Weather warnings!

Posted on 9th Feb 20249th Feb 2024 by insightndes

A journey to the south which almost didn’t happen. It’s Monday 5th February. The last train of the day from the far north already cancelled the previous day, in anticipation of bad weather. The early afternoon train also gets cancelled on the day, due to landslides on the Far North line. No trains from Inverness to Edinburgh due to flooding near Kingussie. All looking bleak for a journey south.

This is the result of the rain forecast, the first yellow weather warning of the trip.

A lift to Inverness followed by a replacement bus to Edinburgh means I get to board the sleeper just before midnight. I am then woken up for breakfast at 0415 ready to get off at Crewe. Sleep deprivation!

More weather warnings: rain in South England, snow in mid to North England, snow in North Scotland, ready for the return trip.

The cycle to Didcot on Thursday is wet, as is the ride across London from Paddington to Euston. My feet are soaked.

Outside the new Caledonian Sleeper guest lounge.

This is my first time in the Caledonian Sleeper guest lounge. Limited choice of food, but some is complimentary. A chance to change to dry footwear and use the toilet. There is also speedy boarding passes, making getting on the sleeper far easier. A big plus.

I wake up to have breakfast in the snowy Highlands.

On with the journey on the far north line, which appears to be running. There are more snowy views.

Despite the multiple weather warnings the trip back is without issue.

Travel

Edinburgh-Aberdeen-Elgin

Posted on 1st Dec 2023 by insightndes

The racks on the Edinburgh trams being put to good use.

Crossing the Forth

A cold morning in Edinburgh, cold in Aberdeen and even colder in Elgin.

Travel

Far North to Didcot via Inverness, Aberdeen and London

Posted on 27th Nov 202327th Nov 2023 by insightndes

A beautiful day in the far north of Scotland as I set off.

Arrived in Inverness in the dark- took the train to Aberdeen to catch the sleeper service there as no cabins available on the service from Aberdeen.

Each time I come to London the traffic flows a bit better and the air tastes better. ULEZ doing its job.

Environment, Travel

Kings Cross to the Far North

Posted on 29th Jul 2023 by insightndes

Stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn at Kings Cross. Small but perfectly fine.

The room has a Brompton drawer.

First time of traveling from London to the Far North on daytime trains, starting at Kings Cross.

A long day on the train. Scheduled times, 4:42 Kings Cross to Edinburgh, 3:35 Edinburgh to Inverness and the final leg 3:51. Distances 631km, 181 km and 130km. Trains getting slower as I travel north.

Environment, Travel

Didcot to Paddington plus ULEZ

Posted on 28th Jul 2023 by insightndes

Caught a long delayed train instead of the one that I was meant to catch so I thought I’d get to London early. But further delays due to signal issues resulted in long delays on the way into London. But got there in the end. The train was 47 mins late according to the announcements. I was only 20 mins late.

Anecdotally the ULEZ is a success. London smells better. The traffic moves more freely. Pollution has reduced in London and I wonder if the pollution outside London has reduced. Pollution rises into the atmosphere in London and then comes down in Oxfordshire. Has anyone measured this?

In last weeks election the Conservative Party made much of the ULEZ. Unfortunately the primacy of the car still exists for a lot of people and is considered a vote winner. To me health and the environment trumps-why do we still think that poisoning people is acceptable?

Travel

Poole to Didcot

Posted on 25th Jul 2023 by insightndes

A fault with the train led to a quick change in Southampton

Travel

Cholsey-Poole

Posted on 23rd Jul 2023 by insightndes

It’s a sunny warm day for the cycle to Cholsey station. Two changes at Reading and then Basingstoke.

The train from Basingstoke had ten carriages but only the front five going onto Poole. I made sure I got on the right half of the train.

Lots of interesting things to see on this trip including a view of St Mary’s Stadium, a view of Southampton Port, the New Forrest and various Dorset coastal towns.

Environment, Travel

Don’t fly….

Posted on 22nd Jul 2023 by insightndes

After the epic and throughly enjoyable train trip from the far north of Scotland to Porto I am going to continue to blog on less environmentally expensive transport. Looking at some of my trips and some big issues out there.

The trip to Porto. https://my-insight.org/2023/06/01/no-fly-zone/

Travel

Paris-London-Edinburgh

Posted on 19th Jun 202319th Jun 2023 by insightndes

Hotel des Pyrenees, great location, crazy room shapes.

Street art in a tunnel next to the Seine- converted to pedestrian and cycle use.

Cycled to the Tour d’Eiffel. Paris is really cycle friendly and it turns out that this is a really good way to see Paris. I was surprised by the tunnel with the street art.

Armed military patrols around La Tour d’Eiffel

Time to kill before getting on the Eurostar at Gare Du Nord.

No Window seat on the Eurostar means it’s not easy to get pictures from the train.

No seat booking but I am booked on the train. Stood up until we reached York.

Edinburgh Waverley

Travel

Madrid-Barcelona-Paris

Posted on 18th Jun 2023 by insightndes

Through the blind of the sixth floor hotel room window

Not enough time in Madrid due to the late arrival and catching the 1030 train.

Parque de el Retiro. Beautiful and cool,

The next leg on the very fast Spanish service is not covered by Interrail. So had to pay for the ticket in advance on Trainline. But I had not realised that there is a baggage allowance. So I had to pay extra to get my luggage on the train.