Home by train

A few years ago whilst I was up in an MS respite home in York I noticed a sign on the wall that said 'We will transport patients to and from York train station'.

So I asked the receptionist to find out how much it would cost for a single fare to Flint station.

She told me £18. I thought that was considerably cheaper and more convenient than for my wife to come on a 180-mile round trip to pick me up. So I didn't hesitate in booking it. I was told I would have to change at Manchester Station. No problem.

My wife Margaret asked our daughter Gill "What do you think, Gill? Your Dad is coming home by train from York". Gill replied, "That's OK, Dad knows what he's doing".

So the day arrived for me to return. The respite home arranged to take me and my equipment (a briefcase, a suitcase, two wheelchairs (one portable, and one electric on which I was sitting), a battery charger, and a radio/cassette player) to the station. We waited a few minutes for the train.

When it arrived I drove my wheelchair onto it whilst they loaded my bits and pieces into the carriage.

As we arrived at Manchester station, two ladies sitting opposite me informed me that there were two stations at Manchester. I asked them would they ask a porter to check which station I needed to get the train to Flint and not the station where the train went to Penrith.The porter returned and informed me to stay on the train and it would take me direct to Flint station.Which it did!!

All's well that ends well!!

With all the many criticisms about our railways, the service I received that day was excellent!

They do say "let the train take the strain" and in my case it certainly did.