Nightmare train trip (From Stroud News and Journal)

Nightmare train trip

FRUSTRATED rail passengers from Stroud have vowed never to take a train again after their weekend away was blighted by a series of cancellations and delays.

Rob Thomas and wife Elaine had planned to spend two days in London with Elaine's parents but their trip was plagued by disaster.

The journey began when they arrived at Stroud station on Saturday morning to be told they had tickets for a non-existent train.

The family had expected to board the 10am to London and bought their tickets via the National Rail Enquiries line nearly two weeks in advance.

But when they turned up at the platform they found there was no such train.

The next available service was at 10.40am - but station staff told them their tickets would not be valid.

Elaine said: "We had to argue with the attendant to get him to stamp our tickets to say we could get on the train.

"The customer service leaves a lot to be desired."

Also stranded were Christmas shoppers Gill Hatherall and Jean Harmer, from Paganhill, who were headed for Swindon.

Elaine Thomas later called First Great Western and was told she would be refunded 50 per cent of her ticket price.

But the nightmare journey was not over.

On the way back, the family called two hours in advance to make sure their train was still running.

But at the station they found the service was cancelled. Rob said: "Coming back was even more of a nightmare.

"We jumped on a train bound for Gloucester, which was absolutely packed. "There was no room to stand, let alone sit."

This train passed through Stroud, but did not stop, and the family got off in Swindon, where they were told the first train to Stroud was two hours later at 8pm.

Station staff ended up booking five taxis for around 20 passengers trying to get to Stroud. Rob said: "Each taxi cost £65 to get to Stroud but it was probably £130 for the round trip. "If they had just stopped the train in Stroud they could have saved all this money.

"We eventually got home but we were never given any information about what was going on. "We will definitely be driving next time. "I am never going to get a train again."

First Great Western spokesman Tim Bowcock said changes were made at the last minute to Saturday's timetable because engineering work was going on in the Ealing area following a derailment near Paddington.

He said information was sent out on Friday and apologised that it did not get through to customers.

On Sunday, he said, the Severn Tunnel was closed and services were being re-routed via Gloucester.

He said: "If the replacement trains had stopped at all the intermediate stations the service would have had serious delays. "That is something we want to avoid.

"But we were more than happy to arrange alternative transport."

For more Stroud-based stories, see this week's SNJ.