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

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

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