Nice comfortable ICE train. However as the journey progressed it got later and later, eventually arriving 25 minutes late in Hamburg.
The Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is probably the most impressive station encountered on this trip.
Wuppertal to Hamburg
Wuppertal
Surrey to Wuppertal
Now the international journey begins using the Interrail ticket.
The Interrail app is confused by the Farnham to Waterloo journey, thinking that I have to change at Woking, which I don’t, so I arrive early.
The cycle route was full of commuting cyclist. Some of which were very fast, some not so, and some who didn’t seem to be quite aware of what was going on.
Nice smooth journey across to Brussels Sud.
But things then start going awry. There is simply not enough time to make it from the Eurostar to the connecting train. A combination of being the wrong end of the train, passengers getting in the way and it being too far. Connection missed! Resulting in a two hour wait. Then the Köln train is shown with no platform and a bit of text suggesting that the train was going from another train. A quick check with the information confirms this and I am told to get on a local connecting train ton Brussels north. Not just a change of platform but a change of station.
Next the Köln train leaves late. So I miss another connection.
A 50min wait in Köln. I finally arrived in Wuppertal four hours later than planned.
Didcot to Surrey
That was an uneventful trip with the trains working well.
November travels- far north to the south
The standard cabin has no ensuite, you don’t get breakfast and cannot use the sleeper lounge.
Google maps appeared to put me on the wrong train so I potentially could have ended up in Taunton rather than Didcot. Ticket man pointed out the error and I was able to change at Reading.
Didcot to Inverness in an afternoon.
A quick ride to Kings Cross.
A dash from platform 2 to platform 25 to catch the Inverness train. Tight.
The train that I took from Kings Cross to Edinburgh terminated in Stirling.
Bridgwater to Dorchester
A ten minute journey from Bridgwater to Taunton followed by a wait of over hour.
Next stop Castle Cary.
Castle Cary station is a long way from anywhere.
A long wait at Castle Cary as the connecting train had an air leak with its brakes.
The train arrives at Castle Cary
To the south west
How could someone design such an ugly ship?
I had to catch the lunchtime train to Inverness due to a reduced timetable.Time to kill in Inverness.
Were they playing or tuning up?
I had a seat booked in this train, which someone sat in- no point moving them as the seat next to it was free.
I caught the Penzance train here. A few issues. Firstly the train rolled past platform 5 to platform 6, leaving everyone rushing over to get on board. And it wax crowded.
Bridgwater is not particularly bonny, but I did find a picture to make it look good.
Coast to coast north south north by train
This journey, starting in the far north of Scotland, visiting Oxfordshire (twice), London, West Sussex, Poole, Surrey, Cheshire , Liverpool and Inverness.
No dishwasher working on the train, hence the disposable cup.
The only issue on the cycle to Paddington was a close pass from a speeding motorcyclist. Why are they allowed in the bus lanes and why can’t they ride better?
After chatting to the man on the train doing the food trolley he said he would give me a free tea, if he got time before Didcot. Very kind.
First train issue- train to Paddington delayed so caught a different train.
Cycle across London in glorious sunshine, taking in Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, London Eye…
I came across a new menace in London, motorised skateboards exclusively ridden by idiots. These are not legally allowed to be used on pavements, roads or cycle paths. What happens if collide with an illegal vehicle, with no insurance and no sense?
After a stay in London I trained on from south London via London Bridge to Sussex.
The trip included cycling on the wonderful cuckoo trail. Lots of birdsong but no cuckoos heard,
A stop in Poole then back on the train.
Change at Reading, on to Ash.
Fun at Ash, delayed train from Guildford due to something being thrown on the line.
A stay in Surrey for the weekend.
Another cycle across London.
Things started going pear shaped at Liverpool from where I was trying to travel to Inverness.
Liverpool station
Caught an earlier train , which I was only able to do due to having arrived early at Liverpool.
The train got stopped, so my connection at Haymarket started looking unsafe,
Despite warning the conductor and his best efforts we missed the connection to Inverness. ScotRail refused to hold their train. Splitting up British Rail was not a good idea.
Shoved on a train to Perth.
After a late taxi ride from Perth to Inverness I eventually got to bed.
Two weeks (almost) around the UK by train
Sleeper went via east coast so arrived from wrong direction at wrong time resulting in being parked up for an hour.
A bit of industrial action and a few cancellations to make the trip more interesting.
Insight 