Join me on my train trip from Torquay to Berlin today, via Newton Abbot, London Paddington, London Kings Cross/St Pancras, Bruxelles and Cologne๐Ÿšž๐Ÿš…๐Ÿš‡๐Ÿš„๐Ÿš„๐Ÿš„

Itโ€™s a bit of a stretch, so I got up a little early to catch the 6:02 out of Torquay ๐Ÿ˜…

Upside of the early train: stunning morning views over the Teign, Exe and Lyme Bay ๐ŸŒ…๐Ÿ˜

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. Itโ€™s one of the best things about this trip ๐Ÿฅฐ

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 ๐Ÿฅณ

The incoming train was a little delayed but we are leaving on time. Letโ€™s hope it stays that way ๐Ÿ™

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.

Iโ€™m in my expected train and can relax, but weโ€™ll be 30โ€“40 minutes late. Itโ€™s totally fine.

I had a chance to enjoy Cologne Cathedral a little longer.

With nearlrly eleven hours on the go, Iโ€™m getting a little tired. But nothing like a Ruhrpott special to get me going again ๐Ÿฅฑ๐ŸŸ๐ŸŒญ ๐Ÿฅฐ
The benefit of a full day train trip, I also get nice sunset pics. #BahnRomantik

Iโ€™m arriving in Berlin about an hour late due to various factors on the last leg. All in all a great trip, Iโ€™m ready for bed now ๐Ÿ˜…

Canโ€™t quite believe I was in London earlier, let alone Torquay, ~1400 kms away ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

I still prefer this over flying, I just wish this was more affordable ๐Ÿ’ธ

Thanks for watching all ๐Ÿ‘‹

@janl good work, I planned a London-Zรผrich a few years back - โ‚ฌ520 by train โ‚ฌ85 by plane ๐Ÿ˜ฌ I do wish it was more affordable.
@oisin weโ€™re paying the difference in taxes