Thurso to Bucharest and back- the summary

Posted on 6th Mar 20256th Mar 2025 by insightndes

The journey

The map taken from the Interrail app shows just how far the journey was, but misses the far north line and the detour to Oxfordshire.

From the Interrail app: 5784 km distance

15 trains on the Interrail ticket, 20 in total.

Seven countries.

Weather

Sunny almost throughout, but a big variation in temperature. Highest ,around 14 centigrade in Augsburg, lowest -10 in Bucharest.

Food

The food was good, but had to get creative in the meat centric countries. I had my first experience of a Lebanese restaurant in Bucharest, the very good Coin-Vert Libanez.

I had to fight through the snow and ice to get to it. A week later I had my second Lebanese restaurant experience in Paris.

Plenty of good food on this trip.

Hotels

I stayed in three Premier Inn plus rooms, three varieties of Ibis: budget, styles and no moniker, a Radisdon Individuals Schiller Park in Linz and Ramada by Wyndham in Bucharest.

Best bed:Premier Inn plus

Best shower: Premier Inn plus

Best view: Ramada by Wyndham

Best location: Hotel Schiller Park- in central location near the railway station.

Best breakfast: Ramada by Wyndham

Best rooms: Premier Inn plus

Most expensive: Premier Inn St Pancras

Best check out times: Ibis / check out by noon.

I like the simplicity of the Ibis Budget.

Locations

Both Augsburg and Linz were amazing places to visit. Smaller and not as busy as Vienna but interesting buildings and history. Bucharest lacked the beautiful buildings but the lake was beautiful.

Travelling by train emphasised the change in landscape and buildings. Farmhouses are tiny and ramshackled in Romanian but huge and well maintained in Austria and Germany.

People

As well as meeting the natives of each country that I visited I was surprised to meet people from so many other countries. I had conversations with Qataris, Russians, Albanians, Norwegians, New Zealanders, Moldovans, Canadians, Taiwanese and probably more. Talking to Austrians in German with their local accents was a joy, including a woman in her 90s from Vienna,

Cycling

Cycling was awful in Bucharest, but faster than cars. Driving in Bucharest also looks awful. Paris cycle way provision is good in Paris, but blocked by vehicles on the Sunday. Vienna was busy, Augsburg pleasant. I heard a tram hitting a car in Vienna and saw the massive crumpled side of the car, the tram just drove off. The closest I came to an accident was Inverness, where a car was being driven at 60 mph in a 30 zone, as I was turning right. The bike gave a good way to cross cities between stations and to get to hotels. It was also a great luggage trolley.

Travel

Bucharest to Linz

Posted on 28th Feb 202528th Feb 2025 by insightndes

The temperature has climbed but it’s foggy in Bucharest

Leaving

Cycling in Bucharest is awful, but faster than driving, bus or walking. Could the tram be faster?

Leaving Bucharest North

I am told that I will be joined in the cabin at Timisoara, where we are due to arrive at 0716. I set the alarm for 0700.

The train is late at Timisoara, so could have had a longer lay in. I am joined by three Iranian students.

There’s a check before the border. The Iranians of course attract attention and my passport is checked.

Just over the border in Hungary there is a bit of a wait.

It seems that the rail operator has built in a big pause at the border, longer than our wait, so we are back on time.

Delay – confused by time change at border.

They took the back end of the trai off.

A wait just across the border.

Near Gyömrő

Unfortunately no time to explore- on to the next leg.

This time it’s an OBB train direct to Linz.

There loads of wind turbines near the border on the Austrian side.

Don’t fly

The train was 45 mins late to Linz. I managed to complete the journey within 24 hours, just. The total time on the train 23 hours.

Tourism, Travel

Wien to Bucharest

Posted on 24th Feb 202525th Feb 2025 by insightndes

One train, almost 19 hours..,,

I have a bed booked for the train. I have no idea of the quality of the accommodation.

Here’s my ride- the actual carriage that I am going to be sleeping on.

Three of us sharing the cabin. So there followed a game of Jenga to fit everything in.

Bike space, later becoming my shoe rack.

The train set off, crossing the border into Hungary just after half past nine, Austrian time. I slept through most of Hungary, but was woken up by shouting, possibly in Budapest.

We crossed in Romania at around 3:45.

Train station Simeria at seven in the morning.

It’s a long journey from the border to Bucharest, under bright blue almost cloudless skies.

Many of the houses are small but colourful.

It’s cold outside but looks dry with the grass parched.

I didn’t see any livestock, apart from close to houses. Presumably due to the grazing being poor at this time of year.

We start seeing snow.

The snow is getting thicker and the buildings have the look of a resort.

Near Braşov

Near Brasi

The journey flew past in a flash. I slept well, much to my surprise. I shared the cabin with an Austrian and a Romanian who works in Austria, but barely speaks German. They were good company.

Slightly uncomfortable ride across to the hotel, trying to use the smaller roads.

And time for a quick explore.

Travel

Didcot to the far north. Snow!

Posted on 20th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Then a cycle to the Great Nepalese Restaurant near Euston station.

Complimentary food is available in the Sleeper Lounge.

Inverness station has a dusting of snow.

Unfortunately the Far North train does not connect well with the Sleeper. I have a two hour wait in Inverness. Not much open at this time so in a moment of inspiration it’s off for a breakfast at Premier Inn. Must get sponsorship.

The Premier Inn is slightly disorganised. The card reader is not working so I get a free breakfast. Due to a low number of staff it takes an age for it to be served. Can’t complain because I am not paying for it.

Slight speckling of snow near Conon Bridge.

There’s proper snowy scenery

Then back to the coast.

Then up the Helmsdale Strath.

Environment, Travel

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.