Greater Anglia Experience

Usually when I travel to the airport, I always get National Express or Megabus, since they’re the cheapest options, and I am a broke student.

Although this time, National Express was really expensive so I looked at tickets for the train, and boy was that a mistake..

The train ticket was with three changes:

Norwich- Cambridge Station

Cambridge Station- London Liverpool Street

London Liverpool Street- West Ruislip

West Ruislip- Heathrow Underground

I haven’t taken the train since I was about 5, I was on my own and it was really late. So, I was already panicking about this trip. Let’s start from the beginning.

I bought the tickets online and was sceptical and uncomfortable about making so many stations, but it was the cheapest option, and therefore (basically) my only option.

Upon getting to the train station, I forgot that in order to get the tickets printed, you had to put in the card that you bought the tickets with. I left the card at home since I thought “It runs out soon, no point in taking it with me.” There was a point. I went to talk to someone about what I could do, they told me to just try another card and see if it works, if it doesn’t however, there’s nothing they can do.

I tried my other card, and thank God it worked. I got my tickets.

I had to stay awake most nights because I was worried I was going to miss my stops. I was going to have a long night ahead of me anyway, but it turned out to be much longer than I expected.

First stop at Cambridge, was completely fine, the trouble started when I got off the second train and ran towards my tube. As soon as I got onto the platform, it was announced that the last tube has left and the underground will soon be closing. I ran to ask someone what I should do next, they told me to get the tube to Paddington to get the Express Line to Heathrow.

Arrived at Paddington, was told that the last Express Line has left and the next one wouldn’t be until 5am. I was suggested to go to Hammersmith to see if I can get the bus to Heathrow, since if I waited for the Express Line I wouldn’t have made my flight.

I got the tube to Hammersmith, and I was worried about not being able to get the bus since I only paid for the trains and tube. The bus arrived, and thankfully the bus driver let me on.

At this point, I was so drained, I was so tired, and so upset by the whole situation, I just didn’t want to go anywhere. It is also worth mentioning, I had no money, no food, and no sleep, I wasn’t a happy person.

I got to Heathrow, and I had completely forgotten that in order to get to Terminal 4, you have to get the Express Line. It was closed and it wasn’t going to open until 5am. I was stuck, and after the adventure I had, I didn’t really want to go on a bus in case I messed up again, but I took the bus, and thankfully I was able to get my flight with spare time to sleep beforehand.

After this, I doubt I will ever use the train again, not while I’m alone travelling anyway. No more Greater Anglia for me, from now on, it’ll only be Megabus and National Express, even if it does take longer.