Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

My plan B: is to go all the way by car if the M11 is clear.

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

Virtually no snow on the ground in Central London at the moment

Paul

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

I think you have a reasonable chance by rail. FCC are running an
emergency timetable (see http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk...=MajorIncident)
so there'll be fewer and slower trains than usual, and might thus be a
bit full, but my train (from St Neots) this morning ran fine apart
from that.

Ganesh

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

Ganesh Sittampalam wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this
evening (Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on,
but watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

I think you have a reasonable chance by rail. FCC are running an
emergency timetable (see
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk...=MajorIncident)
so there'll be fewer and slower trains than usual, and might thus be
a
bit full, but my train (from St Neots) this morning ran fine apart
from that.

Thank you!

I've had a recent look at the live feed from Cambridge and it now seems 11
minutes delay is about as bad as it gets at the moment and for the
foreseeable.

We're going...

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

Paulg0 wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this
evening (Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on,
but watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

Virtually no snow on the ground in Central London at the moment

Thank you!

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

There's been a fall of snow over Cambridge, a couple of cm, but it's
stopped now and the sky is clear. If that's all we get today here, you
should be fine in this area.

Sam

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On 6 Jan, 13:32, "Brian Watson" wrote:
Paulg0 wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

Virtually no snow on the ground in Central London at the moment

Thank you!

There's now quite heavy snow falling over Canary Wharf which is
starting to settle.

Ganesh

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On 6 Jan, 15:21, Ganesh Sittampalam
wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:32, "Brian Watson" wrote:

Paulg0 wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...
Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

Virtually no snow on the ground in Central London at the moment

Thank you!

There's now quite heavy snow falling over Canary Wharf which is
starting to settle.

Ganesh

Regardless of what the snow is doing, some services seem to be winding
up early.

Announcements at Charing Cross indicated last trains to everywhere
from about 2030 onwards. I reckon there will be nothing much after
2100.

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:46:36 -0000, MIG
wrote:

On 6 Jan, 15:21, Ganesh Sittampalam
wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:32, "Brian Watson" wrote:

Paulg0 wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...
Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a
reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

Virtually no snow on the ground in Central London at the moment

Thank you!

There's now quite heavy snow falling over Canary Wharf which is
starting to settle.

Ganesh

Regardless of what the snow is doing, some services seem to be winding
up early.

Announcements at Charing Cross indicated last trains to everywhere
from about 2030 onwards. I reckon there will be nothing much after
2100.

& despite what the Wap site says there's only emergency timetable trains
so it'll take 1/2 an hour longer to get there than normal. Last train back
is apparently the normal slow coach

--
Duncan Wood

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

Sam Holloway wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

There's been a fall of snow over Cambridge, a couple of cm, but it's
stopped now and the sky is clear. If that's all we get today here, you
should be fine in this area.

Sam

Disappointing, but there's quite a lot more for us due tomorrow and over
the w/e - a shallow low's forming in the north sea in addition to
convective showers blowing inland etc. And it's going to get extremely
cold with a bitter wind chill from an ENE wind as well.

I looked up my old postcode in West Sussex - believe it or not, they've
had a 24 hr accumulation of 38 cms! Wow!

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

"magwitch" wrote in message
...
Sam Holloway wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

There's been a fall of snow over Cambridge, a couple of cm, but it's
stopped now and the sky is clear. If that's all we get today here, you
should be fine in this area.

Sam

Disappointing, but there's quite a lot more for us due tomorrow and over
the w/e - a shallow low's forming in the north sea in addition to
convective showers blowing inland etc. And it's going to get extremely
cold with a bitter wind chill from an ENE wind as well.

I looked up my old postcode in West Sussex - believe it or not, they've
had a 24 hr accumulation of 38 cms! Wow!

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported that
many London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at 20:00, so
whilst you might be able to get to the show you might not get back

tim

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

tim.... wrote:
"magwitch" wrote in message
...
Sam Holloway wrote:
On 6 Jan, 13:03, "Brian Watson" wrote:
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance
of making the journey ok by rail?
There's been a fall of snow over Cambridge, a couple of cm, but it's
stopped now and the sky is clear. If that's all we get today here, you
should be fine in this area.

Sam
Disappointing, but there's quite a lot more for us due tomorrow and over
the w/e - a shallow low's forming in the north sea in addition to
convective showers blowing inland etc. And it's going to get extremely
cold with a bitter wind chill from an ENE wind as well.

I looked up my old postcode in West Sussex - believe it or not, they've
had a 24 hr accumulation of 38 cms! Wow!

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported that
many London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at 20:00, so
whilst you might be able to get to the show you might not get back

tim



My god they are B'stards!

I used to regularly work till 8 pm especially if I'd been delayed
getting in in the morning - and London hotels book up in this weather or
for the sales really fast.

Hope they lay on a soup kitchen or something.

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported that
many London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at 20:00, so
whilst you might be able to get to the show you might not get back

tim




I find this totally ridiculous and as a paying communter frankly frustrating
and annoying

It's only a little bit of snow!

Left for work this morning and there was about 2cm at most. Victoria Line
from Blackhorse Road was packed, then when I got off at Highbury &
Islington, the FCC train was packed. I couldn't get on and 14 mins for the
next one, so squashed back onto the next Victoria Line train southbound.
Got off at Kings X, where I discovered there were delays on the Northern
Line due to "adverse weather conditions" Had wanted to avoid Kings X due to
the long walk to the Northern Line (should have stayed on to Euston, but as
the carriage was so tightly packed, I had to get off anyhow to let other
passengers off)
There was then no sign of any trains to Maze Hill from London Bridge at 9am.
No DLR at the moment from Bank. I just jumped on a train going to New Cross
and then got the 177 from there to Maze Hill. Even less snow in Greenwich

Was chucked out of work early at 4:15pm, so thought best to get the 188 to
North Greenwich. Was about 2cm of snow. Roads very wet, but largely clear
and by the time I got on the bus had stopped snowing. Bus took longer than
normal due to rightly cautious driving from all. At North Greenwich, I was
actually stunned TfL were doing something useful for once - due to bus
delays, any passengers getting buses to Stratford were being told they could
use their tickets on the Jubilee Line to Stratford. Judging by the last
snow incidence a couple of weeks ago, there probably few buses running from
Stratford as well. Was stuck in Leyton for 45 mins looking at a grounded
158 and 58 watching 2 packed 69's go by in the meantime.

Then plain sailing from North Greenwich to Green Park and then Green Park to
Blackhorse Road. At Blackhorse Road, was slightly surprised to see there
wasn't any more snow than there was this morning when I left and along
Forest Road it wasn't too bad a walk.

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

"Nicola Redwood" wrote in message
...

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported that many
London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at 20:00, so whilst
you might be able to get to the show you might not get back


I find this totally ridiculous and as a paying communter frankly frustrating
and annoying

It's only a little bit of snow!

But you do know that it's the wrong kind of snow don't yer?

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

Nicola Redwood wrote:


[snow, travel, etc.]

I find this totally ridiculous and as a paying communter frankly frustrating
and annoying

It's only a little bit of snow!

How much more would you like to pay to ensure that the infrastructure
can cope with these unusual [1] conditions?

[1] Longest cold snap for 30 years, or something, I read.

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

magwitch wrote:
I looked up my old postcode in West Sussex - believe it or not, they've
had a 24 hr accumulation of 38 cms! Wow!

Yup, I'm in Liphook. We've had about 30cm - it varies a bit as it was
blowing while it snowed. This is on the parapet of a railway bridge, and is
about average:
http://www.markettos.org.uk/ephemeral/img_2251.jpg

It snowed pretty much straight for 24 hours. It's stopped now, but there
seemed to be little melting.

The only cars moving I saw were two landrovers and a JCB cleaning the lane.
But there are some seriously large snowmen around :)

Theo

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:29:17 -0000, Fevric J. Glandules
wrote:

Nicola Redwood wrote:


[snow, travel, etc.]

I find this totally ridiculous and as a paying communter frankly
frustrating
and annoying

It's only a little bit of snow!

How much more would you like to pay to ensure that the infrastructure
can cope with these unusual [1] conditions?

[1] Longest cold snap for 30 years, or something, I read.

It's more to do with Kings Cross as a whole going to emergency timetable.

--
Duncan Wood

Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP)
 

tim.... wrote:

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a
reasonable chance
of making the journey ok by rail?

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported
that many London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at
20:00, so whilst you might be able to get to the show you might not
get back

We made it there and back RELATIVELY without incident.

The line to KX WAS on the emergency timetable but it got us there and back
(I think it was 22.50 departure from KX) in reasonable time, though it was a
most-stopper.

The only problems involved the train doors on the return journey doors,
which were icing up and needed a fair amount of prizing apart and shoving to
get them closed again.

A "Britain Can Take It" spirit prevailed and the passengers pitched in each
time some poor sod was getting desperate about getting off the train, or
when the driver sent a message over the PA to close a reluctant door.

Incidentally, Chicago (the musical) was dull, VERY dull, with some soap star
bloke trying to sing the male lead without much success or conviction, and
Ruthie Henshall and the rest of the cast looking like they'd all rather be
somewhere else so they could enjoy themselves a bit.

Just my opinion, of course, but it was the first West End show I've been to
that didn't get anything like a standing ovation - at least, we didn't see
one from our POV in the Circle - nor was there a jolly reprise (apart from a
second round of walk-downs from the stars that looked a bit perfunctory).

The most entertaining thing in the theatre last night was a mouse trotting
to and fro at the back of the Circle. He or she may or may not have lasted
the night, rodent bait having been placed behind our seats.

All in all, it reminded me of WC Field's reported last words, "I'd rather be
in Philadelphia."

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Incidentally, Chicago (the musical) was dull, VERY dull, with some soap
star bloke trying to sing the male lead without much success or
conviction, and Ruthie Henshall and the rest of the cast looking like
they'd all rather be somewhere else so they could enjoy themselves a bit.

That's a shame. Chicago is a wonderful piece - vital, energetic, exciting
and, when performed well, breathtaking. The original London cast - Ute
Lemper, Ruthie H, Henry Goodman and Nigel Planer - were superb. Shame about
Ian Kelsey being bad - he's done a couple of musicals so I would have
expected him to be OK.

Still, get the original London cast album - it's brilliant.

Ian

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

On 6 Jan, 19:00, magwitch wrote:
tim.... wrote:

I guess it's too late for the OP now, but the BBC has just reported that
many London stations will be shutting early, very early, like at 20:00, so
whilst you might be able to get to the show you might not get back

tim

My god they are B'stards!

I used to regularly work till 8 pm especially if I'd been delayed
getting in in the morning - and London hotels book up in this weather or
for the sales really fast.

Hope they lay on a soup kitchen or something.

Just now (5.15pm, Thursday) I received a text message from FCC telling
me to go home (from London to Cambridge) early.

From the website: "Great Northern route customers: trains are running
to the normal timetable today, but there are delays and cancellations
because of the weather and the service will be greatly reduced from
7.30pm. Please travel home early. There will be an emergency timetable
in place tomorrow. "

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk...nt=LiveRunning

PaulO

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London(from the OP))
 

On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:49:35 -0000, Ian F.
wrote:

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Incidentally, Chicago (the musical) was dull, VERY dull, with some soap
star bloke trying to sing the male lead without much success or
conviction, and Ruthie Henshall and the rest of the cast looking like
they'd all rather be somewhere else so they could enjoy themselves a
bit.

That's a shame. Chicago is a wonderful piece - vital, energetic,
exciting and, when performed well, breathtaking. The original London
cast - Ute Lemper, Ruthie H, Henry Goodman and Nigel Planer - were
superb. Shame about Ian Kelsey being bad - he's done a couple of
musicals so I would have expected him to be OK.

Still, get the original London cast album - it's brilliant.

Ian

Thereagain I spent last night watching Nine. The original London cast
members comments are best not repeated in a public forum.
--
Duncan Wood

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
news:op.u56j8wa1rpivgb@rachel...

Thereagain I spent last night watching Nine. The original London cast
members comments are best not repeated in a public forum.

Heh! Mr. Pryce or Ms. Paige? ;-)

Ian

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London(from the OP))
 

On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:39:12 -0000, Ian F.
wrote:

"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
news:op.u56j8wa1rpivgb@rachel...

Thereagain I spent last night watching Nine. The original London cast
members comments are best not repeated in a public forum.

Heh! Mr. Pryce or Ms. Paige? ;-)

Ian

That was a complaint, not a name drop. & far more Glaswegian:-) Come to
think of it I thought Ms Paige only did the recording.

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
news:op.u56pk20ihaghkf@lucy...

That was a complaint, not a name drop. & far more Glaswegian:-)

LOL.

Come to think of it I thought Ms Paige only did the recording.

Quite feasible - I didn't actually see it, but remember hearing the music.
Come to think of it, Pryce may just have been for the concert album as well.
*googles* Not much about the London stage production in 1996, plenty about
the album. *shrug* Ah well - as Diane Keaton would say, "La-di-dah".

God, I'm getting camper by the minute! Get thee behind me, musicals! ;-)

Ian

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London(from the OP))
 

On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:25:05 -0000, Ian F.
wrote:

"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
news:op.u56pk20ihaghkf@lucy...

That was a complaint, not a name drop. & far more Glaswegian:-)

LOL.

Come to think of it I thought Ms Paige only did the recording.

Quite feasible - I didn't actually see it, but remember hearing the
music. Come to think of it, Pryce may just have been for the concert
album as well. *googles* Not much about the London stage production in
1996, plenty about the album. *shrug* Ah well - as Diane Keaton would
say, "La-di-dah".

God, I'm getting camper by the minute! Get thee behind me, musicals! ;-)

Ian

He did the show, but that was 1992, I'm not sure Pryce or Nine are exactly
camp though :-) But I've seen Eurobeat too many times to have a straight
point of view.

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

Theo Markettos wrote:
magwitch wrote:
I looked up my old postcode in West Sussex - believe it or not, they've
had a 24 hr accumulation of 38 cms! Wow!

Yup, I'm in Liphook. We've had about 30cm - it varies a bit as it was
blowing while it snowed. This is on the parapet of a railway bridge, and is
about average:
http://www.markettos.org.uk/ephemeral/img_2251.jpg

We used to live up the hill along from Lynchmere on Marley Common (trust
me, winter '62/63 was something else up there). If you have a Landy
check it out for me this w/e and take more pics... it must look magical atm.

It snowed pretty much straight for 24 hours. It's stopped now, but there
seemed to be little melting.

OMG I'm so jealous!!!

The only cars moving I saw were two landrovers and a JCB cleaning the lane.
But there are some seriously large snowmen around :)

Are you sure they aren't real people who've been deep frozen? ;-)

Snow disruption Cambridge/London
 

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...
My daughter and I have tickets for a theatre show in London this evening
(Wednesday) and want to travel up 'n back by train.

At the moment, the theatre's website is saying "the show will go on, but
watch this website for updates"

Is London enduring a snowy apocalypse or are we in with a reasonable
chance of making the journey ok by rail?

My plan B: is to go all the way by car if the M11 is clear.

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

Having had a few inches of snow a few days ago, the Bromley North branch
appears to have been shut down for the duration. I cannot recall this
happening before even when we had "real" snow. These modern train operators,
or their trains, are really feeble!

MaxB

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

Ian F. wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Incidentally, Chicago (the musical) was dull, VERY dull, with some
soap star bloke trying to sing the male lead without much success or
conviction, and Ruthie Henshall and the rest of the cast looking like
they'd all rather be somewhere else so they could enjoy themselves a
bit.

That's a shame. Chicago is a wonderful piece - vital, energetic,
exciting and, when performed well, breathtaking. The original London
cast - Ute Lemper, Ruthie H, Henry Goodman and Nigel Planer - were
superb. Shame about Ian Kelsey being bad - he's done a couple of
musicals so I would have expected him to be OK.

Still, get the original London cast album - it's brilliant.

My daughter saw the Ute Lemper/Ruthie Henshall cast and said how much this
latest version had gone off the boil from that one.

Ian Kelsey wasn't off the notes - but he and the rest just seemed so
lacklustre.

Theatrically, the whole show needs a kick up the bum to make it sparkle
again.

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Theatrically, the whole show needs a kick up the bum to make it sparkle
again.

When I was in New York a few years ago I saw a ghastly, drab production of
Cabaret at Studio 54, directed by Sam Mendes. When I got back to London I
e-mailed his office to say how dreadful it was, and wondering when he had
last seen it as it was not doing his name any good.

His PA e-mailed straight back to say that she had told him about my note and
he told her to book him a flight at once! Not sure what happened after that,
but I think it went on to become one of the longest-running revivals on
Broadway!

Ian

OT Chicago musical (was Snow disruption Cambridge/London (from the OP))
 

Ian F. wrote:
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

Theatrically, the whole show needs a kick up the bum to make it
sparkle again.

When I was in New York a few years ago I saw a ghastly, drab
production of Cabaret at Studio 54, directed by Sam Mendes. When I
got back to London I e-mailed his office to say how dreadful it was,
and wondering when he had last seen it as it was not doing his name
any good.
His PA e-mailed straight back to say that she had told him about my
note and he told her to book him a flight at once! Not sure what
happened after that, but I think it went on to become one of the
longest-running revivals on Broadway!

Good point. I'll ask my daughter for some names who might care that their
names were being associated with such a dull presentation.

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop