It’s a misery familiar to countless rail passengers.
But not a problem usually experienced by ministers more used to being ferried around in limousines.
So spare a thought for the clutch of ministers who were stuck motionless on a London-bound train yesterday afternoon for an hour.
The MPs, who were returning from a Cabinet meeting in Gateshead, were held up because of wildfires on the tracks outside York.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove could be seen ‘doling out wine’ and catching up on some reading.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove was snapped with a snack and a book, and later one passenger said ‘he took the crisps – and a bottle of red and white – and handed them out to the passengers’
And MP for Portsmouth North Penny Mordaunt was forced to deliver a speech which she was due to give at a reception for the Global Disability Summit via video link from the train.
It is understood that Justice Secretary David Gauke, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss.
One commuter said: ‘It was really packed and people had to come into the carriage.
‘Michael took over as steward, commandeering the food trolley and handing out wine and crisps to all the long-suffering rail passengers.’
The three hour journey ended up taking more than six hours.
A spokesman for Transport Secretary Chris Grayling denied reports he had been delayed. Mr Grayling had been rumoured to be one of the ministers held up.
Ministers were returning from a Cabinet meeting where the PM reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the Northern powerhouse. Mrs May promised to set aside an extra £780million to fund an East Coast Mainline upgrade.
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt used a video link to give her speech at a reception for the Global Disability Summit via video link from the train
Twitter user @Pavagen shared a picture to his profile of Michael Gove surrounded by sandwich and crisp packets, looking up from his book.
The image was captioned: ‘Wildfires have killed trains between York and Doncaster. Environment Minister @michaelgove has been doling out wine to new friends that have been forced to join First in this now declassified train. Sante!’ Meanwhile a picture of MP for Portsmouth North, Penny Mordaunt was shared by another social media user who said Mrs Mordaunt was using the time to prepare for today’s disability summit.
One Twitter user wrote: ‘Even government Ministers get stuck on the train. Great to hear @PennyMordaunt message, from somewhere near Tyneside, to the Civil Society Forum ahead of tomorrow’s #DisabilitySummit’
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said a mile of track was engulfed close to the Balne area near Selby.