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Bob_Blakey
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« on: January 13, 2026, 20:54:17 » |
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08/01/26 - Exeter To Paris
DIG 0843 (0846) > EXD▸ 0856 (0859) : 2T10 EXM > PGN : 1 x 150/2 (2 Cars)
EXD 0916 (OT) > PAD▸ 1128 (OT) : 1A76 PNZ > PAD▸ : 1 x 802/1 (9 Cars)
TfL» » Underground Paddington > King's Cross St. Pancras (H&C Line)
Eurostar STP▸ 1431 (1511) > PBN 1749 (1832) : Train 9O32
Tickets: DIG > PAD Senior Railcard Advance Single £37.60 x 2, Railcard TfL Underground £1.85 x 2, Eurostar Standard Single £64.00 x 2
2T10 was full and standing on arrival at DIG where 30 pax▸ were waiting to board. Everybody managed to get on but a few intending pax at POL were, I think, unable to get on. The train emptied significantly at EXC (Exeter College students & office/retail workers). Memo to GWR▸ : don’t put a 2 car train on 2T10 if it can in any way be avoided!
1A76 departed EXD and arrived at PAD as scheduled. Wonders will never cease! Tickets but not Railcards were checked as the train passed Somerton. There is still a fairly obvious TSR▸ on the Up Westbury Avoiding Line but this had no effect on the overall journey.
On arrival at STP it was immediately clear that things were not going to plan; there was a large queue outside the Eurostar departure lounge and our entry thereto did not start until a staff shift changeover had been completed. It was then announced that 9O32 would be delayed by the late arrival of the incoming service. Also the lounge was completely rammed by the large number of pax waiting for the 1504 to HamsterJam many of whom, I suspect, had switched to rail because of the ongoing chaos at Schipol (several days of snow and, apparently, they ran out of de-icer!)
9O32 eventually departed STP 50 minutes down and arrived at PBN 43 late. Quick Metro journey to the Clichy district (€2.55 2-hour ticket).
09/01/26
Retail Therapy For SWTSMBO▸ ! (€12.30 Metro All Day Pass)
10/01/26
Notre Dame (partially reopened after the fire) followed by Stade Francais v Exeter Chiefs at Stade Jean Bouin where Chiefs managed to turn an early second half lead of 0-22 into a full time loss of 27-25!
11/01/26 - Paris To Exeter
PBN 1112 (OT) > STP 1230 (1227) : Train 9O23
TfL Underground King's Cross St. Pancras > Paddington (Circle Line)
PAD 1303 (OT) > EXD 1509 (1517) : 1C83 PAD > PLY▸ : 1 x 800/3 (9 Cars)
EXD 1551 (1552) > DIG 1600 (1601) : 2F16 PGN > EXM 1 x 165/1 (3 Cars)
Tickets: Eurostar £55.00 x 3, Railcard TfL Underground £1.85 x 2, PAD > DIG Senior Railcard Super Off-Peak Single £43.75 x 2
On arrival at Gare du Nord, at around 0950, there were massive queues in the Eurostar departures area. The pax for the 9O19 (1012) and 9O21 (1042) departures, the latter of which left about 15 late, were still being processed through immigration. When our turn came I did notice that a significant number of idiots, and I use that word deliberately, were slowing the whole process by inserting their passports into the eGate scanners the wrong way round. Eventually we departed for London on time and arrived at STP 3 early after an entirely unremarkable journey.
Our Super Off-Peak tickets had us booked on the 1403 1C84 PAD > PNZ but we made the 1303 1C83 with 4 minutes to spare. All went well, including a full ticket & railcard check, until CLC▸ where we ‘caught up’ with the late running 1236 1C82 PAD > PGN. I knew this was going to happen as I had Traksy running on my ‘phone! 1C83 was held at CLC for 4-5 minutes and reached EXD 8 late causing the missing of the 1515 2F15 PGN > EXM connection.
On the plus side the consequent Delay Replay claim which I submitted the next morning was notified as having been approved just after midday on Tuesday 12/01. So a Gold Star to GWR for that.
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