For past courses I've given in Cambridge, I've chosen to travel by car. The station in Cambridge is one side of town, and most of the people I train are situated on t'other. But this week - seeing as I had to travel up from Melksham on Monday after a day's hard work, and then back on Friday evening after another hard but enjoyable day's work, I decided to use the train. The idea of falling asleep at the wheel on Monday, or creeping along for hours in the London Orbital Car Park, listening to The Five O'Clock News, the Archers, Any Questions and (if I was really unlucky) Book at Bedtime didn't thrill me.

So how was my Public Transport journey? Absolutely great ... until the last leg, of course. That's where the train's due into Chippenham at 20:45 and the bus leaves at 20:44 ... next bus 22:10. I wasn't going to wait around for 85 minutes - so I took up Lisa's offer of a pickup.

Buses on route 2 leave the Cambridge Science Park every 10 minutes and meander through the 'burbs to the City Centre and on to the station. And every 20 minutes the new route "A" runs from this fancy stop beside the Scienc Park, over normal roads rather than this guided trackway but limited stop, to the station. Some of my delegates were telling me what a difference it has made to *their* commute, and sharing the irony of this improvement coming on the back of a big expenditure on the other parts of the route, when the express bus on their section could have ben provided very cheaply and years ago.


The 17:15 from Cambridge runs nonstop to King's Cross. It was about half full, and fast. There are very few other trains that I can think of that run from terminus to terminus without any intermediate stops. Sign of a strong flow, although one 4 car train would have taken everyone, and seated ... and I couldn't help wondering if this had been an Oxford to London rather than a Cambridge to London service if it would have been diesel not electric, 3 cars not 8, and would have stopped at least 3 times along the way!


There are some breathtakingly modern trains appearing on the London Underground. This is the Semi-fast service to Watford, at King's Cross. Comfortably busy, but not packed even on the Bank Holiday.


Our Circle line train dropped us off at the old Pread Street station - something of a surprise, as I had understood that the circle had been broken, running an inverted figure of six with all trains from King's Cross headed out to Hammersmith. Indeed, that's what the map in the train iteslf showed. Anyway - here's a busyness and a potent of things to come - with a tube train full of people all making for a staircase to go up, over and down just to go back up again to the ticket hall in a few yards. This really isn't a short-walk interchange!


The wide barrier for luggage had failed ... which was a shame on the way up to the main line station for long distance travel, when everyone had a load of luggage that they had just lugged over that bridge. Never mind - some chap from London Underground opened the side gate and we flooded through ...


... so that we could join the next queue for tickets. OK - I admit it - I had taken advantage of a ticket office with no queue last Sunday to buy myself a ticket ahead of time, so I could sit, wait, relax while waiting for my train.


And I could also enjoy the architecture - recently revealed - of the fourth arch at Paddington.


The concourse was busy with people standing and looking at the screens - trains called just 10 to 15 minutes before they were due to leave, resulting in a Tsumani of people onto the platforms and trains, with the fit and young sweeping the old, frail and disabled over and grabbing the few unreserved seats on the services.


Paddington always seems short on seats, but there are places to perch if you look carefully. Some of us happy to sit - to look around, to listen to music. Others looks like they have been waiting quite a while and are a bit brassed off about it.


Lined up, and waiting for the starting pistol to be fired - three old HSTs. These are almost the oldest trains we've used on the journey so far. They'll probably be the most overcrowded. And the fare per mile will be pretty high ... or would be if we didn't hang around a bit for the 19:30. £69.50 on the 18:30 ... £31.00 on the 19:00 ... or £25.50 on the 19:30. So I hung around a bit as I was a bit early. With a "superoffpeak" fare offered, things will have quietened down by the 19:30, right?


Wrong. It was packed ... In the very front (quiet) carriage, there were at least 10 people standing within the carriage itself (let alone the vestibule). Great fun as people with luggage came looking for their reserved seats. "Keep you luggage with you at all times" and yet the luggage racks are at the end of the carriage, and the seats face away from them. And there are at least three people in this quiet coach to whom the "no mobile phones" rule doesn't apply.


I would get tired of it as a regular journey, I'm sure - but frankly I don't worry too much about a bit of crowding, a challenge to sort out the right fares, an ability to get from (a) to (b) without burning up too much fuel and without getting tired and without spending a painful amount of money. Oh - and without putting people out. So - I may appear to have some negative comments along the way, but actually, yes, I'll be using public rather than private transport next time I'm in Cambridge too. I talked about the irony at the Cambridge end earlier. The irony is that it's at the home end - the public transport into Melksham - that I admitted defeat yesterday evening.

---

P.S. 1 - You'll notice that yesterday's two blogs were posted by me while I was on that 19:30 train from Paddington. I couldn't have done that from a car.

P.S. 2 - Click on any image to see it much larger.
(written 2011-08-27, updated 2011-08-29)

 Z501 - Public Transport - Rail
  [3728] The future needs for rail services to Melksham - change needed; current service an insult - (2012-05-11)
  [3699] Bristol 50? Bristol 25? - (2012-04-17)
  [3671] Future train services in Wiltshire - please write in to support a better service - (2012-03-24)
  [3668] Kings Cross - new concourse - between Python in Cambridge and Objective C in London - (2012-03-22)
  [3642] Wiltshire Travel Times - Chippenham, Trowbridge, Salisbury and other places too - (2012-03-07)
  [3631] Getting around Dublin by public transport - some observations - (2012-03-01)
  [3626] There is so much to see travelling by train - (2012-02-26)
  [3601] Rail Travel - has it become more unreliable? - (2012-02-02)
  [3579] Transport in Cambridgeshire - seen by an outside observer. What can Wiltshire learn? - (2012-01-15)
  [3565] What would an appropriate train service on the TransWilts line mean - (2011-12-31)
  [3564] I wish I was not a special case - (2011-12-29)
  [3550] Provide a useable train service, and people will use it! - (2011-12-11)
  [3538] Santa Train - another successful trip - 4th December 2011 - (2011-12-04)
  [3501] Santa Claus - on the train from Melksham on 4th December 2011 - (2011-10-30)
  [3493] West Wilts Rail User Group - Walk yesterday from Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge - (2011-10-23)
  [3487] Public transport - road and rail - (2011-10-19)
  [3486] How important is public transport to people in the Melksham area? - (2011-10-19)
  [3452] Which or ATOC - who reads train fares right? - (2011-09-22)
  [3434] Sundays - and over eating - (2011-09-11)
  [3410] A review of the Summer Sunday extra trains on the TransWilts line - (2011-08-29)
  [3403] Last chance this summer - Swindon and North Wiltshire to Weymouth by through train - (2011-08-22)
  [3392] What costs 8.20 from Melksham, or 22.30 via Chippenham? - (2011-08-14)
  [3378] New product - ensuring that supply matches demand - (2011-08-03)
  [3371] From Wiltshire to Weymouth on Sundays - (2011-07-27)
  [3370] Standing Challenge - (2011-07-26)
  [3364] Dogs Legs on the Dogleg - (2011-07-20)
  [3362] Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - Sunday Train Service Starts - (2011-07-19)
  [3336] Efficient travel - from Melsksham to Edinburgh by Sleeper Train - (2011-06-26)
  [3331] Comparing Alloa and Melksham - stations and services - (2011-06-23)
  [3328] Summer Sundays - days out by train from Swindon on the TransWilts - (2011-06-18)
  [3318] Summer Sunday Trains - outings from Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury - (2011-06-05)
  [3274] Small scale improvement - big scale gain. And they CAN be done with local knowledge - (2011-05-02)
  [3273] Wanted - a look to the future - (2011-05-02)
  [3198] TransWilts rail - coming together, wanted and needed - (2011-03-10)
  [3187] Past and Present - Melksham Station - (2011-02-27)
  [3178] The cost of roadworks on the economy of our town - 1800 pounds per hour? - (2011-02-20)
  [3176] Comparing German, Dutch and British Railways - (2011-02-19)
  [3171] Train and boat journey - the passenger accommodation - (2011-02-15)
  [3167] Can I take my dog by train? And other questions - (2011-02-12)
  [3161] TransWilts rail - what picture represents us - (2011-02-08)
  [3141] Wiltshire Rail services - a golden opportunity - (2011-01-21)
  [3135] A time to be brave? We should ask for what is best for our area. - (2011-01-16)
  [3119] TransWilts - some things to see and do - (2011-01-03)
  [3114] Transwilts Link - both Wiltshire and beyond - (2010-12-30)
  [3113] Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham - more roadworks, even slower journey over the winter - (2010-12-30)
  [3111] TransWilts Link - Days out from Swindon to Weymouth? - (2010-12-28)
  [3080] Santa Special - rather more special than usual - December 2010 - (2010-12-07)
  [3079] TransWilts Rail News ... Melksham (Santa Special) Edition ... 5th December 2010 - (2010-12-04)
  [3033] Rail services back to Radstock? - (2010-11-07)
  [3031] Get all your ducks in a row ... and they may turn into swans - (2010-11-06)
  [3017] Seventh day traveller on the six day railway - (2010-10-27)
  [3006] Santa announcement, 5th December 2010, Melksham - (2010-10-20)
  [2982] Travel, Transport and Tourism - A vision for Melksham, 2026 - (2010-10-03)
  [2955] Melksham Railway Station - new information point - (2010-09-13)
  [2954] Railway meetings, trips and meetups this autumn - (2010-09-12)
  [2931] Syncronise - software, trains, and buses. Please! - (2010-08-22)
  [2930] Walk - Tilehurst to Pangborne - (2010-08-21)
  [2919] London to Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham by public Transport - (2010-08-13)
  [2908] How Green is my train? - (2010-08-07)
  [2901] Ambassador or Anorak? - (2010-08-03)
  [2855] Train Services - Melksham to Bath and Bristol (and airport) - (2010-07-05)
  [2808] From home to Nurnberg - journey pictures - (2010-06-13)
  [2696] Garlic bread without garlic - (2010-03-27)
  [2678] Reaching out to the community - a good case for support - (2010-03-15)
  [2664] Oliver Cromwell at Bristol Temple Meads - (2010-03-06)
  [2662] Is Melksham public transport actually used? - (2010-03-05)
  [2658] Save the Train - a significant change in approach - (2010-03-03)
  [2634] London to and from Melksham by public transport - (2010-02-13)
  [2627] Saturdays out from Melksham - to Oxford, to Didcot or to Swindon - (2010-02-07)
  [2626] On Malachite Green - (2010-02-06)
  [2568] Forums for your Melksham and open source discussions - (2010-01-09)
  [2557] Rail Campaign - response to core consultation - (2009-12-31)
  [2556] Railway Station Survey - please complete today or tomorrow - (2009-12-30)
  [2533] Five guests, three groups, one car - (2009-12-11)
  [2529] Santa Special, 2009 - (2009-12-06)
  [2522] Integrated public Transport - what could be done for Melksham - (2009-12-01)
  [2513] Wiltshire Council purchases Melksham Station Land - (2009-11-26)
  [2511] The story of the railway land at Melksham Station - (2009-11-24)
  [2486] Santa Special - Trowbridge and Melksham to Swindon - (2009-10-31)
  [2477] By train ... - (2009-10-25)
  [2473] Exploring Old Railways - (2009-10-24)
  [2457] Railway Arithmetic - (2009-10-16)
  [2438] Listening to The Minister - (2009-10-05)
  [2395] From Lymington by train - last of the slammers - (2009-09-05)
  [2391] Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy - Draft for Consultation - (2009-09-02)
  [2372] Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays - (2009-08-23)
  [2328] Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town - (2009-08-08)
  [2318] For Lua Programmers AND for Town Planners - (2009-08-02)
  [2268] Westbury Bypass Refused - looking forward - (2009-07-04)
  [2133] Bigger and better this year! - (2009-04-20)
  [2057] Train and Coach fares from London (and airports) to Melksham - (2009-02-26)
  [2042] Wiltshire Rail Service Update - (2009-02-15)
  [2026] Melksham Climate Friendly Group - (2009-02-05)
  [2024] Carry on Training - in spite of the weather - (2009-02-03)
  [1999] How low can you sink? - (2009-01-17)
  [1966] Background to the TransWilts Train Fiasco - (2008-12-29)
  [1965] How much does a train service actually cost - (2008-12-29)
  [1964] Why hasnt the fiasco been put right - (2008-12-29)
  [1905] A Gold Star for First Great Western Customer Service - (2008-11-24)
  [1858] Camera with night vision, youth with no vision - (2008-10-28)
  [1848] 30th November - Santa Trip from Melksham - (2008-10-19)
  [1757] Preserved railways - struggling to the future? - (2008-08-17)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1708] A Train Service Update for Melksham Party in the Park - (2008-07-13)
  [1616] Not daring to be an anorak - (2008-04-19)
  [1567] Melksham - Swindon. Train v Bus v Car - (2008-03-07)
  [1558] Getting somewhere with the train service - (2008-02-28)
  [1530] Railway Acronyms and Abbreviations - (2008-02-03)
  [1452] Santa on the train to Melksham - (2007-12-01)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1424] Closer than you think - the next step - (2007-11-08)
  [1382] First Great Western - information for customers - (2007-10-07)
  [1358] Look forward with a new broom - Wiltshire Train Service - (2007-09-19)
  [1314] Business travel by train in the USA - (2007-08-22)
  [1303] Heading Upstate New York - (2007-08-14)
  [1291] Day trip to Weymouth - (2007-08-05)
  [1274] Radio coverage for railway issues - (2007-07-23)
  [1273] Melksham or Weymouth? Meal or day out? - (2007-07-23)
  [1228] Some progress on the train campaign - (2007-06-10)
  [1139] Overcrowded trains around Bristol - (2007-04-08)
  [1097] Train and business balls all in the air! - (2007-03-02)
  [1093] Wiltshire Train - can YOU come on 5th March? - (2007-02-25)
  [1076] Save the Train - an update - (2007-02-12)
  [1069] Rail trouble forced me to buy hotel - (2007-02-07)
  [1063] Bradford-on-Avon - 150 years of passenger trains - (2007-02-03)
  [1045] Bang! Train campaign hits home - (2007-01-19)
  [1044] Call for appropriate train services - Swindon, Bristol, Bath, West Wilts, Severn Beach etc - (2007-01-18)
  [1033] Empty at Easleigh, Missing at Melksham, Overflowing at Oldfield - (2007-01-14)
  [976] Santa at the station - (2006-12-09)
  [974] The last commuter train through Melksham - (2006-12-09)
  [952] Coming from London to Melksham by train for a course - (2006-11-28)
  [877] Yes, but what do we do now?? - (2006-09-24)
  [814] Melksham Railway Calendar 2007 - (2006-07-25)
  [803] Not shouting - (2006-07-16)
  [790] Shadow Transport Minister to visit Melksham - (2006-07-02)
  [697] For any North and West Wilts and Swindon Readers - (2006-04-23)
  [688] Are you free on Friday evening? - (2006-04-18)
  [648] West Wilts Railway Users Group and trains to Lacock - (2006-03-16)
  [634] Real chance to make a difference - (2006-03-05)
  [632] Moral dilemma - (2006-03-04)
  [527] Greater Western Franchise Awarded - (2005-12-13)
  [524] Santa comes to Melksham - (2005-12-11)
  [521] Proof needed? Please just use common sense! - (2005-12-08)
  [488] Looking for railway groups and users - Swindon, Salisbury, Southampton - (2005-11-06)
  [486] Rail services under threat - Swindon, Melksham ... and Newquay and Bicester too - (2005-11-05)
  [447] Tomorrow's meeting. - (2005-09-19)
  [434] Through public transport connection, Chippenham to Salisbury, to cease - (2005-09-02)
  [428] Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury train service - (2005-08-29)
  [154] Railway train service, Melksham station - (2004-12-17)

Back to Perl - a quick reminder and revision. Test yourself!

Previous and next or Horse's mouth home

Forward to When variables behave differently - Tie in Perl

Handling binary data in Perl is easy!
Single and double quotes strings in Perl - what is the difference?
When variables behave differently - Tie in Perl
Journey home by public transport for a Bank Holiday
Perl - a quick reminder and revision. Test yourself!
Not multidimentional arrays - but lists of lists. Much more flexible. Perl!
Where do businessmen stay in Melksham?
Buses on the Cambridge Guided Busway