June 9: The Rest Day that wasn't

My itinerary left this day, a Sunday, free in case I needed to do any shopping or just to put my feet up. This particular Wetherspoons hotel is not, in my opinion, well placed for relaxing - my room had a small window and the hotel was on a main road - so I decided to go somewhere, anywhere, on the train.

I walked to the station and looked to see what was due next. It was a Hereford train with First Class and my app found a connection to Cardiff which would enable me to find somewhere for lunch near HFD station first. So it was to be Cardiff where I would have 2 or 3 hours to look around.

The train to Hereford, I had a coffee and snack

I emerged from the station looking for a cafe/pub for lunch and the first one I found was... a Wetherspoons. I considered finding somewhere else (for a different menu) but decided better the devil you know, had fish & chips and returned to the station for my Cardiff train. It was on time.

About halfway to Cardiff we had a long stop at Abergavenny, then the Train Manager said we would be there a while as there was a major signalling problem and both tracks ahead were closed. We were advised to leave the train and they would arrange coaches to take everyone to Cardiff or wherever. I  realised that if I needed a coach to get to Cardiff I may well need one to return to Abergavenny, a  lengthy and unnecessary journey, so I told the Train Manager I needed to return to SHR.  Soon there were six of us needing a northbound train.

Waiting for any train north

Eventually a taxi arrived with a replacement train crew who then arranged for our train to be shunted to the northbound platform and return us to SHR.

A day out with a difference.

See Day 06