Setting off early Sunday morning means the trains are a bit spass. No trains from Farnham early enough so I am dropped off to get the first train of the day from Woking.
Early in Woking.
Lots of runners get on the train on the way to a half marathon.
The Brompton is essential for me to make it to St Pancras on time. The Interrail App does not even provide a connecting route from Woking to the Eurostar train that I am catching. It turns out that this is due to a number of underground trains not running due to maintenance work.
Waterloo
A quiet cycle ride gets me to St Pancras well in time.
Waiting area for Eurostar.
The Eurostar leaves 14 minutes late due to a technical issue with the train. We get underway.
Sunny in France
We are still ten minutes behind schedule when we arrive in Brussels but somehow I make a very tight change on to the train to Frankfurt Am Main. I did not expect to make this connection so I am two hours ahead of schedule.
Passing through Brussels Crossing the Rhine at KölnCrossing the Main at Frankfurt Changed trains at Frankfurt Glimpses of towns on route Arrived at a sunny Fulda
I conveniently have chosen a hotel 200m from the station.
There are plenty of pretty buildings in Fulda.
Stadtpfarrkirche St BlasiusStadtschlossh FuldaDom zu Fulda
A trip to the south, or the northwest of England as it is known, and then to the northeast of Scotland. This got off to a bad start when the ScotRail app told me at nine in the evening, before I was due to go, that the 0650 train was cancelled as it had broken down. Good that I was informed, bad that it was late in the day. The ScotRail app works well.
Could I catch the later train, and arrive late in Manchester or find an alternative? I went for the alternative, booking the Ember electric bus, meaning an earlier start, arriving an hour earlier in Inverness. The Ember bus is easy to book onto via the web.
Inside the Ember Bus.
The ride experience in the Ember bus was good, but still prefer the train. Early start meant packing a breakfast sandwich for the journey.
Cloudy crossing of River ThursoTurbine blades in WickNear Lybster
The elevation of the bus meant I could see far more than what I normally see from a car.
Near Portgower
A wait in Inverness and then on to the next leg, back on track.
Inverness Station Crossing the River Findhorn.
It is on to Edinburgh, where I changed trains. The temperature is far higher than further north.
Edinburgh Waverley It’s sunny River Clyde near CarstairsCarlisle
Changed trains at Carlisle. The forecast temperature here is 24 degrees but the temperature in the glass roofed station is more like the mid 30s. It’s a greenhouse.
Looking into the Lake District Coming into Manchester Manchester Piccadilly Station
It was a twelve hour journey.
I am staying at the Premier Inn near the station, which is extremely close and convenient. I am on the ninth floor, a room with a view.
There are lots of canals in the centre of Manchester.
Looking towards my room.Interesting architecture canal side.
Manchester is an interesting city.
Building ripe for redevelopment Minshull Street crown court Princess StreetWellingtonChinatown Back to Manchester Piccadilly
It is off to Crewe to catch the sleeper.
Leaving
The Caledonian Sleeper is due at 2345, but as ever it arrives late at Crewe. I get to bed just after midnight and I wake up in Scotland.
The Tay, Dundee.MontroseBreakfast approaching StonehavenComing into Aberdeen – River DeeAberdeen station Turbine blades Aberdeen Esplanade
I had not reserved a seat. The train conductor pointed out that the train was going to get very full. She found a seat with a cancelled booking for me.
ÄngeslevänjokiSome of the trees are heavily laden with snow.Snow on the overhead cables.
Some pretty houses on the way.
Crossing the frozen OikolanjokiBright sunshine approaching Helsinki.Disembarking At Helsinki Central
Its then on to a tram to go to the ferry.
Helsinki Cathedral
It’s warmed up in Helsinki do the snow is getting slightly slushy.
Government Palace
We get sightings of the different waterways from the tram.
Some interesting buildings on the way.
The tram arrives at the ferry terminal
The Gabriella from the tram.
Checking in and going through passport control is fast and straightforward.
View from the walkway.Boarding
Off to find my cabin which is on the fifth deck, the level we entered on.
Bit of a mazeMy cabin
The sun is setting as we leave Helsinki giving some magical views.
A wander round the boat, some food, then to bed. There is live music on board and a massive dinner buffet. However I got up for the breakfast buffet. Again with a view.
Klara ChurchCentral Station And we’re off.Crossing the ÅrastavikenAnd the IgelstavikenPassed through NorrkopingNear Linkoping
The snow is reducing.
Gripenberg Castle
I changed to a regional train at Lund. No pictures as I spotted a train leaving before my planned connection so did a rapid change. Now I was 35 minutes ahead of schedule.
Malmo
The sky is grey with very low cloud.
Malmo sky
Disappointingly the crossing on the bridge from Sweden to Denmark is very foggy.
The bridge crossing.Modern buildings not far from Copenhagen Airport Arrived at Copenhagen station.
I had plenty of time before checking in time for the hotel, so decided to ride the tram to the end of the line and get the flavour of Helsinki.
Uspenski Cathedral Helsinki CathedralNational Museum of Finland
Got to the end of the line having passed the central station. Hopped onto a different tram on the basis that it would go to the central station, which it did.
Central Station
It’s one stop up the line on the train to where I am staying.
From the local train.
Snowy forest near hotel.The hotel is in the Tripla mall which is attached to the railway station.Good views from the hotel dining room.
Hotel breakfast is very good.
Had some good food in Helsinki.
SoupFinnish vegetable stew A very hot Chinese dish in the mall.
View of the station from the restaurant Sun about to rise Kaiseniemeniahti – frozen.
The snow is often not cleared but strewn with grit to help the grip. Most of the time this is fine but just occasionally I found a slippery patch.
