Famous last words!

I had only just said to our hostess at Tenbury Wells where we had been house sitting, that travelling by train in the UK was much easier than in Europe because the signs were in English and if in doubt, we could always ask someone to help us and there would be no language barriers.

Our journey from Worcester Shrub Hill Station ( the station we had arrived at when the Queen was there) was booked to take place today (25/7) but we were leaving earlier (24/7) so we could have two nights with my sister and brother-in-law. We asked the duty railway man if there was anyway we could use the tickets we had and he said we should ask the on-board conductor and that we should catch the next train to Worsecster Foregate Station (this was not on one of the types of trains our ticket was for….but, not one asked us for our tickets on the two minute journey).

We then waited for a train that took us directly to Birmingham and there were only two carriages which were packed. It is school holidays here now and the Olympics start in a few days. This all worked in our favour as we did not even have to ask the conductor about the tickets. He just stamped them and we were ok. Saved ourselves just over £15.

When we got to Birmingham we checked which platform our next train was to leave from and relaxed for thirty minutes and had a bite to eat. When we got to our platform the train was already there (early), so we hopped on and enjoyed the air conditioned comfort and un-crowded train. I am unsure what made us suspicious but we asked the person across from us if this was the train to London due out at 12.53. He was Japanese and was able to tell us the train was the 12.33 train that was running late. We quickly grabbed for our bags as the train departed. Too late.

Luckily, the good people on the Midlands Train told us not to worry and that we should get off at Milton Keynes and to then catch the train to Bletchely (our destination).

We did all this quite well and enjoyed our trips. I had bought extra special tickets online for £5 each instead of the more expensive trip that was to cost us £29 each. We are convinced we were on the train that was more expensive. It was very flash.

So much for being overconfident.

We are off to Ashford International tomorrow by train and I really hope we don’t have the adventures of yesterday.

No pictures today…so far.