Hull trains cancelled, 3 trains' worth of passengers on one train

[xavierfondue]

DD (age 17) and her boyfriend (also 17) are trying to get to Edinburgh today to go to the festival. I dropped them off at the station with pre-booked tickets and she is sending me all these messages that:

a) the train is packed
b) they only just managed to get on
c) the passengers already on the train tried to stop them getting on [but fortunately they (surprisingly, where did this come from? I always thought they were so polite) threw a complete strop and barged their way on, probably rudely and aggressively but I'm actually quite proud of them]
d) No reservations on the train, so they were split up and had to stand in different places - the seats I'd booked were completely invalid
e) Only got seats (not together) at York
f) Apparently, as the title states, there are three trains' worth of passengers on one train.

HTF did this happen?

The kids were talking last night about going to Japan for a month next summer, after leaving school. I was all for saying no, you're too young, but after this I think I should let them go.

AIBU to think Virgin Trains are completely useless after they took over East Coast Trains? There are always delays (DH uses it everyday) and this is a bloody joke.

And to cap it all, Mumsnet only sent me my email on WEDNESDAY to say my account had been hacked. I only picked it up today.

Gin. Where is the bloody emocion for gin? Stuff the

First world problems, I know. But wtfaf.

Getting on a packed train in Hull is not quite the same as going to Japan for a month.

Do you not travel by train much OP? What you have described is not unusual on trains in this country.

Not unusual by any means but really shouldn't be the norm. Public transport, grr!!

Well trains do run better in Japan, but they would then have the language barrier to contend with.

I'm not getting the link to Japan, just because they got on a packed train and are sending you lots of text messages?

Feeling a bit thick today, sorry

They'd be a hell of a lot safer in Japan for a month than Hull for a day.

Trains get cancelled. It's can't be that bad if they only had to stand from hull to york.

Trains are better in Japan. They'll be fine.

3 into 1 is standard on a Friday.

Annoying yes but hardly that out of the ordinary.

They're not on the train from Hull. They're going from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. Because the Hull train was cancelled, Virgin opened the gates to all and sundry and cancelled all the reservations.

I travel a lot. She sent me pictures - it looks a lot like trying to get on the Piccadilly Line at Hammersmith about 8.45 am.

But if they were on from kings cross wouldn't they have already been sat inherit reserved seats? Sorry, I'm with worra, I'm also having a thick day!

THEY ARE NOT IN HULL.

THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH HULL, APART FROM THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T GET TO HULL TO/FROM LONDON TODAY.

But apparently more entitled people, without valid seat reservations for that particular train, are more important that 2 teenagers and tried to bar them entry on that train.

It happened because train services in the UK were devised by the devil. They are a form of pure torture and I don't know how the hell the companies get away with the way they treat paying customers.

NO - there were no reservations valid for that train - it was a free for all so the seats they'd booked were completely useless. First come first served and even though they were waiting for this train 20 mins before it was due to set off, they almost missed it because people wouldn't let them on. They actually got on the train just slightly further up the line (not saying where, my login and password has been published, after all) - but had to fight their way on.

So the train to Scotland also stops at Hull, and the Hull direct trains have been cancelled?

Anyway cancellations happen a lot.. There's also a network strike on Sunday as well as the bank holiday
Weekend..

Comparing this to Japan.. No comparison. And I assume when she goes she will be 18 so unsure how you will be able to stop her, even less so them.

Well I am about to be arrested apparently for the ticket machine selling me the wrong kind of (expensive) ticket which has been approved by three separate ticket inspectors, but the fourth has decided it is not valid. I have refused to give my personal details hence the police have been call. Please will you all send me parcels in Holloway

I am not on that train btw but felt like venting.

Erm why didn't they get the station staff to intervene. It's not up to passengers to bar people from getting onto a train.
Staff at kings cross I find are usually more than helpful and if needed would have arranged alternatives.

THEY ARE NO WHERE NEAR FUCKING HULL.

THEY DO NOT LIVE IN HULL.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HULL..

THEY DID NOT GET ON AT HULL.

THE TRAIN DOES NOT STOP IN HULL.

IF TRAINS WERE GOING TO HULL TODAY I WOULD NOT BE SHOUTING IN CAPITAL LETTERS AND ABOUT TO EXPLODE BECAUSE I HAVE TO PROBABLY DRIVE INTO LONDON TO PICK UP DARLING HUSBAND WHO CAN'T GET HOME IN TIME FOR OUR DINNER RESERVATION BECAUSE IT IS MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AS WELL AND EVERYTHING IS FUCKING GOING WRONG AND I CAN'T EVEN HAVE A BLOODY DRINK AT 5.45 ON A FRIDAY.

So - what time is their train due in Hull?

So why did u mention Hull?

And I know you lot are winding me up and normally I'd find it funny.

Not Hull then?