Yes, it's been snowing. And we here in the wilderness of South East London are suffering.
Today, in their wisdom, on our line and every other "Metro" line, Southeastern Trains decided to run two trains an hour into London and two trains an hour out of London. When you consider a normal weekday rush hour service contains four times that number, you may see where a problem could occur.
I left early this afternoon and with my fellow departmental employees (we all got the same train, isn't that cute?) we watched our train fill up by Waterloo East and leave lots of people unable to get on at London Bridge. You had to laugh.
And there was more jolity to come. While we made a scenic stop at middle-class Blackheath, we watched the hilarious sight of drivers failing to drive their cars out of the station car park as the incline was too icy. Their tyres just couldn't get a grip! Yes, I know! You pay for a car parking space and a car parking space is what you get!
Still, tomorrow there will be four trains an hour, otherwise known as a "Saturday service". Except it's not really a Saturday, is it?
I wonder if there will be an extra surcharge on parking permits for the people who can't get out of the station car parks.
ReplyDeleteSomeone with a horse and cart could make a mint.
ReplyDeleteIstvanski - They were reversing back into the spaces they'd left vacant. I think they were trying to fool the cameras.
ReplyDeleteArabella - We never had any of this trouble in Dickens' time. Horses love the snow.
Was this the journey home?
ReplyDeleteHow did you make it in?
I must tell you about the Great Guards Van Standoff at London Bridge in 1967 when I led 40 harrassed commuters into an unlocked Guards Van and we sang "we shall overcome" until the driver agreed to move off.
ReplyDeleteThose were the days when 92% of people chain smoked as well.
Hardened London Bridgers should know to go to Waterloo East and come back again. The only way to get a seat.
ReplyDeleteSx
In an extraordinarily ironic turn of events, we hewers of wood and trappers of Beaver, imprisoned in the vast desolate coccoon of glacial wilderness, are expecting to enjoy the warmest winter in the last 7,000 years of recorded history.
ReplyDeleteneener neener neen-ner!
Kaz - This was the journey home. I'm not really bothered about getting in! I'm near the beginning of the line in the mornings so getting in is fine for me but not for those further up the line.
ReplyDeleteRog - LOL. Anything for a sing-song, eh?
Scarlet - Exactly.
Donn - You'll have to teach me how to walk on ice.
I hate it when a colleague gets on my bus and you feel obliged to sit with them.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind it in extreme circumstances when we're all pulling together but not regularly.
ReplyDeleteNever mind, Geoff. Only 12 more winters until you retire.
ReplyDeleteI'll have you know I have a well regarded personal pension plan and I will be able to give up work in the year 2041.
ReplyDeleteWatch out this weekend sweetie, it looks like it's your turn again for the snow. We've had a good foot of the white stuff and no grit for the past two weeks. What's the Sunday service like, as you will be getting that on Monday no doubt.
ReplyDeleteIt's OK to walk on at the moment, unlike before Christmas when the ice was lethal.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Monday, then. Bus to North Greenwich followed by Jubilee Line. Helicopter home.
One time I'm very relieved not to live in London.
ReplyDeleteThough have been snowed in in Oxford. Luckily my workplace closed for two days.
I think a lot of London commuters are "working from home". I wish I could "work from home".
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