I remember a particularly delayed journey a few months ago - in fact, thinking about it, this was November 2008. I was trying to get from Penzance to Bangor.
The first train, one of First Great Western's huge HSTs, left Penzance at around 8am (I think) and was routed via Pinhoe/Crewkerne and scheduled to rejoin the GWML before Reading (where we were due to change onto a Cross Country train to New Street). The first delay - about an hour or so - was at one of the passing loops on the West of England (is that the name?) line waiting for an SWT service to free up a single section. On departure, our train then lost half an hour or so through constant wheel-slipping. 'Hilariously', further along the route, we were given the wrong route by a signaller and had to reverse for a mile or so which led to all sorts of chaos in the quiet coach!
Once we made it to Reading, it became apparent the national network was in a bit of a state. Heavy rain was falling and the Cross Country service was down on the boards as an hour or so late. Finally, a Voyager appeared and it was evident - looking at around 200 people on the bay platform - that we'd be stood for much of the journey.
Of course, things had to go downhill from there. We were held at a red signal in the approach to Birmingham to - and I quote - "wait for flood water to subside." I'd seen the news the day before and was too jaded to panic - but remember wondering whether the flood could 'subside' in anything under a day or two!
On arrival at New Street, the concourse was in chaos and as it was a Sunday evening, trains further north were limited. We were escorted to a London Midland 350 heading towards Crewe. Having been sat on the train for 15 minutes, with no movement, an announcement then told us to find an identical train on an adjacent platform. Good thing we'd travelled light!
Eventually, left New Street around 11pm. On arrival at Crewe, there was no staff in sight and no mention of the 01-something train towards Holyhead. The station looked 'closed' but 10 to 15 of us stood on the far platform, hoping for a sign of life. A train eventually arrived, we boarded, and arrived into Bangor around 3am.
So in all, a roughly 9 hour trip ended up taking nearer 17. I didn't think to claim compensation. All this hassle and, almost ironically, because I'd sold my car the weekend before and delivered it to Penzance knowing (or so I thought) that I would be able to rely on public transport!
