Okay going to rant about my journey from hell with SouthEastern, never before have I experienced something so bad. So was all on Thursday. Got on my train at Sheerness-On-Sea where were informed by the driver of the Sheerness Train that there had been a security alert had been issued at Rainham Railway Station after a suspicious package had been found, and the bomb squad was currently on site. The driver of the train informed us that there would be no trains running from Sittingbourne Station in either direction, to Faversham/Ramsgate/Dover or London. However we were told there was a replacement bus service in which would take people London-bound to Gillingham Station where there were going to be trains to London. When I arrived at Sittingbourne, low and behold, there were two buses awaiting to take passengers to Gillingham Station. I got on the back bus, thinking it would be quicker because the front bus usually stops at all the intermediate station, even though there were only 2, Newington and Rainham, and the back bus just continues. I was wrong on this, both buses had decided they would stop, and the traffic was Colossus, therefore the journey took a paramount of time! Making me already delayed for my ETA at Victoria to catch my connecting train. Finally arrived at Gillingham Train Station with a Victoria Train waiting at Platform 2, although it was the slow train, it was the only train in the station and was already packed and about to leave, or so the board said... Then a train arrived at Platform 1 arrived which said it was bound for Victoria and was a fast service calling only at Chatham, Bromley South and Victoria. So obviously the best service to take? Well that's what the board said, when I inquired with SouthEastern Staff they said the train wasn't going to Victoria and the board was wrong and the train was infact going to Charing Cross, so not a train I wanted. The staff also said the Victoria Train was due to go any minute... So back on the Victoria Train... 15mins elapsed and the train still hadn't moved, when the driver suddenly came over the tannoy and informed that the train had been delayed whilst they wait for a member of the on-board team to arrive. The Charing Cross Train was then cancelled and was sent back to the depot. 20minutes later, they still hadn't arrived and the driver finally came back on the tannoy and informed us the train had now been cancelled and that there would be another service on Platform 3.Everyone began getting off the train to go to Platform 3, there was a member of SouthEastern Staff at the bottom of the stairs which led to Platform 3 informing us that we had been given the wrong information and that it'd be Platform 1 where the replacement Victoria Train would arrive. So we all turned around and spread out along the platform. Note there's over 1500 people packed on this single platform waiting for a train to take people who have been travelling since as early as 6am to take us to London. About 10minutes waiting at Platform 1, a Victoria Train did arrive, and everyone squeezed onto this train. We were treated like cattle with no chance of moving. The train left 5minutes later bound for Victoria. Finally people who have been travelling from 6am can get to London! Wrong. The train arrived at Chatham where people who wanted Chatham got off whilst we remained on the train. The train stayed there for a worrying amount of time, until a very friendly driver suddenly came over the tannoy and informed us that control had told him to terminate his train at Chatham and bring the train back to the depot. So we had travelled a total of one stop and chucked off AGAIN. Absolute nightmare, now over 1500 people had to crowd the Chatham Platform. We were informed by Chatham SouthEastern Staff that a Charing Cross train would be arriving soon to take people to London. This train didn't arrive until 20minutes after the announcement, but when the train did arrive we were told that a Victoria train was 5 minutes behind, so everyone decided to wait for the Victoria train. This "5 minutes" turned into 25 minutes, and when the train finally did arrive it was already packed with more people who had arrived at Gillingham. So now we were trying to get over 2000 people to fit on not the most spacious train in the world. I unfortunately had to stand outside the toilets next to a lovely young girl who I had met and chatted to from Gillingham. On this train where it was so packed people lined the Aisles, all seats were taken, and the doors were crammed, we started making our way to Victoria. Which was finally great. People still felt they could fit on the train when we got to Rochester, which was also busy with about 100-150 people. So yet more cramming. Then onto Meopham/Longfield which were thankfully quiet. Bromley South however was once again busy, despite having many other trains to Victoria the people from Bromley insisted getting on the very overflowing train. Ignorant and rude people, such as a mother with a pram who decided she'd bash people's legs in to get on. Finally arrived at Victoria where a swarm of people rushed off the train, although I was already 2 hours late for my connection at Victoria. So went over to the Brighton Platforms where the next train to Clapham Junction was a Gatwick Express Service which was bound for Brighton, going through, but not stopping at Gatwick... Errr okay? :L The train was horrible. Absolutely dated and ugly, I feel sorry for Southern not being able to keep the Juniper's because the Government feel like they'll be better suited at South West Trains... Let them have old stock, they seem to survive with it fine as it is. Luckily though, my journey nightmare was nothing more than ugly trains from Victoria. The funny thing is, we were told the HighSpeed Service to St Pancras International was running fine and normal tickets would be accepted on it and any reasonably London Underground journey.. Okay sure thing, I'll take that deal. Although there was no High Speed Train for the 2 hours I was stuck in the Medway towns? Thanks for the great advice SouthEastern. [/rant]
