UPDATE 4 Nov - ALL train strikes called off for tomorrow and next week - YAY - Tube strikes go ahead

Well, it could be good and it could be bad. Lol! At least all my distances that week are kinda short! And I think also bus accessible. And expensive taxi if necessary! Queen of flex and fun here….. Ha!

Nigel, have you ever heard this one.....

Last week my LNER train out of Newcastle heading north departed one hour late due to "more than expected trains needing servicing at the depot."

Even the train crew said they never saw that excuse before.

The train was supposed to start in Leeds and end in Aberdeen but the Leeds to Newcastle portion was cancelled and the service began in Newcastle. It made up some time and I only arrived 50 minutes late so I only got half my fare back. But give credit to LNER.......I received an email from then a couple of hours after my arrival and was offered one click refund. It was issued that day.

We were all told, both as an announcement after each stop, and when checking tickets, that we were all entitled to a partial refund due to the lateness of the train. Kudos to the crew.

Thank you for the update.
I'll keep checking tfl.gov.uk.
I arrive Heathrow T5 on Nov. 10 and planned to use the tube to Kensington.

Nigel, have you ever heard this one.....

uh - yup!

I have seen that a few times, yes indeed.

Chiltern used to have problems with their doors when the got the new stock. Personally I prefer a cancelled train to a dangerous one.

GWR had similar problems with their new electric trains and had to cancel loads of trains.

In my own company (LM) we had lots of cancellations in two cases while I was there - major cancellations when the horns and couplers failed across the fleet, and lots more when trains were damaged in a landslide.

I don't know if there is a better solution. We can't magic up more train sets. Even if we borrowed different trains from other operators we couldn't run them immediately. They would have to be passed out on every route they went on because of clearance at tunnels, bridges and platforms (every train type is different) and if they were passed on the lines, the Drivers and Guards would also need training and passing out. So not so simple....

Have a look at today's update

Unfortunately, the cancellation of the strike will in many cases be too late to reintroduce services on Saturday and probably Monday.

Well it looks like I will be taking a cab from LHR to my hotel when I arrive tomorrow since the strike against the tube is set for Nov 10.