venta

When I was a student, I used to make the journey between Oxford and my parents' house in Darlington by the cheaper cross-country train route. It provided direct trains, via Birmingham which was handy. The downside was that they were hideously unreliable: when I travelled to Oxford for interview, I arrived hours late and in the middle of the night. On a number of occasions in later years I arrived not only late but on the wrong day. It was only later that I discovered that Virgin's Cross-Country service was a by-word for implausible service.

These days I pay the extra and get the quick service up the East coast main line from Kings Cross. I've never yet got on a train on that route and not arrived more or less bang on time. For some years I could be heard singing the praises of GNER, and how they seemed to be the only operator in the country who were capable of running a railway.

Of course, last year GNER lost their tender for the East coast line. It didn't matter that they were running a speedy and punctual service; they couldn't pay the government the agreed premium so out they went. When buying my tickets to travel home recently, I discovered that National Express had taken over.

I booked my tickets; when I turned up at Kings Cross tonight the fast-ticket machines wouldn't let me have my little bits of card. I had to queue up and talk to a human to get them. He checked I knew there were no direct services to Darlington. Er, no. In fact, I rather thought I was booked on one. Oh no, recent storms have brought down power lines. Have to change at Doncaster.

So, here I am on my train to Doncaster. Which is still cheerfully announcing that it's going all the way to Newcastle stopping at Darlington. So... let's put that phonecall to the parents warning them of my impending lateness on hold until I find a human to quiz.

Honest. National Express have had this tender for about 15 minutes, and after 7 or 8 years or good service they've broken the damn thing already.

On the plus side: free wifi.