My penultimate day kicked off fairly early from Epsom at 06:53 in to London and by tube to Liverpool Street and the 08:30 to Norwich. This was my first time on Greater Anglia trains and I was much impressed – the best interiors for sure. I guess it was also a note-able trip for the fact that my redundancy from Microsoft, following a period of Consultation, was confirmed, after 17 years with the company that has taken me pretty much 2/3rds of the way around the world.
The GA train bombed out to Norwich and we arrived at 10:22. I had about 20 minutes to spare so I just shot out of the station for a quick look see. The station hall ceiling was beautiful and the facade suitably grand – one of many in the country. I have been to Norwich once and the county of Norfolk a couple of times and think this is an underestimated part of England. I was headed to Cromer on the coast for lunch (you guessed it – fish and chips) but realised I could get some bonus mileage in the time I had by continuing on the train up to Sheringham (great stop for the North Norfolk Railway) and back. Cromer was not very busy and pretty windswept but I did manage to have an absolutely delicious serving of Rock from Mary Jane’s where I’d also been to when we came here as a family. I just about managed to eat it on a bench in front of the pier looking out on the waves crashing in on the shore. Classic!
On to Ely just before 2pm. The ride across this part of The Fens was fairly unremarkable until the approach to Ely and a stunning view of the cathedral. Ely has been put on the list of places to visit.
Quick ride in to Kings Cross where it was buzzing with people and the tube around to Paddington in plenty of time for the 17:48 to Cardiff and the Pullman Dining. I had been looking forward to this and it certainly did not disappoint. I had a cup of tea in the GWR 1C lounge on Platform 1 and, as I remarked at the beginning of this little venture when I visited just before taking the Riviera Express, it is really quite sad and lets GWR down compared to many aspects of its service which have been top rate.
Boarding the train was instantly relaxing and soon the crew – in particular a gentleman by the name of Mark – was checking what time I would like to eat. I could tell this was something that I shouldn’t rush and with the dining car being practically empty on this trip – worked out I could travel beyond Cardiff and still get back there not too late. Wise decision although getting off at Port Talbot was a bit of a come-down.
I almost felt this whole experience made it worth going out for dinner in London for by going to Cardiff. It felt luxurious, the view out the window was enhanced with a setting sun and of course was constantly changing. The food was top rate – I had a smoked haddock and crab salad, followed by the rump steak with dauphinoise potato and beetroot, washed down by half a bottle of an exceptional Bordeaux Superieur that seemed to have more glasses in it than usual! The food was matched by the service and I think I probably bored friends and family by waxing lyrical over WhatsApp and making them envious with photos. Big kudos to GWR – this is the way train travel should be. I also thought that you could basically enjoy 1C travel for free by eating in here for the price of a standard class ticket – although you can not make a reservation in standard class and I was told that it does get busier as the week goes on. It might also be fun to be a group of people dining together and I even thought that it would be really good fun to take the dining service out and return in time for the sleeper to Penzance!
The meal with wine came to £66 and it was worth every penny. Truly fabulous end to my penultimate day (with a small lone celebration to my 17 years at Microsoft!)
