Flooding woes

[louiselux]

I'm unable to get to work this morning - no trains from Reading to Oxford because of flooding on the line, and no replacement buses because the roads have flooded too. It looks like the river levels are only going to get higher too, peaking tomorrow evening.

I was expecting this today, after the train travel day of hell that was Friday:

2.30pm: leave work. It's absolutely pissing down in Birmingham and has been for hours. Get drenched from the knees down/
3pm: all trains to Reding cancelled, flooding on track at Banbury.
3.30pm: get on train to London Euston, planning to go via Paddington back to Reading
4.30pm: we inch along a track that is rapidly submerging under gushing brown water. "It's at line height!" some men in the seats behind me say, excitedly. "We're just in time." Turns out they are rail bods. "Can you feel the train rocking?" they go on. "That'll be the ballast under the sleepers shifting." Oh god, the train is going to derail!! I keep a grip on sanity, just. The carriage is silent and grim. Try to dry socks under hand drier in train loos. Fail.
4.45pm: train manager announces that Paddington is closed from flooding. Mood plummets further.
5pm: train manager says that there is a replacement bus service going from Milton Keynes to Oxford. I get off at Milton Keynes, thinking that I'd far prefer to take my chances in Oxford than in the mayhem that will be Paddington or Waterloo.
5.15pm: at Milton Keynes, station guard tells me there is no replacement bus service to Oxford, because the roads are flooded. Man from Glasgow starts shouting. We get put in a taxi to Oxford.
5.30- 7pm: tour of Oxfordshire by taxi, experiencing many excitingly flooded back lanes, roads and dual carriageways packed with stationary traffic. Worry that I'm going to have to spend the night in a taxi with man from Glasgow, surrounded by flood water.
7pm: arrive Oxford. Feet still wet but there are trains to Reading! Joy. I will probably never be so happy again to see Loverock Road Trading Estate hove into view.
7.45: arrive Reading
8pm: arrive home. Change socks immediately. Never want to see a train ever again.

But apparently now the line to Birmingham won't reopen until Wednesday or Thursday. So I am really stuffed. My boss isn't in today so I can't talk to her about it. In theory it sounds nice, being trapped at home while it rains, but I have neetings and things to do and I feel horribly guilty. Arrgh. It's raining again!

Comments

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

As if commuting weren't bad enough, eh?

I have a cousin in Tewkesbury. No idea how he's doing.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Oh no, poor cousin. :( It just looks appalling there.

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, Tewkesbury...much sympathies to you and yours..it looks awful down there. I hope things return to some form or semblance of normalcy for those affected by the rains.

....I have fond memories of the large summer medieval fair/living history event they hold once every year.

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Thanks/ Yeah, the scale of it is just amazing. So glad I decided to move out of the 'sunny' south and up to rain-soaked Glasgow (where it's baking hot today!).

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! That's terrible!

We've been having flooding this summer, but nothing like this. You need lots of comfort fic, chockie, and a vacation!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I need all those things, it's true. I might have to put some Bpal on to help me cope today.

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

EEEK!

I shall swim to you.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

You might have to! There will be towels at this end.

Am getting a teeny bit anxious about the trip up north, I have to say. We might have to go through London after all. The weather for the weekend is 'unsettled', so far. :(

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

If it's more sure going through London, we'll just have to bite the bullet!

Unsettled, bah. It shouldn't be allowed.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

So it's still raining over there, huh? It rained nearly every day when I was back there for three weeks, so I guess it's no surprise the flooding's spread south. But far better to be trapped at home than anywhere else!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That's true. At least here I have access to supplies of dry socks and copious amounts of tea.

[doire]

I'm trying to plan a Cambridge-Sheffield trip, never simple except for the odd out-of-the-blue occasion, but there doesn't seem to be many problems according to nationalrail. <feels mistrustful>

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

From what I can see on Live Departure Boards, I think your area is okay - it's really the area between Birmingham and Reading that is affected worst. Hmmm, I hope it's okay for you!

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

One of my staff has been stuck in Bristol since Thursday, missing various meetings in other cities, and unable to come home north...

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Oh no, that sucks. :( That was my dread on Friday - getting stranded away from home.

[gen50.livejournal.com]

sometimes i am amazed when other countries tell me of their flooding
problems - i always think it is a local phenomenon

do take care

[emungere.livejournal.com]

!!! 0.0

I know you already told me, but dude. I don't think I grasped the full scope. *hugs*

[temaris.livejournal.com]

Yikes. What an awful, awful journey for you. A friend over near Didcot is waiting for them to open the locks to relieve Oxford -- and drown her village. Not good. Good luck!

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Eep. What a drama! Glad you got home OK eventually.
Fortunately it was only the Circle/District lines at Paddington, so I managed to get home with no real problems.

Am hoping that the problems won't go up the track any...

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

Argh, that sounds dreadful -- puts my mere hour or so of delays in perspective!

[indelicateink]

Eep! I am so sorry. That sounds intense. :/ Please try to stay dry!

We had floods here in N Texas all spring and into summer, it was really unusual weather. Here's hoping the sun comes out for you like it did for us!

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

*hugs* for the rain my dear.

I hope the rains stop soon and you are all ok!

Love to all!

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Sorry...it's late.

Watching the news on the BBC, it is heartwrenching.

Gloucestershire seems to be all underwater and apparently Oxfordshire and and Berkshire may be threatened now. I can sympathise with you on the non-stop rain as it happens oft on a regular basis here.

Once again stay safe and take care.

*more hugs*

[kickingrad.livejournal.com]

Aargh, what a sucky trip! Drama. I'm glad you weren't stranded, that would be horrible.

I live right next to several rivers and they're getting very high... I'm going to keep a sharp eye on them. Hopefully the park will stop them before they get to our door.

I hear we might get some summer in august...

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Eeek! Oh no, that sounds dreadful. Stay dry! I suppose it's at least good that you're safely at home, rather than stranded someplace else, but weather unpleasantness sucks no matter where you are. I shall attempt to fan some of the dry heat we've been getting over here across the pond to you!

[kanzenhanzai.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I'd heard about the flooding, but I didn't realize *how* bad it was. At least you're home and not stuck god-knows-where for the next couple days? Eek.

[devikun.livejournal.com]

The world is out of whack, because meanwhile, where I live (that would be about as south of the Equator as you are North...) we have NO rain. None. Really. Like for months and months bordering on almost a year. We are down to something like 20% capacity in our dams (very low bordering on critical). And it's Winter right now. As soon as Summer rocks around again, it will get even worse.

So, can we have some of yours? Just you know, post it over or something, or wave a big fan in our direction. Because we really really need it, and you obviously have far too much!

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

At least you're dry, or you were at this time. I hope you stay that way!