07:30.

I’m on my way folks! The trip’s got off to a slightly rocky start. Late last night we had a torrential rainstorm, this led to the frustrating discovery that the cottage roof is leaking – despite us spending £1000 to get it repaired only a few months ago. It’s too late for me to do anything about it, so I’ve had to leave poor Dawn to contact the roofers and sort it out (so sorry, Dawn x). It’s not quite the start I’d hoped for as it wasn’t exactly conducive to a good nights sleep for either of us.

This morning the alarm went off at 05:45, blurgh! Having had a caffeine fix whilst I finished packing Dee drove me down to Halifax station to bid farewell. Now I’m on the first train of the trip – the 07:16 from Halifax to Leeds which is formed from one of the old West Yorkshire PTE Class 158s. Despite the early hour it’s a busy train full of commuters heading into the city.

I’m slowly managing to master the intricacies of my Interrail pass app on the phone, activated it and generated a ticket. I’m sure I’ll be fluent in its use by the end of the trip, I just hope I don’t hit some of the app glitches that I’ve read about. Or, if I do I have a sympathetic ‘gripper’ (ticket inspector) when I do!

I’m looking forward to trying a variety of different types of trains as I travel around Europe. I’m sure I might find some as old as this 1980s class 158, but also some rather more modern and up to date vehicles too. Let’s see what happens.

08:15.

My time in a damp Leeds was brief. I had long enough to get a quick shot of my train before heading over the footbridge to platform 8 to catch my LNER service to London which consisted of a pair of Hitachi built ‘Azuma’ Class 801s. I’m now happily ensconced in 1st Class, sipping coffee and looking forward to the breakfast service! my coach (K) is split 50/50 between 1st and Standard class. 1st is quiet, with only a handful of other passengers other than me – although several other seats are reserved en-route.

09:15.

We’ve just sped through Grantham (the best way to see it perhaps). Having scoffed a bacon roll at 125mph I’m now enjoying watching the scenery flash past the window. Summer seems to be over now. The skies are gloomy and the light flat. Hopefully I’ll find better weather in Europe. 1st Class has filled up en-route, I’d say we’re about 60% full now, which isn’t bad for a Tuesday.

11;00.

The closer we got to the capital the worse the weather became. I’m glad I made a last minute decision to pack a brolly as I’m going to need it! fortunately, it’s only the work of a couple of minutes to transfer between Kings Cross and St Pancras. Plus, if it’s really hammering it down you can do the transfer via the subway. Now I’m sat on this 140mph chariot for a a trip along HS1 (High Speed 1) to Ashford, then on the traditional lines via Folkestone to Dover.

11:30.

We’ve arrived at Ebbsfleet International in Kent, having sped underneath London and across Essex. I still have to pinch myself sometimes as I documented HS1 being built when I lived in London. You can find the gallery of pictures here. Now, years later I’m documenting HS2 being built. I don’t travel this route often enough. I’ve not done it for a couple of years. The way residential building is taking over from industry to the East of London is quite a surprise. Gone are massive factory complexes like Ford in Dagenham. Now there’s more blocks of flats than commercial premises. It’s only along the banks of the Thames that industry hangs on.

14:45.

Well, that was interesting. The journey  across Kent to Dover was painless – if  rather wet and misty, which hardly showed off the ‘Garden of England’ at its best. Then you arrive at Dover – which (not to mince words) a bit of a shithole! I had time on my hands so elected to walk to the ferry terminal, accompanied by one of the local vagrants who just wanted someone to talk to (and ask for spare change). Nowadays the port is just one vast car and lorry park with all the glamour you’d expect from acres of concrete and tarmac. Boat trains arriving into Dover Marine station for a fast transfer onto a ferry are long gone. Now, if you’re a P&O foot passenger you’re advised to arrive 90 minutes before your ferry departs. Now I know why. I was one of only six foot passengers who joined the 13:35 bus for the 15:05 ferry. This takes you from the Eastern docks all the way to the Western docks where you go through passport control in a new building in the middle of a desolate lorry park. Then you get back on the bus for a circular tour  before being driven back to the Eastern docks. There you get waved through customs befor your bus sits next to the ferry as it disgorges a seemingly endless stream of HGVs and other vehicles. Finally, the bus drives onto the ferry to deposit you by a staircase on the car deck, 35 minutes after you got on!

The bright side is you’re first on the ferry so have chance to explore whilst it’s empty!

15:20.

It’s bye-bye Septic Isle…

My ferry’s sailed in bloody awful weather. The white cliffs of dover disappered in the rain within a minute of clearing the Dover harbour breakwater. The ferry is still eeriely quiet too which is rather a surprise. I’d have thought it would have been much busier. A tanny announcement earlier mentioned there were only a few hundred passengers aboard – including 105 lorry drivers, which gives an idea of the size of this ferry.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
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Cheers,

Paul