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So I have flown from Port Moresby to London Heathrow via Sydney and Singapore, a journey of some 29 hours with stop overs to break the journey down and have had a great New Year holiday with friends in Truro. Now I have my all line Rover valid for 22 consecutive days, and I am ready to start, for once, an unpredictable journey around the nation. My plan is to start at Penzance travelling on the first train of the day all the way to its destination, and then if possible, take the next departure from the station all the way to the next destination, but not if it returns me back to the previous destination. If I come to the end of a line and the only way to return is back the origination station then that journey is permitted.
For example: Say I start at Pembroke Dock, and the first train takes me to Carmarthen, and the first train out of the station is to London Paddington then that is permitted. If the first train out of Carmarthen is the return to Pembroke Dock then that is not allowed. If the first train out is to Milford Haven then it is allowed even though the next service out would be the return journey would be back to Carmarthen. Crossing cities by foot is not allowed. I.e. Birmingham New Street to Birmingham Moor Street: Glasgow Central to Glasgow Queen Street, Crossing London by tube is not allowed. Returning to a station on the same whole or part route is not allowed. Euston to Holyhead of VT is ok but not a second time, but if circumstances occur Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead on ATW is permitted.
Breaks for the night are allowed though, the journey must continue from the same station. Sleeper journeys only allowed if the connection is within the recognised cross platform connection times and the sleeper service would be the next train to depart. Nice simple rules.
I have a medium sized wheelie type suitcase with five shirts, 5 T-shirts, a change of trousers, underwear and socks, and basic toiletries, and a holdall for my extras such as drinks, food, spare batteries/chargers, notebook and other basic necessities. Im hoping that it will be possible to return to stay overnight in three to four places so I can get laundry done, and my plan is to try to cover as much of the rail system as possible.
So Day One (2nd January) starting at Penzance. Arrived at the station in Penzance just after 5am to find it almost totally deserted. It was very cold, and a clear night sky. The ticket office is closed, and there is a couple waiting at the barrier to Platform 3. They ask me if Im going to London. I tell them that Im not but Ill hopefully be on the first train of the day to Newport that was waiting at the platform. So when is the train to London? Im asked. I tell them its a bank holiday and so according to the poster behind them it will be at 6:45 am. Well over an hour before departure. My train is due to leave at 5:37, I tell them. Suddenly Im Station staff. Can we change somewhere for London? Thankfully I have my Mobile phone with me and I use my realtimetrains app and check out connections at Plymouth, no good: Exeter, no good unless they wanted to go to Waterloo. As I walk to my train I call back to them to tell them they should always check timetables during holiday times.
I board my train, (2U12) to join the other 4 people travelling east on the train and get myself a decent seat facing forward on the right hand side of the train. I store my bags and get out my needs for the trip. Ticket (as yet unstamped), Passport for identification and proof or residence in Papua New Guinea, my Walkman to listen to my music and the radio on my journey, and my flask of coffee and snacks. We depart on time, heading out towards St Erth into the darkness. No sight of St Michaels Mount in the darkness, a pity, and we start the roller-coaster journey through Cornwall towards Plymouth. My ticket is inspected almost immediately, and Im told that the ticket hasnt been stamped. I agree, but tell the train manager that as the office in Penzance was closed that Id have to get the ticket stamped at my destination as per the regulations. I was just about to get out the folder with the rules and regulations to show him and he told me Id have enough time to get it stamped during the stopover in Plymouth. There would be nearly 30 minutes to get it done there. Stops at St Erth and Hayle, both empty stations. Camborne and Redruth, a couple of people boarded and at Truro, there was a handful of passengers who boarded. Travelling out of Truro, I caught a glimpse of the cathedral in the gloom, and settled down to continue listening to the Today programme on Radio 4. I must have been well asleep by St Austell as I woke up as we were leaving Liskeard. The words St Austell being mentioned on the news.
As we crossed over the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon, as usual, my heart sank, as it always does when I leave Cornwall, and there was a glimpse of daylight over Plymouth. Stops from Bridge to Plymouth yielded no passengers getting on the train or off it, and we trundled into Plymouth one minute late at Platform 8. I ran through the underground passageway with my bags and tickets and passport and presented myself to the clerk to get my UK rail pass stamped, offering my passport as evidence as to who I am which was ignored. I ran back to the train, flashing my pass at the inspector at the barrier, and luckily enough I was able to reclaim my seat to continue my journey to Newport. I poured myself a coffee from my flask and my prepared sausage, egg and bacon sandwich, replaced my headphones into my ears and settled down for the next section of the journey to Exeter St Davids.
As we passed Laira Depot, it was bright enough to see the trains stabled there, and as we traversed to Plym into Newham and Plympton I decided to see the options available for me at Newport. My best connection would be to Paddington on the 12:09 (1L54). There was a fast connection available for the XC 12:00 (1M64) to Nottingham which would be great as its been ages since I covered the line from Severn Tunnel Junction to Gloucester, but a 2 minute connection over the bridge from Platform 4 to Platform 1 seemed to be an impossibility. However I thought that I could at least give it a try, even with my wheelie suitcase and if I did miss it then the Paddington service was from Platform 3 in the same direction over the bridge. Nottingham would be a bonus if I could get the train and a much more interesting journey then to Paddington.
By Newton Abbot the train was fairly full and the weather was still clear but cold. I settled down for a great ride, one of my favourites towards Exeter St Davids. It was a lovely ride along the banks of the Teign and Exe rivers and along the Dawlish seawall but riding a Sprinter rather than an HST is never the same. We made it into Exeter St Davids on time at Platform 6 and I took the chance to stretch my legs on the platform for a few minutes during the journeys 15 minute break. I watched the XC Penzance Glasgow train (1S43) pull in and depart ahead of us and regretted the rules I had made up for my journey, though the thought of sitting in a Voyager all the way from Penzance to Glasgow made me shudder. Even getting to Bristol nearly an hour ahead of us may have been nice but .
Eastwards we travelled towards Bristol Temple Meads passing through my least favourite station, Taunton, due to the dreadful time I and a thousand passengers had there at the end of November, having been dumped there by GWR and XC on a cold rainy totally disorganised night, when Cowley Junction had been washed away yet again, and then Northwards towards the Weston-super-Mare loop which I havent covered since God knowns when. So I gave the twin fingered salute to Taunton Station as we passed and felt a bit more satisfied.
Leaving Weston, I was beginning to get bored. I can understand why people like direct express trains. Travelling along North Somerset calling at Worle, Yatton, and Nailsea, and willed the train to hurry up to Bristol. Actually the fields looked quite glorious in the bright winter sunshine. Arrival in Temple Meads right on time at Platform 7 with an eleven minute wait before the last leg of the journey to Newport. The run through the Severn Tunnel, doesnt have the same thrill that it used to have for me. This is not because Ive been under the Channel Tunnel but because the first few times I travelled under the Severn, I was in an old DMU which when the driver was in a good mood, hed have the blinds behind him raised so the passengers could see in front of the train, and you could look out for the light at the end of the tunnel. Im sure there are more than a few who miss getting the drivers eye view back then. Anyhow, we passed through the tunnel with no mishap, and actually left Seven Tunnel Junction on minute early. My hopes up for a good gain of an extra minute or two to try to get the Nottingham train.
Actually we did make it into Newport two minutes early but in spite of my best efforts to get to Platform 4 with my luggage as I was halfway down the stairs, the train departed. One minute early may I add? Damn. So I went over to Platform three for the service to Paddington on (1L54). Actually the train was fairly full but I did manage to get an unreserved table for four to myself which is a bonus. I was able to set up both my Walkman and mobile phone to charge at the table a bonus which should be made available on every train in my view.
Arrived at Bristol Parkway and I was glad I got on the train at Newport as the station was packed. The other three spaces at my table were soon gobbled up and I rescued my Walkman from the charger, keeping my mobile in the other space. Quite a few people standing by the luggage area, none of them looking like the Corbyn guy.
At Swindon, I begin to focus on my next leg of the journey from Paddington. 1W29 at 14:21 to Worcester Foregate Street looks good, if there are no hold ups into Paddington or Reading. I start typing up my notes for the journey to pass the time. Strangely no one seems to be breaking their New Years resolution by actually speaking to a stranger on the train as the carriage is absolutely silent for one that is crammed full. A few people seem to be forcing their way towards the buffet car by barging into the people standing. I pull out a can of cider from the plastic bag I have placed between my feet to give room at the table. My fellow passengers dont even look up from their mobile phones as I pull the tab. Halfway along to Didcot I complete my typing, stick my headphones into my Walkman and listen to some Bach to drown out the intense conversation in the carriage. Bach proves to be the ideal soporific as when the music gets to one of his noisier bits I wake up to discover that we are beyond Reading.
By the time we passed Ealing, I was beginning to get worried about getting off the train as it was totally packed, and I had my case to pick up from the luggage and getting through the barriers and across to check the platform for the Worcester train. It took five minutes to get off the train and through the barrier with my pass, and then to walk to the indicator board to check if the Worcester train was indeed leaving as advertised on RTT from Platform 2. Well there was 8 minutes or so to go before departure no platform indication. About 100 or so people staring at the board looking for some indication as to which platform their train was departing from and then suddenly with about 4 minutes before departure it is confirmed that the train to Worcester is departing from Platform 2 and there is a mass scramble of about 200 plus passengers, many with luggage racing for the train. Now I dont know why it is but at London Termini there seems to be a policy of not putting up the platform number of the trains until the last five minutes before departure, even though the train may well be at the platform ten to fifteen minutes before hand. Ive noticed this quite a few times during my last few visits back to the UK on my rail rover journeys. Why do they do this?
Well the train was well and truly rammed. I didnt get a seat, and had to use my suitcase as a seat by the doorway nest to a woman who seemed to have bathed in her perfume, it was so overpowering. A few sneezes got rid of the effect on my sinuses and I could breathe almost normally. The Turbo made its way out of Paddington somehow on time, scooting its way along the Down Main to Slough where the open doors was a blessed relief by letting in some fresh air, but a few more people were trying to board the train. I was wondering what was going to happen at Reading when even more passengers would try to board the train, there being no guard on the service until Oxford.
Mercifully, at Reading the about half the passengers got off the train and I was able to store my luggage and grab myself an aisle seat. At Oxford many more got off the train and there was so much more space. As we travelled through the ever darkening Cotswolds, more and more left the train and an RTT check informed me that we were running to time. So I decided to look for my Worcester connections. I saw I had 2 choices. Either a LM service to Stratford-upon-Avon or a GWT service to Southampton. The LM connection was three minutes, the Southampton connection 16 minutes. Well I decided on another run across platforms. From Platform 1 to 2 for the Stratford connection. I have no idea of the set up at Worcester Foregate Street and I have stored on my phone my scans of the TRACKmaps for all regions as well as my TRACKatlas for my journeys. Foregate Street it turns out is not an Island Platform so that would mean either a tunnel or bridge. So I went to Google images to check out photos of the platforms and could see no bridge. So there may be a tunnel. The next few images showed the entrance to the station with the road under the rail track. Ok I thought down to the ground, out the station, under the bridge and back up again on the other side. Not much chance of a three minute connection. Passing through a few more photos I saw that there is a ticket office by a set of stairs so, I hoped that I could run down one set of stairs and then back up the other if I had the chance. So as we Shrub Hill I moved to the door with my luggage to try to cross the underpass to the opposite platforms.
Whichever train I connected to, my plan was to search for a hotel near to the station to stay the night and make a booking as I travelled to whichever destination.
Arrival at Foregate Street was two minutes early and I was more than able to get the LM train to Stratford-upon-Avon at (2S70) which was reasonably full. By the time I got to Kidderminster, Id found myself a hotel for the night half a kilometre from the station which was at a decent price and could feed me. I was due in at Stratford by 18:43 and my time at the hotel would be around 10 hours so I could shower, eat, sleep, re-charge batteries, and have breakfast before getting back to the station for the next days journey. I continued to write up my journal, and travelled through Warwickshire in the dark until I got to Stratford-upon-Avon on time. Four decent rides for the first day. Not bad for a public holiday and the crowds. No branch lines though. A fifteen minute walk to my hotel, quick check in, shower and meal with a decent glass of wine or three, and back to my room to post this and then bed with my phone and Walkman silently charging. Alarm set for 7:30am and hopefully another good days ride on the network tomorrow.
For example: Say I start at Pembroke Dock, and the first train takes me to Carmarthen, and the first train out of the station is to London Paddington then that is permitted. If the first train out of Carmarthen is the return to Pembroke Dock then that is not allowed. If the first train out is to Milford Haven then it is allowed even though the next service out would be the return journey would be back to Carmarthen. Crossing cities by foot is not allowed. I.e. Birmingham New Street to Birmingham Moor Street: Glasgow Central to Glasgow Queen Street, Crossing London by tube is not allowed. Returning to a station on the same whole or part route is not allowed. Euston to Holyhead of VT is ok but not a second time, but if circumstances occur Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead on ATW is permitted.
Breaks for the night are allowed though, the journey must continue from the same station. Sleeper journeys only allowed if the connection is within the recognised cross platform connection times and the sleeper service would be the next train to depart. Nice simple rules.
I have a medium sized wheelie type suitcase with five shirts, 5 T-shirts, a change of trousers, underwear and socks, and basic toiletries, and a holdall for my extras such as drinks, food, spare batteries/chargers, notebook and other basic necessities. Im hoping that it will be possible to return to stay overnight in three to four places so I can get laundry done, and my plan is to try to cover as much of the rail system as possible.
So Day One (2nd January) starting at Penzance. Arrived at the station in Penzance just after 5am to find it almost totally deserted. It was very cold, and a clear night sky. The ticket office is closed, and there is a couple waiting at the barrier to Platform 3. They ask me if Im going to London. I tell them that Im not but Ill hopefully be on the first train of the day to Newport that was waiting at the platform. So when is the train to London? Im asked. I tell them its a bank holiday and so according to the poster behind them it will be at 6:45 am. Well over an hour before departure. My train is due to leave at 5:37, I tell them. Suddenly Im Station staff. Can we change somewhere for London? Thankfully I have my Mobile phone with me and I use my realtimetrains app and check out connections at Plymouth, no good: Exeter, no good unless they wanted to go to Waterloo. As I walk to my train I call back to them to tell them they should always check timetables during holiday times.
I board my train, (2U12) to join the other 4 people travelling east on the train and get myself a decent seat facing forward on the right hand side of the train. I store my bags and get out my needs for the trip. Ticket (as yet unstamped), Passport for identification and proof or residence in Papua New Guinea, my Walkman to listen to my music and the radio on my journey, and my flask of coffee and snacks. We depart on time, heading out towards St Erth into the darkness. No sight of St Michaels Mount in the darkness, a pity, and we start the roller-coaster journey through Cornwall towards Plymouth. My ticket is inspected almost immediately, and Im told that the ticket hasnt been stamped. I agree, but tell the train manager that as the office in Penzance was closed that Id have to get the ticket stamped at my destination as per the regulations. I was just about to get out the folder with the rules and regulations to show him and he told me Id have enough time to get it stamped during the stopover in Plymouth. There would be nearly 30 minutes to get it done there. Stops at St Erth and Hayle, both empty stations. Camborne and Redruth, a couple of people boarded and at Truro, there was a handful of passengers who boarded. Travelling out of Truro, I caught a glimpse of the cathedral in the gloom, and settled down to continue listening to the Today programme on Radio 4. I must have been well asleep by St Austell as I woke up as we were leaving Liskeard. The words St Austell being mentioned on the news.
As we crossed over the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon, as usual, my heart sank, as it always does when I leave Cornwall, and there was a glimpse of daylight over Plymouth. Stops from Bridge to Plymouth yielded no passengers getting on the train or off it, and we trundled into Plymouth one minute late at Platform 8. I ran through the underground passageway with my bags and tickets and passport and presented myself to the clerk to get my UK rail pass stamped, offering my passport as evidence as to who I am which was ignored. I ran back to the train, flashing my pass at the inspector at the barrier, and luckily enough I was able to reclaim my seat to continue my journey to Newport. I poured myself a coffee from my flask and my prepared sausage, egg and bacon sandwich, replaced my headphones into my ears and settled down for the next section of the journey to Exeter St Davids.
As we passed Laira Depot, it was bright enough to see the trains stabled there, and as we traversed to Plym into Newham and Plympton I decided to see the options available for me at Newport. My best connection would be to Paddington on the 12:09 (1L54). There was a fast connection available for the XC 12:00 (1M64) to Nottingham which would be great as its been ages since I covered the line from Severn Tunnel Junction to Gloucester, but a 2 minute connection over the bridge from Platform 4 to Platform 1 seemed to be an impossibility. However I thought that I could at least give it a try, even with my wheelie suitcase and if I did miss it then the Paddington service was from Platform 3 in the same direction over the bridge. Nottingham would be a bonus if I could get the train and a much more interesting journey then to Paddington.
By Newton Abbot the train was fairly full and the weather was still clear but cold. I settled down for a great ride, one of my favourites towards Exeter St Davids. It was a lovely ride along the banks of the Teign and Exe rivers and along the Dawlish seawall but riding a Sprinter rather than an HST is never the same. We made it into Exeter St Davids on time at Platform 6 and I took the chance to stretch my legs on the platform for a few minutes during the journeys 15 minute break. I watched the XC Penzance Glasgow train (1S43) pull in and depart ahead of us and regretted the rules I had made up for my journey, though the thought of sitting in a Voyager all the way from Penzance to Glasgow made me shudder. Even getting to Bristol nearly an hour ahead of us may have been nice but .
Eastwards we travelled towards Bristol Temple Meads passing through my least favourite station, Taunton, due to the dreadful time I and a thousand passengers had there at the end of November, having been dumped there by GWR and XC on a cold rainy totally disorganised night, when Cowley Junction had been washed away yet again, and then Northwards towards the Weston-super-Mare loop which I havent covered since God knowns when. So I gave the twin fingered salute to Taunton Station as we passed and felt a bit more satisfied.
Leaving Weston, I was beginning to get bored. I can understand why people like direct express trains. Travelling along North Somerset calling at Worle, Yatton, and Nailsea, and willed the train to hurry up to Bristol. Actually the fields looked quite glorious in the bright winter sunshine. Arrival in Temple Meads right on time at Platform 7 with an eleven minute wait before the last leg of the journey to Newport. The run through the Severn Tunnel, doesnt have the same thrill that it used to have for me. This is not because Ive been under the Channel Tunnel but because the first few times I travelled under the Severn, I was in an old DMU which when the driver was in a good mood, hed have the blinds behind him raised so the passengers could see in front of the train, and you could look out for the light at the end of the tunnel. Im sure there are more than a few who miss getting the drivers eye view back then. Anyhow, we passed through the tunnel with no mishap, and actually left Seven Tunnel Junction on minute early. My hopes up for a good gain of an extra minute or two to try to get the Nottingham train.
Actually we did make it into Newport two minutes early but in spite of my best efforts to get to Platform 4 with my luggage as I was halfway down the stairs, the train departed. One minute early may I add? Damn. So I went over to Platform three for the service to Paddington on (1L54). Actually the train was fairly full but I did manage to get an unreserved table for four to myself which is a bonus. I was able to set up both my Walkman and mobile phone to charge at the table a bonus which should be made available on every train in my view.
Arrived at Bristol Parkway and I was glad I got on the train at Newport as the station was packed. The other three spaces at my table were soon gobbled up and I rescued my Walkman from the charger, keeping my mobile in the other space. Quite a few people standing by the luggage area, none of them looking like the Corbyn guy.
At Swindon, I begin to focus on my next leg of the journey from Paddington. 1W29 at 14:21 to Worcester Foregate Street looks good, if there are no hold ups into Paddington or Reading. I start typing up my notes for the journey to pass the time. Strangely no one seems to be breaking their New Years resolution by actually speaking to a stranger on the train as the carriage is absolutely silent for one that is crammed full. A few people seem to be forcing their way towards the buffet car by barging into the people standing. I pull out a can of cider from the plastic bag I have placed between my feet to give room at the table. My fellow passengers dont even look up from their mobile phones as I pull the tab. Halfway along to Didcot I complete my typing, stick my headphones into my Walkman and listen to some Bach to drown out the intense conversation in the carriage. Bach proves to be the ideal soporific as when the music gets to one of his noisier bits I wake up to discover that we are beyond Reading.
By the time we passed Ealing, I was beginning to get worried about getting off the train as it was totally packed, and I had my case to pick up from the luggage and getting through the barriers and across to check the platform for the Worcester train. It took five minutes to get off the train and through the barrier with my pass, and then to walk to the indicator board to check if the Worcester train was indeed leaving as advertised on RTT from Platform 2. Well there was 8 minutes or so to go before departure no platform indication. About 100 or so people staring at the board looking for some indication as to which platform their train was departing from and then suddenly with about 4 minutes before departure it is confirmed that the train to Worcester is departing from Platform 2 and there is a mass scramble of about 200 plus passengers, many with luggage racing for the train. Now I dont know why it is but at London Termini there seems to be a policy of not putting up the platform number of the trains until the last five minutes before departure, even though the train may well be at the platform ten to fifteen minutes before hand. Ive noticed this quite a few times during my last few visits back to the UK on my rail rover journeys. Why do they do this?
Well the train was well and truly rammed. I didnt get a seat, and had to use my suitcase as a seat by the doorway nest to a woman who seemed to have bathed in her perfume, it was so overpowering. A few sneezes got rid of the effect on my sinuses and I could breathe almost normally. The Turbo made its way out of Paddington somehow on time, scooting its way along the Down Main to Slough where the open doors was a blessed relief by letting in some fresh air, but a few more people were trying to board the train. I was wondering what was going to happen at Reading when even more passengers would try to board the train, there being no guard on the service until Oxford.
Mercifully, at Reading the about half the passengers got off the train and I was able to store my luggage and grab myself an aisle seat. At Oxford many more got off the train and there was so much more space. As we travelled through the ever darkening Cotswolds, more and more left the train and an RTT check informed me that we were running to time. So I decided to look for my Worcester connections. I saw I had 2 choices. Either a LM service to Stratford-upon-Avon or a GWT service to Southampton. The LM connection was three minutes, the Southampton connection 16 minutes. Well I decided on another run across platforms. From Platform 1 to 2 for the Stratford connection. I have no idea of the set up at Worcester Foregate Street and I have stored on my phone my scans of the TRACKmaps for all regions as well as my TRACKatlas for my journeys. Foregate Street it turns out is not an Island Platform so that would mean either a tunnel or bridge. So I went to Google images to check out photos of the platforms and could see no bridge. So there may be a tunnel. The next few images showed the entrance to the station with the road under the rail track. Ok I thought down to the ground, out the station, under the bridge and back up again on the other side. Not much chance of a three minute connection. Passing through a few more photos I saw that there is a ticket office by a set of stairs so, I hoped that I could run down one set of stairs and then back up the other if I had the chance. So as we Shrub Hill I moved to the door with my luggage to try to cross the underpass to the opposite platforms.
Whichever train I connected to, my plan was to search for a hotel near to the station to stay the night and make a booking as I travelled to whichever destination.
Arrival at Foregate Street was two minutes early and I was more than able to get the LM train to Stratford-upon-Avon at (2S70) which was reasonably full. By the time I got to Kidderminster, Id found myself a hotel for the night half a kilometre from the station which was at a decent price and could feed me. I was due in at Stratford by 18:43 and my time at the hotel would be around 10 hours so I could shower, eat, sleep, re-charge batteries, and have breakfast before getting back to the station for the next days journey. I continued to write up my journal, and travelled through Warwickshire in the dark until I got to Stratford-upon-Avon on time. Four decent rides for the first day. Not bad for a public holiday and the crowds. No branch lines though. A fifteen minute walk to my hotel, quick check in, shower and meal with a decent glass of wine or three, and back to my room to post this and then bed with my phone and Walkman silently charging. Alarm set for 7:30am and hopefully another good days ride on the network tomorrow.
