Surrey and beyond

Posted on 2nd Jun 2025 by insightndes

The worst cycle infrastructure on Epsom Road in Guildford.

The cycle lanes marked out in Guildford are beyond useless. No segregation, suggesting a totally inappropriate position for the cyclists to take on the road. I would cycle at least at the line. I actually cycled in the mostly in the middle of the lane to take the decision away from the drivers, so they did not attempt to overtake at the frequent traffic islands. Of course I was hooted at, but ironically I was going faster than the motorised vehicles. Guildford suffers from pollution,

There are plenty of stations in the commuter belt.

Someone had pulled a communication alarm on a train causing all the trains to be delayed.

Two days later headed back to Oxfordshire. Dodged the rail replacement buses by travelling from Farnborough.

The Thames at Wallingford – The Boat House.

Travel

North to the south

Posted on 1st Jun 2025 by insightndes

Blue skies and a few clouds heading south.

Changed from the far north line to the sleeper at Inverness.

Speeding away from Inverness.

Near Kingussie

Not sure this breakfast looks appetising. It tasted ok. A few issues on the train. The lock on the cabin was not fully functioning, no pull out table in cabin, coffee machine in buffet car not working. There are some maintenance issues it appears.

Arrival in Euston is 20 minutes late due to work in the line. I had been forewarned by text.

Then headed back east

I witnessed an old couple falling over on the escalator just after getting on. while they were heading up. I was heading down. A woman at the top shouted for someone to hit the emergency stop. A hapless woman holding a dog appeared transfixed and unable to hit the button. After what appeared to be an age someone finally hit the button. Chaos. No staff about.

It’s sunny again

Ash

Farnham

Travel

UK north coast to South coast and back a bit

Posted on 7th May 20257th May 2025 by insightndes

The far north is a joy when the views are clear and the days are long.

The breakfast did leave me hungry.

15 mins of delay at Waterloo due to incoming train being late, there was an obstacle on the line.

I had to get myself into the front five carriages as the train splits at Bournemouth.

Barriers going down

Train arriving at Wool

I am about to start my minor backtrack.

Travel

Den Haag to Didcot

Posted on 18th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Appeared to be no luggage racks on the train.

Breda station is poorly signposted plus two platforms are missing. Very confusing for a visitor.

I had a little time to look around Brussels

Cartoons are on some of the house walls.. Rue des Capuchins

More cartoons. Rue Notre Damme de Graces.

View across Brussels from Palais de Justice.

In the cellar of the Judgy Vegan.

Kerfuffle at the border control. I was asked if I have a flick knife. Turns out to be a multi tool in the bag.

Due to congestion at the Eurostar terminal we leave late. Eurostar, you have something to work on. The whole process of passing through border control is hectic and disorganised with lots of pinch points.

It’s turned to dusk as the Eurostar sets off. It’s dark by the time the Eurostar has a pause waiting for permission to enter the channel tunnel.

Then it’s down into the tunnel and onto England.

I unfolded the Brompton to make it easier to move with the luggage. A mistake as it turned out. I was directed to the lift which is tiny and therefore has a long queue of people with large amounts of luggage, push chairs and one bike. I am second to last in the queue. Poor design!

I am the last to leave.

When previously passing through Oxfordshire on the train I had spotted that the train line would be closed between Paddington and Reading due to HS2 workday, but it was possible to get to Reading using the Elizabeth Line. So I cycled to Tottenham Court Road to catch the Elizabeth Line. I discover that the Elizabeth Line in the central area of London is not running. I am directed to take the District Line to Ealing Broadway to catch the Elizabeth Line. It is chaos at the tube station.

The District Line has small, noisy and very warm carriages. It is an old line. The tube train is crowded.

The Elizabeth Line has modern rolling stock. Nice and quiet but nowhere to put rubbish.

Reading- Elizabeth Line train across the platform.

The journey from St Pancras took far longer than normal so by the time I reach the Premier Inn at Didcot the kitchen is closed. So an emergency Macdonald’s it is.

The room has seen better days. One light out and sink plug jammed. Welcome back to the UK.

Travel

Didcot to Surrey

Posted on 11th Nov 2024 by insightndes

That was an uneventful trip with the trains working well.

Travel

Strike!

Posted on 3rd Jun 2023 by insightndes

It is strike day on the railways of England. So I cannot get to my intended destination of Guildford by train, so instead I head to Woking and jump on my bike for the remainder of the journey.