Slow Train
Nov. 21st, 2023 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eiffel_71Sunday London Seaward played AFC Wimbledon Women at Carshalton. I got on the wrong train at Guildford, which is easy to do when you have only 5 minutes to change trains and there are two trains leaving at the same time.
Only when the train I was on arrived at Aldershot did I realise that it wouldn’t be going to Leatherhead. I reached for my phone to find a way from the next station, Ash Vale, to Carshalton; both Google and National Rail recommended walking from Ash Vale to North Camp station, taking a train from there to Dorking Deepdene, walking to Dorking station and catching a train to Carshalton from there. The guard came round to check tickets; my query stumped him. When I said I’d thought of turning back to Guildford he thought that was probably my best bet.
On the platform at Ash Vale I phoned National Rail Enquiries. The lady I spoke to confirmed the North Camp-Dorking route, and said North Camp station was a 12 minute walk from Ash Vale. Happily, on Ash Vale station and all along the road there were signs for North Camp.
I reached North Camp with 40 minutes till the next train left. Thankfully, there was a lovely pub called The Old Ford next to the station with two friendly barmaids. Read the Non-League Paper over a pint and a packet of roast ox crisps until it was time to make a move.
The train came on time. With a ten minute changeover, all the way to Dorking Deepdene I prayed it wouldn’t be delayed. Thank goodness it wasn’t, and again signs showed the way to Dorking station which was literally just round the corner. I guess there must be some explanation for Dorking’s weird stations arrangement.
Made it onto the Carshalton train. I’d built in plenty of time to allow for hitches so was at the ground an hour before kick-off. Said hello to Dan, Jo and a couple of the other girls and made for the bar. Alas, there was no hot food on offer. I had to make do with chocolate and more crisps with my pint. Got talking to a couple of Wimbledon fans who remembered past encounters between the teams, going back to our Orient days.
Seaward took an early lead through Shamoy but poor Jo scored an own goal and we ended up losing 4-2. And at the final whistle it was raining. I said my goodbyes and wandered my way back. Just before the station there was a kebab shop. Just what the doctor ordered. I got a first class Chicken Doner and chips.
At Guildford, the Portsmouth train was delayed 40 minutes. The initial reason given was the train crew being delayed. During the wait I bought what turned out to be a tasteless coffee.
When we finally got on board the train, the reason now given for the delay was trespassers on the line in two different places. The train announcer was very apologetic and informed us that we could claim Delay Repay through South West Railway’s website.
That wasn’t the end of the train’s troubles. We were held at Godalming for what seemed ages due to ‘a fault’, and delayed again outside Petersfield while the line was checked for yet another trespasser. The announcer clearly felt diabolical as he kept coming on the tannoy to say sorry yet again. The cherry on the cake came just before Havant when the poor guy broke it to us that the train was now going to be terminated at Fratton.
At Fratton, as we all poured off the train someone went to get on and asked the guard where the train was going. “Nowhere” came the gruff reply. I guess the guard was as cheesed off as the rest of us. The train was actually billed as going to London, and late. I guess they had to send it back the other way.
Another ten minute wait for a train to the Harbour. Arrived there an hour and a minute behind schedule, just long enough for an extra three quid on my Delay Repay.
Only when the train I was on arrived at Aldershot did I realise that it wouldn’t be going to Leatherhead. I reached for my phone to find a way from the next station, Ash Vale, to Carshalton; both Google and National Rail recommended walking from Ash Vale to North Camp station, taking a train from there to Dorking Deepdene, walking to Dorking station and catching a train to Carshalton from there. The guard came round to check tickets; my query stumped him. When I said I’d thought of turning back to Guildford he thought that was probably my best bet.
On the platform at Ash Vale I phoned National Rail Enquiries. The lady I spoke to confirmed the North Camp-Dorking route, and said North Camp station was a 12 minute walk from Ash Vale. Happily, on Ash Vale station and all along the road there were signs for North Camp.
I reached North Camp with 40 minutes till the next train left. Thankfully, there was a lovely pub called The Old Ford next to the station with two friendly barmaids. Read the Non-League Paper over a pint and a packet of roast ox crisps until it was time to make a move.
The train came on time. With a ten minute changeover, all the way to Dorking Deepdene I prayed it wouldn’t be delayed. Thank goodness it wasn’t, and again signs showed the way to Dorking station which was literally just round the corner. I guess there must be some explanation for Dorking’s weird stations arrangement.
Made it onto the Carshalton train. I’d built in plenty of time to allow for hitches so was at the ground an hour before kick-off. Said hello to Dan, Jo and a couple of the other girls and made for the bar. Alas, there was no hot food on offer. I had to make do with chocolate and more crisps with my pint. Got talking to a couple of Wimbledon fans who remembered past encounters between the teams, going back to our Orient days.
Seaward took an early lead through Shamoy but poor Jo scored an own goal and we ended up losing 4-2. And at the final whistle it was raining. I said my goodbyes and wandered my way back. Just before the station there was a kebab shop. Just what the doctor ordered. I got a first class Chicken Doner and chips.
At Guildford, the Portsmouth train was delayed 40 minutes. The initial reason given was the train crew being delayed. During the wait I bought what turned out to be a tasteless coffee.
When we finally got on board the train, the reason now given for the delay was trespassers on the line in two different places. The train announcer was very apologetic and informed us that we could claim Delay Repay through South West Railway’s website.
That wasn’t the end of the train’s troubles. We were held at Godalming for what seemed ages due to ‘a fault’, and delayed again outside Petersfield while the line was checked for yet another trespasser. The announcer clearly felt diabolical as he kept coming on the tannoy to say sorry yet again. The cherry on the cake came just before Havant when the poor guy broke it to us that the train was now going to be terminated at Fratton.
At Fratton, as we all poured off the train someone went to get on and asked the guard where the train was going. “Nowhere” came the gruff reply. I guess the guard was as cheesed off as the rest of us. The train was actually billed as going to London, and late. I guess they had to send it back the other way.
Another ten minute wait for a train to the Harbour. Arrived there an hour and a minute behind schedule, just long enough for an extra three quid on my Delay Repay.
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Date: 2023-11-22 03:28 pm (UTC)