Train Journeys Are Fun! (But Leave Time To Make Your Connection)

I've had a fun day on the trains. Got to Cheltenham to find that the 8.46 was cancelled. This isn't unusual. What was unusual was that the next train, to Bristol Parkway, was actually the 8.22, which arrived at 9.18. I felt a bit sorry for the mother-plus-children who was exclaiming loudly that she was going to miss her Eurotunnel train tickets - but this is Britain, if you don't leave two or three hours to make your connection, what do you expect.

The train got in to Bristol at something like 10.10. I'm not sure exactly what time; I was paying more attention to where I was going. At least this wasn't the first time I'd been sent via Bristol, so I knew which carriage to be on, and stepped straight out at the exit. I love doing that. Ran across the gangway to the other platform, and got there just as the train manager was slamming the doors on the train to Paddington. As I jumped on and slammed my door shut moments before we pulled out, I felt a bit sorry for the mother-plus-children, no doubt still attempting to cajole the aforementioned children into leaving their seats - but this is Britain, if you don't leave two or three hours to make your connection, what do you expect.

Amusingly, despite the 30+ minute delay and ~40 mile detour, I arrived into London at exactly the same time I would have done if I'd got the 8.46 I was supposed to. I love this fair country and her crazy trains.

And as an incidental follow up to my last entry, I have just been kept waiting at the barrier for over 10 minutes - loving it.

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