During Storm Babet, which brought flooding to Norfolk and Suffolk, passengers travelling from London to Norwich found themselves stuck at Ipswich Train Station. Many of these stranded passengers were forced to stay overnight and have since criticized train operator Greater Anglia for failing to take responsibility during the incident. The train company has offered an apology but claims they did all they could under the exceptional circumstances to assist passengers.
Lily McBride, one of the stranded passengers, described the scene at the train station as hundreds of people were left stranded. Greater Anglia provided a few updates stating that they were stuck until further notice, but failed to offer any food or drink for over three hours or provide transport alternatives. Passengers of all ages, including children, the elderly, and disabled individuals, were left at the station from 8 pm onwards. McBride expressed disappointment in Greater Anglia’s lack of responsibility and sympathy for the situation.
The flooding was caused by Storm Babet, which resulted in the River Gipping’s banks bursting. Network Rail Anglia issued a warning on social media about the delays caused by this flooding. Greater Anglia apologized for the disruption caused by the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding over the weekend. Services between Ipswich and Norwich were unable to run from Friday night until Saturday evening. The train company claimed that their staff at Ipswich Station did everything they could under the exceptional circumstances. They were able to arrange alternative transportation or hotel accommodation for some passengers, although supply was extremely limited.
Greater Anglia concluded their statement by apologizing for the inconvenience caused and encouraging affected passengers to contact them directly. The incident highlights the challenges faced by train operators during extreme weather conditions, such as flooding. However, passengers have criticized the company for not being better prepared and for failing to provide adequate support during the crisis. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it is important for train companies to have effective contingency plans in place to ensure the safety and well-being of their passengers during such situations.
