Royal Blue
Train Attendant
So, I have been in the UK on a business trip, which has required some train riding, since the office where I needed to work was in Suffolk, and the best way to get there was by train. Here’s a few observations and photos.
After landing at Heathrow, I passed up the oh-so-sexy Heathrow Express train to London for the London Underground. Why? Because I’m cheap, even with my employer’s money. So I loaded up my Oyster card, swiped it across the turnstile, and off I rattled, all the way into London. The Underground tracks form Heathrow aren’t the best, so it is a long trip, and not the most comfortable. I stopped in central London long enough to get a UK SIM card for my iPhone and polish off some coffee and Eggs Benedict, then back on the Tube to Liverpool Street Station.
The Victorians really knew how to build train stations. I made my way out of the Underground tunnel to find myself within brick walls that soar into a cast iron and glass roof.
After gaping for a while and using the ladies’ room (30 pence, please), I bought my train ticket from the vending machine. This was a simple procedure. You get a vastly better price ordering your tickets in advance online, but I was too worried the trip would get cancelled and I would get stuck with the cost. So this wasn’t too economical for my employer, but that’s how it goes.
So I’m walking around admiring the main train station, when I see the train shed itself, stretching out from the central area. This thing is something else – also glass and cast iron, held up by fancy decorated pillars and arches. The trains were lined up on the tracks – the train I was to take was operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. The trains are all electric, and it seems like they sit quite a bit lower than U.S. commuter trains.
So, maybe 20 minutes before departure, our train was called, and we passengers proceeded to the track. We swiped our tickets through the turnstiles, and made our way down the platform to board our train. We rolled out of the station and off through London and its suburbs, going through industrial areas and into the beautiful rural countryside. The conductor punched our tickets.
I wondered why the conductor didn’t punch our tickets on the way back a week later. As it turns out, the train was going back to London Liverpool Station, and we had to run them through the turnstile to get off the train platform at Liverpool. So, I understood. There were no turnstiles at the rural station where I stopped, hence the ticket punching on the outbound trip.
Back at Liverpool, I got back on the Tube and headed for Victoria Station. Victoria is not as elaborate as Liverpool Station, but still quite attractive. Here’s Victoria Station.
I splurged for the Gatwick Express train from Victoria to Gatwick Airport to catch my next flight, since I hadn't done enough research to find a more economical way to get to Gatwick. I was expecting a high-speed train, but it was pretty much the same thing as what I had ridden to the rural area. The scenery to Gatwick was more industrial and low-income housing, though.
One thing that really struck me about English trains is how well they are isolated from roads. I don’t remember a single grade crossing on any of the routes I took. But considering how often these trains run (every half hour, even out to the boonies), if there were a lot of grade crossings, it would be a problem for car traffic.
Overall, a new experience in train riding. I have now ridden trains in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. So many left to ride!
After landing at Heathrow, I passed up the oh-so-sexy Heathrow Express train to London for the London Underground. Why? Because I’m cheap, even with my employer’s money. So I loaded up my Oyster card, swiped it across the turnstile, and off I rattled, all the way into London. The Underground tracks form Heathrow aren’t the best, so it is a long trip, and not the most comfortable. I stopped in central London long enough to get a UK SIM card for my iPhone and polish off some coffee and Eggs Benedict, then back on the Tube to Liverpool Street Station.
The Victorians really knew how to build train stations. I made my way out of the Underground tunnel to find myself within brick walls that soar into a cast iron and glass roof.
After gaping for a while and using the ladies’ room (30 pence, please), I bought my train ticket from the vending machine. This was a simple procedure. You get a vastly better price ordering your tickets in advance online, but I was too worried the trip would get cancelled and I would get stuck with the cost. So this wasn’t too economical for my employer, but that’s how it goes.
So I’m walking around admiring the main train station, when I see the train shed itself, stretching out from the central area. This thing is something else – also glass and cast iron, held up by fancy decorated pillars and arches. The trains were lined up on the tracks – the train I was to take was operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. The trains are all electric, and it seems like they sit quite a bit lower than U.S. commuter trains.
So, maybe 20 minutes before departure, our train was called, and we passengers proceeded to the track. We swiped our tickets through the turnstiles, and made our way down the platform to board our train. We rolled out of the station and off through London and its suburbs, going through industrial areas and into the beautiful rural countryside. The conductor punched our tickets.
I wondered why the conductor didn’t punch our tickets on the way back a week later. As it turns out, the train was going back to London Liverpool Station, and we had to run them through the turnstile to get off the train platform at Liverpool. So, I understood. There were no turnstiles at the rural station where I stopped, hence the ticket punching on the outbound trip.
Back at Liverpool, I got back on the Tube and headed for Victoria Station. Victoria is not as elaborate as Liverpool Station, but still quite attractive. Here’s Victoria Station.
I splurged for the Gatwick Express train from Victoria to Gatwick Airport to catch my next flight, since I hadn't done enough research to find a more economical way to get to Gatwick. I was expecting a high-speed train, but it was pretty much the same thing as what I had ridden to the rural area. The scenery to Gatwick was more industrial and low-income housing, though.
One thing that really struck me about English trains is how well they are isolated from roads. I don’t remember a single grade crossing on any of the routes I took. But considering how often these trains run (every half hour, even out to the boonies), if there were a lot of grade crossings, it would be a problem for car traffic.
Overall, a new experience in train riding. I have now ridden trains in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. So many left to ride!
