itsjamierawr
Member
I have literally just arrived home having boarded what I thought was the 23:40 Charing Cross - Canterbury West train (and here's an ordeal I never want to repeat). I thought I'd share my experience from a passenger perspective and maybe gain some understanding in what went on. To clarify the staff were faultless tonight and a credit to Southeastern.
Firstly I understand there were signal problems at London Bridge which ground everything in the area to a halt. When this happened I'm surprised ticket acceptance on high speed wasn't announced as it would've solved a lot of trouble and passengers had ample time to make the 00:10? service to Ashford Intl.
Following this, I believe passengers on board one of the stuck trains pulled the emergency door release and ran onto the track causing the power to be turned off and again, everything halted. Finally my train left Charing Cross at 00:10 and went to Cannon Street where it sat for approximately 45mins while they rounded up the rest of the people on the track. Finally we set off and called additionally at London Bridge and Orpington.
When we approached Tonbridge the guard announced the usual split at Ashford as being front 4 for Folkstone Central, rear 4 terminating. So I asked him "what happened to get Canterbury portion?" This was where I learnt the train I was on was in fact the 22:40 from Charing Cross! One hell of a delay there... By the time we reached Ashford it was about 02:40 and we were directed onto a waiting replacement Stagecoach bus to Canterbury, finally arrived into Canterbury about 03:20 to see the sun coming up! So chances are some of those passengers boarded the train with the sunsetting only to arrive with it rising! Either way, huge well done to the staff involved and the passengers on my train for keeping quiet and not causing a riot!
Firstly I understand there were signal problems at London Bridge which ground everything in the area to a halt. When this happened I'm surprised ticket acceptance on high speed wasn't announced as it would've solved a lot of trouble and passengers had ample time to make the 00:10? service to Ashford Intl.
Following this, I believe passengers on board one of the stuck trains pulled the emergency door release and ran onto the track causing the power to be turned off and again, everything halted. Finally my train left Charing Cross at 00:10 and went to Cannon Street where it sat for approximately 45mins while they rounded up the rest of the people on the track. Finally we set off and called additionally at London Bridge and Orpington.
When we approached Tonbridge the guard announced the usual split at Ashford as being front 4 for Folkstone Central, rear 4 terminating. So I asked him "what happened to get Canterbury portion?" This was where I learnt the train I was on was in fact the 22:40 from Charing Cross! One hell of a delay there... By the time we reached Ashford it was about 02:40 and we were directed onto a waiting replacement Stagecoach bus to Canterbury, finally arrived into Canterbury about 03:20 to see the sun coming up! So chances are some of those passengers boarded the train with the sunsetting only to arrive with it rising! Either way, huge well done to the staff involved and the passengers on my train for keeping quiet and not causing a riot!