Free ride on the choo-choo

I took advantage of East Midlands Trains’ troubles yesterday to bag a free lift into Nottingham!

There have been strikes by conductors at the rail company in the past week as they strike over something or other, but whatever it is doesn’t affect me as I rarely travel by train. But of course in the past week they’ve decided to re-tarmac the A52, the big bastard dual carriageway that takes me into Nottingham!

The road is closed at night and down to one lane in the day, so of course it slowed down traffic somewhat – namely my bus. Previous experience has told me that if trentbarton bus drivers are late, they decide to take the bus out of service and refuse to pick you up. So, wanting to get to work on time, I decided to use the often forgotten Radcliffe railway station.

It’s only ten minutes into town, but in the afternoon the trains are almost non-existent. Thankfully, the summer seaside timetable meant that the train pulling in at 2pm was barely a third full of families working their way back from Skegness, it was also three carriages long – meaning I got a table for the super short trip! I sat, money in hand, for the conductor to take the fare but no-one came. People were stood up ready to get off in Nottingham, but no-one was working their way down to train for “fares from Radcliffe!”

I got off in Nottingham, fully expecting to get stopped at the barrier they have once you’ve got to the top of the stairs in the station, but no-one was there. A free train ride! And to top it all off, someone offered me their paper to read (which I took with me to work – 35p saved! ) I’m not sure what the train staff are striking about, but if it means free train travel then they can strike for as long as they want!