Join me on my train trip from Torquay to Berlin today, via Newton Abbot, London Paddington, London Kings Cross/St Pancras, Bruxelles and Cologne๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Itโs a bit of a stretch, so I got up a little early to catch the 6:02 out of Torquay ๐
Made it fine to the Eurostar Terminal at St Pancras, stocked up on vegan snacks and now awaiting boarding.
I wish the Eurostar went every hour at least in the mid-morning. I could have shaved off a full hour. Better safe than sorry with the planned buffer, but I would not have taken a later train to get here.
Anywaaaaay, this is loads nicer than the Eurostar Brussels waiting area.
Lunch service on the Eurostar was fabulous and the vegan lunch option very tasty. Itโs one of the best things about this trip ๐ฅฐ
Then made it to Brussels easy. My connecting train left one platform over and transferring was a matter of maybe 20 steps and two short flights of stairs. Even my coaches were close ๐ฅณ
The incoming train was a little delayed but we are leaving on time. Letโs hope it stays that way ๐
Next stop: Cologne!
Transfer in Cologne was a bit chaotic, but given all the construction on tracks around here and the double booking of tracks causing blockages, no real surprise. But comms would have helped.
Iโm in my expected train and can relax, but weโll be 30โ40 minutes late. Itโs totally fine.
I had a chance to enjoy Cologne Cathedral a little longer.
Iโm arriving in Berlin about an hour late due to various factors on the last leg. All in all a great trip, Iโm ready for bed now ๐
Canโt quite believe I was in London earlier, let alone Torquay, ~1400 kms away ๐บ๏ธ
I still prefer this over flying, I just wish this was more affordable ๐ธ
Thanks for watching all ๐
@janl Ruhrpott looks good!
(New word to me, I like it.)
@janl A farewell from my neck of the woods; hope you enjoyed yourself :)
I have some questions! Did you notice the sudden acceleration coming out of Reading towards London? The train switches to catenary-supplied electricity there, and I always love the feeling you get as a passenger inside the train!
How did you get from Paddington to St. Pancras? Nowadays, I usually take the Elizabeth Line to Farringdon and change onto the Thameslink to St. Pancras. In the past I've used the Circle/Bakerloo/Hammersmith and City line, which is not as comfortable but you get to see Baker Street which is historically significant as part of the original underground railway.
Jan Lehnardt 
Bodil
Felix ๐ข (what is normality)
Chris Adams
Hidde
oisin
Aubrieta
Jens Nikolaus
Kolombiken
Sebastian Crane ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ
can
mxey
half/byte
acid