on a public forum.

By the way, no matter how I feel about that, “Happy Friday everyone!”

At least the South West trains web site gives the times of the buses and after some assessment by engineers yesterday it appears that the work to “fix” the problem will be done by next Tuesday. 

(Naturally this is a best case scenario and we cannot be held responsible if the engineering works overrun we care are about your safety and our risk management team cannot allow the line to reopen until such times are the rail track is safe to use - (not) South West Trains customer communications team).

The benefit (there is some - ed) is that the buses have been double deckers - and I always sit upstairs, so I have been enjoying the views over the countryside in the UK Spring time (fabulous); also get to see into all the back gardens that are not normally visible to anyone but the owners.

What has been most surprising is the number of Alpaca's (or Llamas - ed) between Alton and Farnham  - particularly in the Bentley area; or as it is know in this household "Bentley Bentley", but that is another story.

Latest news

Last week the train line was due to be fixed by today (Wednesday 20h April) - it has now changed to Monday 9th May 2016 at the earliest.

At least we are being kept informed...