barrowjack
Member
28th April 2022.
Not usually the sort of day I would consider writing about, but this was my first rail trip since 9th March 2020, a grand total of 780 days. I had been considering going somewhere for a while but knew I didn’t want to go to a big city or spend much time on trains. In the end decided on Wigan. Whilst i could have bought a service specific ticket, I decided on an off peak return (purchased from the Northern website) to give me the flexibility of changing trains if they were too busy or I felt uncomfortable. With great trepidation I headed to the station, suppose it was inevitable that my highest mileage 195 by far would be provided for my first trip. Presumably because I was early the off-peak would not let me through and despite having the printed schedule with my ticket the gate operator took some convincing it was valid. Eventually letting me through but telling me to make sure next time I buy a peak time ticket!
195114 08:46 Barrow in Furness – Preston.
Got off at Preston mainly for fresh air and coffee (McDonalds), a quick check of RTT had shown that none of my unrecorded 221’s were following, so I gave the red pen some exercise (it still worked!)
331028 / 331010 11:31 Preston - Wigan North Western
So this may seem a strange destination, but there was a purpose There was Professional Development League under 23 football at the DW Stadium so I headed down on foot arriving about ten minutes before kick-off.
Wigan Athletic U23 2 Swansea City U23 2
Consulting RTT during the match I discovered my planned return train home was cancelled so change of plan,
195129 15:21 Wigan North Western - Lancaster
156482 16:12 Lancaster - Barrow in Furness
This only word for this service was awful. What would be the previous service an hour before no longer runs, the one after was cancelled which meant this was the only service to Barrow in a 4 hour window. It is also the school train. Absolutely wedged right though, didn’t feel comfortable at all but didn’t fancy a 2 hour wait for what would probably be similar conditions.
Anyhow, first trip done, let’s hope it isn’t another 780 days until the next one!
Not usually the sort of day I would consider writing about, but this was my first rail trip since 9th March 2020, a grand total of 780 days. I had been considering going somewhere for a while but knew I didn’t want to go to a big city or spend much time on trains. In the end decided on Wigan. Whilst i could have bought a service specific ticket, I decided on an off peak return (purchased from the Northern website) to give me the flexibility of changing trains if they were too busy or I felt uncomfortable. With great trepidation I headed to the station, suppose it was inevitable that my highest mileage 195 by far would be provided for my first trip. Presumably because I was early the off-peak would not let me through and despite having the printed schedule with my ticket the gate operator took some convincing it was valid. Eventually letting me through but telling me to make sure next time I buy a peak time ticket!
195114 08:46 Barrow in Furness – Preston.
Got off at Preston mainly for fresh air and coffee (McDonalds), a quick check of RTT had shown that none of my unrecorded 221’s were following, so I gave the red pen some exercise (it still worked!)
331028 / 331010 11:31 Preston - Wigan North Western
So this may seem a strange destination, but there was a purpose There was Professional Development League under 23 football at the DW Stadium so I headed down on foot arriving about ten minutes before kick-off.
Wigan Athletic U23 2 Swansea City U23 2
Consulting RTT during the match I discovered my planned return train home was cancelled so change of plan,
195129 15:21 Wigan North Western - Lancaster
156482 16:12 Lancaster - Barrow in Furness
This only word for this service was awful. What would be the previous service an hour before no longer runs, the one after was cancelled which meant this was the only service to Barrow in a 4 hour window. It is also the school train. Absolutely wedged right though, didn’t feel comfortable at all but didn’t fancy a 2 hour wait for what would probably be similar conditions.
Anyhow, first trip done, let’s hope it isn’t another 780 days until the next one!