COUNTY NEWS: Rail chaos sees brothers walk 60 miles home from London

Two brothers frustrated by the unreliability of Southern Rail services have walked 60 miles home from London.
Isaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, and his brother Otis Kirby-Dunkley, 22, walked from London to Worthing in frustration at constant train delaysIsaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, and his brother Otis Kirby-Dunkley, 22, walked from London to Worthing in frustration at constant train delays
Isaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, and his brother Otis Kirby-Dunkley, 22, walked from London to Worthing in frustration at constant train delays

Otis Kirby-Dunkley, 22, and Isaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, from Worthing, decided to make the journey after their trains were often delayed or cancelled during the summer.

The pair videoed their experience and shared it on Facebook – where it has been viewed more than 30,000 times – and on YouTube.

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Otis, who came up with the idea, said: “I decided it was a better idea to walk than spend £48 between us on tickets for a game of train roulette.

Isaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, joined his brother Otis on the challengeIsaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, joined his brother Otis on the challenge
Isaac Kirby-Dunkley, 18, joined his brother Otis on the challenge

“However, I would not recommend this to anyone.”

Including stops, the brothers’ journey took three days and led to the suffering swollen feet, insect bites, and skin rashes – as well as paranoia as they spent pitch-black nights in an uncomfortable tent with no shower or toilet.

Isaac, a mechanical engineering apprentice, said it was one of the hardest challenges he had faced and would never do it again.

“I feel great to say I have done it and to know what it feels like,” he added.

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“If this video makes angry commuters happier, then I am pleased.”

The current plight of railway users across the area was not the only reason Otis decided to take on the gruelling walk with his younger brother.

He said he also wanted to empathise with today’s refugees.

He said: “I wanted to try to understand a sense of what it would be like for them, who have to travel miles without home comforts.

“It was a huge reminder that we actually have it unbelievably easy living here in Britain, with the amount of transport and services on offer to us.”

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Otis added that, however frustrating cancelled and delayed trains were, he would not let his feet do the talking in future.

“Let’s just say after this, I will always wait for that next train,” he said.

The duo arrived home at 1am on Thursday, August 17, and said they found the last leg of the journey a ‘blur of pain and horror’.

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