The Anonymous Widower

92 Clubs – Day 22 – Northampton

That was all I managed, on a day, when I intended to do Northampton in the morning, then take the train to Ipswich for the match against Crystal Palace and then visit Norwich in the evening.

But I did get to Northampton on a train from Euston and a taxi from the station.

Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium

I got back to London quickly and then my troubles started.

I thought I might get my paper at Euston, but in the end I gave up, as despite about twenty people queuing in W H Smith’s there was only one till open. The obvious way to Liverpool Street on the Circle line was closed due to engineering work, so I took the Northern line to Moorgate and walked to the station.

I tried to buy another paper and guess what.  Twenty people queuing and one harrassed and very overworked assistant trying desperately to show customers how to use the automatic tills. I can’t use those, as they don’t accept my prepayment vouchers for The Times. So I left, vowing never to cross the threshold of any of their shops again in a very loud voice. I am very stubborn and never ever will.

I then got my gluten-free sandwiches for lunch in Marks and Spencer, and then knew that I could just about catch the one o’clock train to Ipswich to get me to the match on time. So instead of buying a ticket from the booking office, where I can get a cheaper ticket to Ipswich from the Zone 6 boundary, I bought a slightly more expensive one in a machine.

I then needed to look for the platform and found that the indicator board showed only a few trains. Nation Express East Anglia were advising people to go to Newbury Park on the Underground and then get a replacement bus. In other words, I might get to Ipswich in time for the second half.

But of course it had completely mucked up my day, as if they were in this state now, what was it going to be like getting back from Norwich later in the evening.

I thought perhaps that if I got to Cambridge, I might be able to replan, so using my Freedom Pass, I took a train to Cambridge via Tottenham Hale.  On the train, I phoned a fellow Ipswich fan, who I thought might be going.  But he wasn’t, so I got out at Tottenham Hale, intending to get a bus home, as I knew the Victoria line wasn’t running.

In the end, I walked to South Tottenham station and got the Overground to Harringay Green Lanes, from where I got a 141 bus home.

And then of course Ipswich lost! 

What particulaely annoys me about all this, was that there were no prominent signs about the engineering works in the station and especially at the entrance, where London Underground always place prominent signs.

I suppose I should have checked more thoroughly, so when I got home I checked the National Express East Anglia web site and they allow you to book tickets without warning you that your journey will be on a replacement bus. The only clue on the booking page is that it was two changes between Liverpool Street and Ipswich.

After all of the disruption of Tuesday, I had hoped I would have had a better trip.  But then Tuesday was much better, as we at least had a train. 

My heartfelt thanks go out to National Express East Anglia for ruining my day and charging me £22.30 for the privilege.

I know I wasn’t the only person, who’d missed the disruption, as several other Ipswich and Crystal Palace fans were at Liverpool Street in a seriously muddled state.

I know it was my fault for not spotting that engineering work was taking place. In fact, I usually buy my ticket a few days in advance at the station and tried to on Tuesday, but it was impossible in the chaos that evening. And of course on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I had better things to do than make a special trip to Liverpool Street to buy a ticket.   On the other hand, what idiot decided that the best day to do engineering work, was when quite a few football fans would be travelling between London and Ipswich?

In all my travels around the country visiting the 92 clubs, I’ve never had a wasted day like this.

I should also say that I’ve never missed a football match, after leaving home with the intention of going in all of my sixty-four years.

So what would I have done, if I had been the Fat Controller at National Express East Anglia.

1. I know that engineering work has to be done, but surely to organise it when Ipswich are at home to a London club is not a good idea.  Especially, when the day is the first day of half-term and there will be a lot of families trvelling on the trains anyway. So I would have made sure that the work was done at some other time, or if it had to be done then, I’d have arranged for announcements and program notices at the two clubs previous home matches.  I was at Ipswich on the Tuesday and no announcement was made, either at the stadium or on the train. I can’t speak for the program, as I didn’t buy one, as I was so tired and stressed after the journey up, due to the crowded train.
2. I’d make sure that the engineering works were fully publicised throughout the week, with notices at the entrance to the station.
3. I would have made sure that Radio London and BBC Radio 5, gave full details on the Saturday, so that passemgers were forewarned.
4. I’d also set up an alternative route out of London for Norwich and Ipswich passengers. The new trains to Cambridge are much bigger and could be used to shuttle passengers to Whittlesford, which has a large parking area, from where buses could be used to take passengers to an onward station like Needham Market, where they connect to Ipswich, Norwich and Colchester. It wouldn’t be perfect, but better and faster than the current route via Newbury Park and Ingatestone.

October 23, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Sport, Transport/Travel | 92CCBB, Charity, Football, Ipswich Town, Trains