It's amazing...

...that whenever a train breaks down because of NXEAs crap maintenance it always seems to be a Braintree service.

Another cancellation this morning after the poor sods who use the 0812 drew today's short straw.

NXEA really have stopped giving a shiny sh*t about their paying passengers since they discovered they were being slung out on their arses.

No bloody trains again

Someone has managed to get hit by a train at Stratford.

So of course the headbangers at NXEA have grabbed with both hands the opportunity to f*ck up the lives of as many people as possible by running no trains at all between Liverpool St and Shenfield till 7pm at the earliest.

Makes a bloody mockery of getting the early train on Fridays so I can finish early.

Update.

I went into Liverpool Street to get the 1720 Braintree train since the National Rail website was showing trains were now running, they just weren't stopping at Stratford.

By the time I arrived, the restrictions had been lifted, this was around 1715, but NXEA were having a nightmare trying to get services back to normal.

Lowlights included the 1720 being displayed on the big matrix displays at Liverpool St but then just disappearing. No explanation, nothing. Then just as mysteriously it reappeared. Odd.

The train itself was at leat 25 minutes late arriving at Liverpool St and just as late departing, it also ran very slowly until the approach to Stratford and then accelerated, we went through Stratford at speed.

Not a good evening.

Chucked off at Witham...

I, and everyone else on the 1901 from Witham to Braintree, have just been slung off at Witham because some berk, driving, according to varying accounts, a bus or HGV has hit a bridge somewhere on the Braintree branch line.

The muppets at Witham have apparently requested buses but they haven't pitched up yet and typically Kermit and Co haven't a bloody clue when they will...

Marvellous

A New "Improved" Timetable? Hell No!

For months now National Express East Anglia have been touting their new "improved" timetable. They've been promising new trains, more seating, you name it.

However as ever with this useless bunch if incompetents, nothing is what they claim.

In the 4 days since the timetable was introduced I have yet to travel on one of their trains and arrive on time; every single train I've travelled on, from Braintree to Stratford and the return has either been late, delayed, or missed it's connection.

So far:

Monday

Morning: The 0812 from Braintree - late.
Evening:  Delays, I managed to catch the 1806 Ipswich service from Stratford - at 1815! And was able to make the connection to the 1800 Liverpool Street to Braintree at Witham - this service doesn't currently stop at Stratford though we're promised it will when platform 10A has been lengthened.

Tuesday

Didn't travel.

Wednesday

Morning: 0812 from Braintree cancelled.  0900 was over half-an-hour late (2 claims).
Evening:  1820 late, overcrowded and slow-running meaning the connection with the 1800 Braintree service   at Witham was missed. (Another claim)

Thursday

Morning: God be praised! The 0812 ran - late.
Evening: The Jubilee Line had signal problems (claimed for) so I couldn't make the 1820. Instead, I caught the Walton-on-the-Naze train (late) and changed at Witham.

And let's not forget the only compensation available from NXEA is a voucher that can only be used to purchase tickets from themselves.

I'll now use this blog to maintain a log of the services as they are now constituted.