Our Bat & Ball correspondent, Keith Alderman, has now retired. However he’s now making good use of his Senior Railcard!

This month’s delays (from five days travel): total 64 minutes, Southeastern 38, Thameslink 26. Delay Repay Claims: total 1 January 2018 to 28 February 2018 inclusive = £12.60
(Southeastern £12.60, Thameslink £0)

Friday 2 February – My destination is Dover today. I started my journey on the 09.42 from Bat & Ball, (it arrived here at 09.40), to Sevenoaks where it was on time. The 10.16 to Dover was three minutes late at Sevenoaks but on time at Dover. For some unknown reason the train service announcements on platform three at Sevenoaks were two hours out this morning; the 10.13 to Dover was announced as being the 08.13!

Wednesday 7 February – A trip to Colchester today. Overnight snow had left Bat & Ball footbridge in a very slippery condition this morning and I was not prepared to risk using it. I intended to catch the 09.16 from Bat & Ball to Farringdon but I decided to travel to Sevenoaks on the late running 08.58 to Sevenoaks at 09.05. This train was seven minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks. I remained on the train at Sevenoaks because it forms the 09.16 service from Bat & Ball departing Sevenoaks at 09.13.

Thursday 15 February – I am meeting some former work colleagues tonight in the City of London for a meal and some real ale therapy, but I thought I would have a full day out. I bought an off-peak return ticket from Bat & Ball to East Grinstead. Just for a change, the ticket machine was not working at Bat & Ball, I commenced my journey today on the 09.16 from Bat & Ball to Otford, then the 09.30 service to Victoria which arrived one minute late. Fortunately, there was sufficient time between trains to retrieve my tickets that I had bought online from the ticket machine at Otford. On arrival at East Grinstead I walked to the Bluebell Railway station and travelled to Sheffield Park and back on a steam hauled train. Being half-term, the Bluebell Railway services were very busy. A lady in the compartment that I was seated in said to one of her travelling companions that her sister would not be happy because she did not get a seat and was standing further down the coach in the corridor. I could not resist it, I suggested to her that she advised her sister that it was added value for money, the Bluebell was offering the commuter experience at no extra charge! On arrival at Bat & Ball station this morning four police officers were on the station, I could not see any reason for their presence.

Wednesday 21 February – A trip to Norwich today, Greater Anglia’s standard class Intercity seats are small therefore I took advantage of cheap “First Class Advance Purchase Single” tickets, (£17.80 each way). I started my journey on the Thameslink 07.40 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks, before leaving home this service was shown as on time when I checked online but on arrival at the station it was expected to be four minutes late. It arrived at Sevenoaks five minutes late at 07.48. Fortunately, Southeastern were also running late, I boarded the 07.51 departure at 07.53 and settled down in a seat in first class; only about half were occupied. The train arrived five minutes late at London Bridge. On the approach to London Bridge the train was running very slowly and the following announcement was made over the PA system; “Apologies for the slow running and the delay to your journey that this will cause. It is due to following another train”. Stating the obvious? I would have been very surprised if we were not following another train on the approach to London Bridge!

Thursday 22 February – Derby is my destination today. I commenced my journey on the 07.56 from Bat & Ball to St Pancras Thameslink where the train arrived five minutes late. The Midland trains to and from Derby were on time. I arrived back at London Bridge in time to board the 17.00 to Sevenoaks. As usual, this train was late arriving at Sevenoaks. It was three minutes late, just in time to see the 17.30 to Bat & Ball departing. Accordingly, I travelled to Bat & Ball on the 18.00 service; another Delay Repay claim submitted.