Redressing The Balance

I’m sitting tapping away writing this in a B&B on the Isle of Wight. Having travelled here today I figured it’s only right that I tell a good public transport story. 

A little while ago, I wrote “The Train That Didn’t Arrive”. Lambasting the crappy train service we have in the UK these days. But having travelled by train from Coventry to Portsmouth, I’m happy to say, I can redress the balance. 

I’m a big advocate of public transport. I love train journeys and bus journeys. You get to where you need to be and enjoy the getting there — when things go well. 

I made the point that the Department For Transport has made a big mess of the railways. And it’s true, they have. But not on their own. The rail companies haven’t been great, either. 

Sure, I could, like millions of others, drive everywhere. But there’s medical reasons why I’m best avoiding that. Even if there wasn’t, I’d still want public transport that works. 

There’s another point, too. And despite what happened today, this one is still an issue. It costs a bloody fortune to get anywhere. I mentioned that we travelled from Coventry to Portsmouth via London. 

That’s an Avanti train to London. Then a South West Railway train from Waterloo to Portsmouth harbour. For me, my wife and my granddaughter. It cost hundreds of pounds. Bloody ouch. 

But that aside, when it works? It’s marvellous. 

We caught the 05:50 from Coventry to London Euston. It rolled in a few minutes early. Meaning it set off bang on time. We also rolled into Euston bang on time. The journey down involved a stress free cup of coffee and a quick snooze to recharge. 

Next, we jumped into a waiting black cab to head over to Waterloo. Another pleasant experience. We chatted to the driver and enjoyed showing our granddaughter some London sights. 

Next there was a small wait at Waterloo. But the departure boards updated regularly and our train arrived on time. And departed on time. A nice run through the countryside for an hour and a half, and we got to Portsmouth harbour on time. 

A quick stroll to the Catamaran, which turned up on time, and twenty minutes later, we were in Ryde. 

Not a single glitch. We waited only where we got there before our connections were due. At no point did we feel rushed, hassled or overwhelmed. 

To me, that’s what travelling by public transport should feel like. It meant a lot because we had our ten year-old granddaughter with us. 

It would be easy to argue that it bloody should have been a good journey because of the amount of money we paid out. There is that. But, that doesn’t mean much these days. So I’m still sitting here well chuffed. 

I do realise lots of people can’t be bothered with the faff. It’s easier to load up the car and go door-to-door. But, letting the “train take the strain” worked for us. 

Right, we are off on a stroll down to the seafront. Tomorrow, the public transport odyssey continues via Isle of Wight buses and trains. Past experience tells me that’s going to be great as well.