national express train driver strike :(

sammyw

For the first time ever we have planned a few things to do in london as surprises for the kids. Now we find out that there are proposed strikes on the some of the days we have booked event tickets for. ANyone know if these strikes are actually going to take place??

sarah_elton

Which days are you concerned about?

I commute on those beloved NXEA trains. I've never known a strike actually go ahead in the time I've been working in London (three years), but others have before that.

If they go ahead, it will be this Thursday, and possibly Friday too, but I can't see it going beyond the first week of the four planned.

I've got tickets to a West End show next Friday (7th) which set me back £132; taking my mum. If the strikes look like lasting the two weeks I'm going to have to try and sell them on. :mad:

sammyw

We have plans for the 7th and then again on the 13th and it will mean losing out on tickets to the o2, west end shows and hotel stays!!! Not a happy person at the moment. This is the first time we've booked things in advance, having waited to see when all the engineering works would be finished, we also made sure our plans were during the week in case an further works were annouhnced - as they're usually done at the weekends.

sarah_elton

They have now posted an alternative timetable for this Thurs/Fri so it's looking quite likely to happen. They will run one train an hour to/from Liverpool Street, but with trains stopping at 7pm. :eek: I'm not going to try and get to work, because what happens if you can't physically fit on that 7pm train?!

I'm still hoping that the strikes will only last the first week and I'll be ok for the 7th as well.

Maybe we can sue Bob Crow for our losses if it comes to that... :mad:

westv

I'm going to attempt to use the alternative timetable from Chelmsford tomorrow. When you discount all the people on holiday, taking the day off because of the strikes, those who are ill and all those taking alternative routes......................

............. it'll only leave a few thousand trying to get on the trains available! :eek:

sammyw

For those who struggled in to london today, how did you get on? Trains aren't running from our station today so if they use the same timetable each week we definately won't be able to get out of town - very upset!

KeithP

sammyw wrote: »

For those who struggled in to london today, how did you get on? Trains aren't running from our station today so if they use the same timetable each week we definately won't be able to get out of town - very upset!

Which town?

Is getting a bus/coach to the next town or to London a possibility?

pippitypip_2

Would be really interested to know how anyone got on? I worked from home today as I know many others did.

With that limited a timetable, it's not worth the hassle for me..

The Southend line seems to run later than the Colchester one, so more trains on that side in case anyone's interested..

pippitypip

westv

In the morning I got a bus at 7:15am to Basildon and then got a train at 8:25am. Got into work about 5 past 9 so all together about 2 hours from Chelmsford. This evening I left slightly earlier and got the 6pm train to Colchester when it arrived around 20 past 5. When I got on I had the carriage to myself. When it left it was rammed.

sammyw

Keith, We need to leave from clacton and the nearest station with trains was colchester. Buses aren't an option for us as the kids get very sick on them.

markt3857

I suppose I should consider myself lucky. I live in Rochford and can drive to one of the stations on the C2C line and go to fenchurch street. God knows what I would have done if I lived as far away as some of you ! You have my sympathies

Hopefully this strike will be resolved b4 it gets into next week

I only hope Bob Crow gets his come uppance someday for causing commuting misery once again over what i see as unreasonable demands in the current climate.

As far as I know, and correct me if I'm wrong, get paid pretty well and to ask for a 4 day week PLUS a pay rise seems totally wrong. Any NXEA employees out there wish to comment ???

Perhaps someone could also tell me whether you are entitled to claim back the days lost on your season ticket for your normal journey ?

Thanks