Sundays are reserved for engineering work here in England. This means that train routes and timings vary from week to week.

I often need to travel on a Sunday to get to meetings first thing on a Monday. And engineering work is the bane of my life.

Today I am travelling to Manchester, along with several hundred Chelsea and Manchester United fans.

My problems started when I found that engineering work on my 2 main routes into London meant leaving Sat night to get to Euston in time for my Sunday morning train. So I decided to use the line from Watford instead – expensive taxi number one!

Watford Junction is a pretty dismal station at the best of times, and even more so when there’s an operational incident – which is the situation that greeted me when I arrived. Believe it or not, a door had fallen off a train somewhere between Watford and London and blocked the only functioning line into London. The other being closed for, yes, you’ve guessed it, engineering.

The offending door sadly didn’t drop off completely though. Rather, it hung like a damaged wing and prevented the train from backing into a platform and into sidings.

So, deep breath, and expensive taxi number 2! To Euston station. This time shared with new friends, 2 going to Bruges via St Pancras and 1 to Leeds via Kings Cross.

Eventually, I arrive at Euston with time to spare and a coffee shop beckoning. But that was not to be. Euston station was brimming with people – fed-up, irritated, angry, confused people. All trains out were either cancelled or suspended till further notice. That injured train had, it turned out, blocked the only Iine both in and out of Euston.

Chaos reigned. Virgin staff blamed Network Rail. Network Rail were silent. Trains were even more silent.

Suddenly, a platform was announced. Three trains’ worth of passengers grabbed their bags and ran! With all seat reservations revoked, it was a free for all. As a seasoned traveller my large pink suitcase is no longer an impediment, it has become part of me, and I can run and dodge like a good’un.

So I am now sitting (quite an achievement) on a train that is very late, very hot and very full.

The thought of a cooling drink at a Manchester hostelry is sustaining me. Life has it’s ups!