Louis Mendez’ journey back from Blackpool

The whole thing was ridiculous.

Signal problems knackered everything out of Preston. I was booked on the 20:00 which was the last train back to Euston. That was cancelled whilst on the train from Blackpool to Preston. Sat outside Preston for about 30 mins on that one.

Was told by Avanti on twitter that I had to get the 21:05 heading to Birmingham and get off at Stafford to meet a coach. The 21:05 pulled into Preston about 10 mins late. Got on and there was an announcement that we were waiting for train crew and wouldn't leave until 21:45. At 21:40 that changed to not leaving for the foreseeable because they were waiting for a different train to bring crew down. That train pulled in and we were told to go and get on that one instead at about 21:55.

We were told that we'd be moving soon when we got on that. Still didn't leave for another half hour. Then it's an hour down to Stafford.

To my immense surprise, there were rail replacement coaches waiting - one for each destination (from memory, MK, Coventry, Watford, London)

So got on the coach which set off at 23:45. Drove down the M6 for maybe half an hour before he suddenly pulled off into an industrial estate in Walsall. Then turned around and said he now has to make five more stops (which I'm convinced was a lie because we were all going to the same place) so they're sending a replacement bus and made everyone stand in a lay-by. I refused to get off until the next one came as I had visions of being left stranded roadside for an hour. It did arrive quickly but we went from a full size coach where we all had space to a minibus where we were all on top of each other (I think he subcontracted out the journey to his mate with a smaller vehicle but took the ££ for a big coach from Avanti)

Left there about 00:20, got to near Euston at 02:50 but the driver got caught in the closures for HS2 and just panicked and told us to get off at Drummond Street. Had been in contact with Avanti on the way down being assured and reassured that someone will meet us off the bus with a hoard of cabs.

Needless to say, there was no one meeting us off the bus and the station staff stopping people from going into the closed station both knew nothing about it and refused to help or go and get the manager.

Had to get back onto Avanti via Twitter DMs and eventually they asked for my details and booked a cab. But there was two others still with me (from about 10-12 on the coaches) who were stranded and didn't have Twitter. So the Avanti DM person said they'd told the station manager but he still took 15 mins to turn up and couldn't look less arsed. I left him with the others to sort their cabs as mine arrived.

Cab took 45 mins or so from Euston to Sidcup so was in for 4am

I get signal problems and whatever happen but the organisation after was terrible. Also can't work out where everyone went because normally 100-200 would get off that train at Euston. We were whittled down to 10-12 and Avanti were happy to go mute on helping them without being pushed by me.