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.

Changed to TGV at Barcelona,

Travel

Madrid-Barcelona-Paris

Posted on 18th Jun 2023 by insightndes

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

Changed to TGV at Barcelona,

Travel

El tren a Madrid

Posted on 16th Jun 202317th Jun 2023 by insightndes

While on the bus I checked google maps and discovered that I would get to Madrid far sooner by train .

The train was delayed by 35 mins. Would I make it before midnight?

Interestingly baggage get’s scanned before boarding.

Yes! Made it to Madrid before midnight local time. But not to the hotel. Better than 0330.

Travel

Bus to Madrid?

Posted on 16th Jun 2023 by insightndes

The Portuguese railway had let me down. But google maps says there’s a route by bus. The bus station is a short walk from the train station but is an ugly concrete construction with the buses waiting in a concrete cave of doom. To further improve my mood I ate the worst ever pizza in an eating establishment above the cave.

After asking where to wait several times and being reassured by bus number being shown, suddenly the number is replaced with a different service. Have I missed the bus? I chase around trying to find the bus getting no help whatsoever. Finally I stumble across the bus by chance. Another black mark against Portuguese public transport.

The bus driver is attentive and helpful, redeeming the service. And I am on my way. Change at Valladolid to get a late bus arriving at 0330 in Madrid. At least I will be back on track for tomorrow.