It was dark when I arrived in to Cardiff and dark when I left the hotel at 06:15 but it struck me as a lively thriving city centre. It certainly sounded it late in to the night…
Not great with a 05:45 wake-up but the promise of a Welsh fry-up on board TfW’s Premier Service and what promised to be a “finest journey experience”, caused me to skip the hotel breakfast (plus they weren’t serving until after 06:30) and head to the station for the 06:48 Holyhead departure, which I would be jumping off at Shrewsbury to head to the Cambrian Coast. This last day had taken the most planning and presented many logistical challenges. I thought I had cracked it but would perhaps need some luck towards the end of the day to make it back to Euston before 00:00.
On arriving at the station I checked realtimetrains.co.uk that had proved to be a really useful companion over the last 6 days. Worryingly, it showed that the service was cancelled however the platform indicators showed it was due. No one was around to ask so I and a number of other folks waited, ignoring the train that pulled in headed to Crewe, stopping at Shrewsbury. 2 minutes passed the departure time and the indicator indicated the train was indeed cancelled. Major blow that took some time to figure out the alternatives and get over the realisation a. there would be no fine dining fry-up this morning and b. the chances of getting to the Cambrian coast had gone.
It was a major disappointment. Only consolation was that it was a miserable day and the coastal journey may not have been at its best. Over an hour later, I jumped on a crowded 2 car DMU for a 2.5 hour headed to Crewe, for a connection with an Avanti service to Holyhead. That was the best I could muster in terms of covering some of Wales and at least getting a coastal route covered. About 20 minutes out of Crewe, the trolley came round for some (limited) food service. Too late TfW – and it was only a 2 car train. Not impressed.
Added to this was the late running of the train and I just about made the Avanti connection with a couple of minutes to spare. First Class was empty and I was greeted promptly and offered a range of options including a full English. It was just after 11 but I was starving and snapped up the offer. And promptly woofed it down. Not bad at all. Thank you, Avanti.
The journey down the coast was fairly mundane and not helped by the weather. Unfortunately, I had a couple of hours to kill in Holyhead, where there really was not much happening and not much on offer. I grabbed some lunch in a pub that promised an interesting range of options. I’ll spare the details but I didnt feel particularly good after it. Mind you it was a decent pint of Guinness (no real ale on offer – probably not enough custom).
The same train that brought me was still sat on an awful platform and again First was pretty empty. I jumped off at Crewe and waited about 20 minutes for an exercise that was now about bagging a few “new routes” and clocking up some miles before the end of the day and of course getting me home on time. Manchester Piccadilly it was. Very lively and buzzing (just enough time to grab a quick pint at very good tap house outside the station), jump back on an Cross Country train to Birmingham New Street (quick walk around the block – thought I’d read the Bullring had improved but it all felt an unwelcoming concrete characterless mess. No pub to be found that served real ale except Wetherspoons – the second one I’d visited in 7 days – I’ve only ever been to 1 before, twice, in 4 years! – and had a nice pint before heading down into the somewhat oppressive station and taking another Avanti service headed to Euston. First class was almost empty and I was offered dinner which was an airline economy quality meal but acceptable all the same.
The train wasn’t the usual fast service to London and approaching it’s final stop before Euston, at Watford Junction, an announcement was made that there was a Southern train to Clapham Junction (odd one for Southern) which presented a final opportunity for a new route – hah! I arrived back in to Epsom at 00:04 so I think I can safely say I maxed out the day both time wise and mileage wise (581 miles which was the 2nd highest).
I was by then pretty tired – it had been a long day and not wholly inspiring compared to others. But wow. What a week of train travel it had been. Really, really great. Mostly without delays or missed connections and cancellations (about from today which was a real kicker), stunning scenery which was at times totally absorbing – so much so that my pile of books to read remains as high as it was when I left. Not that I’m a great reader but I had expected to make some progress!
The sheer relaxation and comfort of the majority of trains had been an absolute joy. The general efficiency and scale of the UK’s railways should be celebrated and used more. It is simply the best way to travel and the All Line Rover gives you the perfect opportunity to exploit this wonderful resource.
A closing post with other observations will follow!
