Looks like it's more of the same today and from the looks of the news reports, delays are likely to be all too common this week and maybe running into next. Every GNER service was delayed this morning and yes they cited the flooding oooop North as the main cause.
I joined coach C on the 07.20 which arrived into Tinsel Town at 07.57 and it was standing room only in 1st and 2nd. On board I was asked by a very nice but very Pregnant lady why there weren't any seat reservations. I exoplained that in these circumstances it was normal for seat reservations to be removed. 'But I can't stand all the way to Kings Cross' came the reply. Everyone around us could see how far gone she was but only one bloke (who was woking on his lap top and had papers all over the table) offered his seat. The lady declined and as I intended to use one of my upgrade vouchers, I suggested she follow me down to 1st to ask the guard if they would allow her to sit there. And so we very slowly pushed passed all the people stood in the isles and vestibules. During the BIG PUSH to 1st, it has to be said that only one other person offered the lady their seat which I thought was dispicable. The womans heavily pregnant for gods sake and all 100's of people could do was look anywhere but at the lady as we passed. Disgusted I was.
10 minutes later we arrived at the whole doors of 1st class. One GNER crew serving in the dining car said there weren't any seats left and tried to stop us going any further. I took one look at him, pointed at the ladies belly and frowned. He scurried off in the direction of first and returned smiling 30 seconds later and offered her the last seat on the train in the next coach. We walked through only to see my mate making a beeline for the spare seat. Richard is a lovely lad and he took one look at the lady, backed off imediately and returned to the vestibule. The lady took her seat and I joined Richard in the vestibule and stood for the next 45 mins into Kings Cross.
Thankfully for me I only have one more day in London before I'm off on my hols for 2 weeks. After the last 2 weeks, I can't bloody wait. Having said that it will just be my luck to get stuck at Stanstead.
Finally, in response to Deisels earlier comments I would just like to publically acknowledge the work frontline GNER staff have put in over the last few days. I for one appreciate your efforts (despite not being able to travel) and it can't have been much fun. It's just a shame your office based colleagues can't sort out their customer communications. I realsie this is pretty much an invuitation for Ron and others to berate you and I, but what the hell, I'm a big boy now and I can take it.
Frother
This morning was indeed a shambles, although couldn't be helped with the floods as they are. I caught the 0746 which eventually left at quarter 8 but was in by 5 past 9 at the Cross and had a fair number of empty seats..
To be fair to Peterborough the announcer did say that the 0720 was full and standing when it was approaching. Its a pity the platform staff weren't in attendance to espy your pregnant Lady as they could have suggested she wait for a later train a few minutes later and get a seat that way.
I felt GNER let the commuter down badly yesterday by not having a printed timetable available for the evening peak of what trains were running and at what times etc. Neither the GNER website or National Rail let alone the actual Railway reporting systems had a set of trains running, it would have been handy to know for certain that the service was going hourly from 1900, the only info I saw of this was posted on here.
Anyway i believe something has been provided today so i shall look later.