Adventures on Public Transport
Or Misinformation, Drunken Idiots, Dodgy Areas and Line Works.
Ok, lets start at the beginning. We went to the opera last night, and a very good production of Faust it was too! Unfortunately, the night got off to a bad start when we missed the 5.55pm train by about 3 minutes. The next train was due at 6.15, but had been rescheduled for 6.24 because of line works, apparently. We got into London at about 6.45 and managed to get to the Royal Opera House at about 7.02, missing the first act. They kindly put us in front of a TV so we wouldn't miss it completely, but they managed to cut off the top of the translation board, which meant that the storyline (what there was of it) was a bit of a mystery.
Anyhoo, afterwards I phoned up to see what time the last train out of Euston was, and there was one at 12.05 and one at about 2am, but nothing in between because of line works. There is usually one train an hour after about 11.30pm. We got into the Tube station at about 11.40, and got stuck on a slow tube line, with less frequent trains than usual, so missed the midnight one. Grrr.
Along came clever idea - lets get the tube out to the Metropolitan Station in Watford, then get a taxi from there. (We have walked it, but it takes over half an hour) Asked an employee at the tube station if there were any tube trains going to Watford from where we were, and he said to go to Harrow on the Hill, then change from there. Great, so we get to Harrow only to discover that trains to Watford stopped half an hour previously. Oh dear. We asked if we would be able walk to the overland train station, but were advised not to, even though its not that far! Thankfully the station attendant decided to be helpful and explained that we could get a night bus to Harrow and Wealdstone (overland) station, where if nothing else we could get the train due to leave Euston at 2am!
Waiting in the bus terminal, we could see why we were advised not to walk - the place was crawling with gangsta style groups, all swaggering around on some sort of intoxicant. I did have a moment of hope when I spotted a timetable for the 258 bus, which I know goes through Watford, but it only lasted a few seconds until Ali pointed out that the last bus was at around midnight. Finally, the night bus arrived about 20 mins late, and we got to the overland station. As we feared, the only train was the one which left Euston at 2am, due around 2.25am! We were left sitting on the station platform at 1.30am, with nothing open to get food/drink, and the only station toilets out of order.
It was made less boring, however, by the drunken idiot yelling across the tracks to the other platform at the station attendant. He was getting more and more worked up, and more abusive, until eventually he tried to use the platform phone to call the police, not realising that it only calls pre-programmed numbers, such as customer service, taxis and timetable information! It was rather amusing while it lasted, though he eventually buggered off, presumably to get a taxi or pass out in a doorway! I felt a bit sorry for the station attendant, though he was giving as good as he was getting, and he was all the way over on the other platform, so he could be rude back! We suspected he wasn't entirely sober either. We weren't the only ones to get caught out, another couple were stuck too. They seemed nice, but finally found out from the attendant that they needed to be on another platform, so wandered off to try and find a takeaway with a working toilet!
When the train finally arrived, we found ourselves in a compartment with a big group of stoned/drunk teenagers, who needed many reassurances that the train was, in fact, going to Watford Junction. A bit noisy, but more amusing than an empty carriage! Finally got home at 2.45ish, warmed up some leftover curry from Thursday's supper and ate it in bed. Poor Ali had to be up early today, as she is flying out to Southend, which is a long flight, and practice for her qualifying cross country flight. Hope she managed to get the coffee she planned to have before the flight!
A snooze this afternoon for me, I think, and I will get supper done early so we can get an early night. Of course we can also sleep in tomorrow, which is a bonus!
Ok, lets start at the beginning. We went to the opera last night, and a very good production of Faust it was too! Unfortunately, the night got off to a bad start when we missed the 5.55pm train by about 3 minutes. The next train was due at 6.15, but had been rescheduled for 6.24 because of line works, apparently. We got into London at about 6.45 and managed to get to the Royal Opera House at about 7.02, missing the first act. They kindly put us in front of a TV so we wouldn't miss it completely, but they managed to cut off the top of the translation board, which meant that the storyline (what there was of it) was a bit of a mystery.
Anyhoo, afterwards I phoned up to see what time the last train out of Euston was, and there was one at 12.05 and one at about 2am, but nothing in between because of line works. There is usually one train an hour after about 11.30pm. We got into the Tube station at about 11.40, and got stuck on a slow tube line, with less frequent trains than usual, so missed the midnight one. Grrr.
Along came clever idea - lets get the tube out to the Metropolitan Station in Watford, then get a taxi from there. (We have walked it, but it takes over half an hour) Asked an employee at the tube station if there were any tube trains going to Watford from where we were, and he said to go to Harrow on the Hill, then change from there. Great, so we get to Harrow only to discover that trains to Watford stopped half an hour previously. Oh dear. We asked if we would be able walk to the overland train station, but were advised not to, even though its not that far! Thankfully the station attendant decided to be helpful and explained that we could get a night bus to Harrow and Wealdstone (overland) station, where if nothing else we could get the train due to leave Euston at 2am!
Waiting in the bus terminal, we could see why we were advised not to walk - the place was crawling with gangsta style groups, all swaggering around on some sort of intoxicant. I did have a moment of hope when I spotted a timetable for the 258 bus, which I know goes through Watford, but it only lasted a few seconds until Ali pointed out that the last bus was at around midnight. Finally, the night bus arrived about 20 mins late, and we got to the overland station. As we feared, the only train was the one which left Euston at 2am, due around 2.25am! We were left sitting on the station platform at 1.30am, with nothing open to get food/drink, and the only station toilets out of order.
It was made less boring, however, by the drunken idiot yelling across the tracks to the other platform at the station attendant. He was getting more and more worked up, and more abusive, until eventually he tried to use the platform phone to call the police, not realising that it only calls pre-programmed numbers, such as customer service, taxis and timetable information! It was rather amusing while it lasted, though he eventually buggered off, presumably to get a taxi or pass out in a doorway! I felt a bit sorry for the station attendant, though he was giving as good as he was getting, and he was all the way over on the other platform, so he could be rude back! We suspected he wasn't entirely sober either. We weren't the only ones to get caught out, another couple were stuck too. They seemed nice, but finally found out from the attendant that they needed to be on another platform, so wandered off to try and find a takeaway with a working toilet!
When the train finally arrived, we found ourselves in a compartment with a big group of stoned/drunk teenagers, who needed many reassurances that the train was, in fact, going to Watford Junction. A bit noisy, but more amusing than an empty carriage! Finally got home at 2.45ish, warmed up some leftover curry from Thursday's supper and ate it in bed. Poor Ali had to be up early today, as she is flying out to Southend, which is a long flight, and practice for her qualifying cross country flight. Hope she managed to get the coffee she planned to have before the flight!
A snooze this afternoon for me, I think, and I will get supper done early so we can get an early night. Of course we can also sleep in tomorrow, which is a bonus!
posted by Kristy at 1:51 pm
2 Comments:
Good Grief - that's almost not even worth the effort!!! I've had similar, although not quite as bad experiences when I've been at a concert at the NEC (at least it's still within the Birmingham boundaries) and missed the 11pm train by milliseconds because of drunken gits blocking the exit onto the platform, so had to wait 45 mins for the next one back, which of course then meant I couldn't get an infinitely cheaper bus home but had to shell out for a cab...still, never so bad as 3am! Next time, plan to stay in London overnight - even if it is in a youth hostel!
We would have stayed, but someone had to be up early the next morning...
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