[60159]

Yes indeed! I had the misfortune to be travelling back from Doncaster to Inverkeithing yesterday and got caught up in the ensuing chaos.

I got on the 7.28pm (a class 91 set) to Edinburgh. After waiting for a bit on the Tyne bridge to get into Newcastle station the guard announced the train would be terminated at Newcastle. We were transferred onto what had been the 4pm LondonKX-Aberdeen train which had been waiting at Newcastle for about two and a half hours for the arrival of the two following trains (ours was the second). We were then told we were going to Edinburgh via Carlisle but only one snag, no driver now available who knew the road to Carlisle. Another driver was found however and after a delay of about an hour in total, we set off to Carlisle. The Aberdeen set was a 125 so could be used on the non electrified cross country section. Approaching Carlisle the guard announced "more bad news I'm afraid - this train is not going to Edinburgh - it's going back to Newcastle." We would have to change onto another train at Carlise which was on it's way from Edinburgh but "even more bad news - it has only just left Edinburgh". After about a one and a half hour wait on the train at Carlisle we transferred to the now arrived class 91 set and eventually got to Edinburgh just after 3am. Buses had been organised for onward destinations which all left at around 3.30am. I picked up my car at Inverkeithing and got home to Perth at 4.30am. I pitied those going to Aberdeen who would probably not have arrived there until well after 6am. Well knackered, but we had a few good laughs in our coach and the East Coast staff did very well in the circumnstances.