From Virgin Trains' website:


Anyone know what a First Open ticket is? 

For cod's hake, I'm sure we've been here before...... I've got a real sense of deja-vu about fish based puns......

I would suspect that the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) that ran from Oxford at 1854 was a positioning move for that particular set to get it back on diagram for later/tomorrow.

Eel certainly have time to mullet over.

Caught. Hook, line and sinker! 

Friday of an August Bank Holiday is always going to be cosy. Today was made worse (much worse) by the signalling problems in London from early afternoon onward.

Woody, you sure it was the 1621 (1406 ex PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) that was grossly overcrowded?

Live Departures show it as cancelled throughout.

The next HST^▸ (High Speed Train) through EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) was the heavily delayed 1306 ex PAD which departed EXD at 1658, perchance it was that one you caught?

If you've seen elsewhere on the forum today about the signalling problems in the London area, you'll understand why services were rammed. There were dozens of cancellations and heavy delays out of Paddington.

Welcome to the forum SDS pad. 

You are obviously staff judging by your forum name and no doubt you had one heck of a day. I don't envy the job you have to do when things go t*ts up as they did today.

Unfortunately it's just human nature for pax to want to get on a train going their way after severe delays. Were any crowd control measures put in place by staff/BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) at the height of the delays?

Avoiding the tube can be done but quite late getting into Southend. Southend Central is a slightly earlier arrival. One way is thus:

1527 Telford - Banbury 1708 (WS)

TEL-BAN 1st Class Day Single (WS Only) ^17.80 includes slap up meal!

1722 Banbury - Reading 1809 (XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)))
1842 Reading - Richmond 1945 (SWT^▸ (South West Trains)) Bit of a jog and the XC being on time and you could make the 1812 to Richmond!

BAN-CLJ 1st Class Day Single ^25.90 (Cheaper to get ticket to Clapham Junction and travel short)

1957 Richmond - Gospel Oak 2029
2040 Gospel Oak - Barking 2114
2124 Barking - Southend Central 2205

RMD-SOC Standard Anytime Day Single ^10.25 (No 1st Class on London Overground or c2c)

TOTAL ^53.95

Even making that quick connection at Reading will not get you into either Southend station any earlier. Alternative non London route via Stratford is subject to engineering and buses tomorrow.

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Via Marylebone and tube to Liverpool Street will be:

1527 Telford - Marylebone 1815
1815 Marylebone - Liverpool Street 1855 ( tube transfer estimate)

TFC-Zone U1 London 1st Class Day Single (WS Only) ^51.50

1912 Liverpool Street - Southend Victoria 2013

LST-SOV 1st Class Anytime Single ^21.60

TOTAL ^73.10

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As I write there are still some Advance 1st Class fares from Telford to London Euston via Birmingham New Street, for example the 1608 (London Midland Standard Class only to New Street) connecting into the 1710 Virgin Trains Pendolino (free evening 'meal') arriving London Euston 1838. 1st ADV fare currently ^25.75. Or the later 1651 from Telford via Brum to Euston arriving 1914. 1st ADV currently ^19.15.

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In conclusion, with Wrexham & Shropshire as far as Banbury cheaper but longer avoiding central London, but with Standard class on the trains from Richmond onwards. More expensive to Marylebone then from Liverpool Street but 1st Class all the way (excepting tube).

Or cheaper still if you buy a 1st Advance, NOW, from Telford to Euston then tube or Bus to Liverpool Street.

(Phew!!!! ...... and relax)

Sorry, one more question and I'll go a-searching. What time do you want to leave Telford?

Remind me, you have a railcard?

The ripple effects are still happening with minor delays and the odd cancellation. Usual story I guess - stock and crew out of position.

I'm not au fait with performance statistics, so does that count as a cancellation or is it a handy workaround to avoid another cancellation being added to the list today?

Eh? The only two timetabled services that call at Ascott-under-Wychwood are Turbos.

Sorry you've had such a poor journey today, Max. You are not alone; many thousands will have had a very poor start to their Bank Holiday Weekend.

However, may I extend to you a very warm welcome to The Coffee Shop. 

What? All those signalling problems earlier today and they managed to keep the 1551 as a HST^▸ (High Speed Train)? And add an additional stop? FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are losing their touch! 

EDIT: Oh dear, spoke too soon, it is 68 mins down at Ascott.