UK - part 2

I'm on my second UK trip this year - not my favorite destination for several reasons, but now I'm combining business with pleasure.

This time I'm entering Britain by train, by taking the Eurostar from Lille. British border control is done before boarding the train

Actually, I could take the train from other places, but as I'm going with Interrail the only seat reservation left was from Lille. Yes, the number of Interrail seats is very much limited when traveling with Interrail. This is very inconvenient, as there are no alternatives and the whole idea of Interrail is based on spontaneous trips.

Britain is just around the corner, or actually around the English channel

Lille Europe station

Velaro e320 train is arriving

Breakfast is served in Standard Premier class

It's very strange to say that Interrail seats are sold out when there are plenty of seats here

Hello London

COP26 is taking place in Glasgow this year. Unfortunately, that's the place where I have to go too

After taking my 2nd day Covid test at the station, I'm ready to go

No time for delay? There were huge delays today at Euston station, unfortunately, my train to Glasgow was canceled like many others from this station

But I have Interrail, so I'm heading to King's Kross station, to find a train to Edinburgh

I found a seat

Unfortunately, this train was also delayed, as there was a recent storm. It seems that the overhead wires are not well adapted to heavy wind and falling objects.

To make a long story short, a trip that would have to take 5 hours, took almost 12 hours for me today

I will be spending some days here in Scotland, and I will be taking more trains, including the Caledonian Sleeper 

The calm after the storm, in all senses

Actually, I had a plan at the beginning of 2020 to make a trip with 3-night trains from Sicily to Scotland. Everything was booked and paid and then came Corona. The trip to Sicily was done later in the summer 2020, but the trip to Scotland was postponed to an indefinite time. Now I'm here.

My plan was to see both the southern Mediterranean sea and the north Atlantic in 3 nights trip by train. Here is the North channel, the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland.

Time to travel by train again, here Irvine station

ScotRail is the company operating most of trains in Scotland. Abellio is the company that was awarded the franchise since 2015. Abellio is part of the Dutch NS.

British Rail Class 380 Desiro

Arriving at Glasgow Central

Caledonian Sleeper - tonight I will be taking it to London

TransPennine Express train to Manchester, CAF Civity 397 Nova 2

As I'm continuing further west, I have to change to another train station here in Glasgow

Electric bus to COP26

Environmental activists en Marche

Statue of the Duke of Wellington with a traffic cone in front of the museum of Modern art

Nice livery, but maybe not so nice for passengers trying to view the scenery

Glasgow Queen Street station

Everybody is on the way to Glasgow, but I'm leaving

ScotRail Express train Glasgow-Edinburgh

First Class is available

At Edinburgh station, I can spot LNER train 

I have some time before taking the next train 

Edinburgh trams re-opened in 2014

CAF Urbos 3

National instrument of Scotland - bagpipes

Princess street gardens

Edinburgh castle

Hmm...

Taking the train over the Forth bridge

Dundee-Aberdeen line offers some scenic views

British Rail Class 170, ADtranz/Bombardier Turbostar

Stonehaven station

British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter

Montrose station

My next train

From October 2018, Abellio ScotRail introduced former Great Western Railway HSTs on services between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness, branded as "Inter7City" in reference to Scotland's seven main cities. (Wikipedia)

This train is much more comfortable than Class 158 (both are used for Inter7city services)

These locomotives were manufactured by British Rail Engineering Limited in 1976

 British Rail Mark 3 passenger carriage

I'm at the station of Perth where I will change trains once again

Perth is junction station connecting the railways to Dundee and to Inverness/Edinburgh (Highland main line)

Visiting the town of Perth

Inter7City to Inverness

Caledonian sleeper office in Inverness

Inverness

Fish and chips

LNER (to the left) and Caledonian Sleeper

British Rail Mark 5 coaches were introduced in 2019, so they are still "brand new"

Class 66 locomotive

Mark 5 were built by Spanish manufacturer CAF for operation with Caledonian Sleeper.

The train looks very fresh, this must be the newest night train type in Europe at the moment

I have my own private compartment

I have my own private compartment, there are two beds here

Just like in the Nightjet, there is a choice for breakfast

There is a private WC and shower

The restaurant car

Breakfast in the morning

Arriving at Euston station

Class 92

New ABBA album is here

I'm on my way to Plymouth, so I'm taking the underground to Paddington station

I've already tested LNER and Avanti, now it's time for Great Western

Complimentary drink and snack in 1st class

GWR train at Exeter

I'm visiting Dewlish station, which is located just the English channel

The railway here is located just next to the coast

On the way to Plymouth more complimentary snacks

On the way back to London, I've got a sandwich and a Prosecco

Tea of course

Back in London

One week later I'm in Euston station again, this time much less crowded. In the lounge I've a coffee and a biscuit

I'm on my way to Birmingham

Breakfast in Avanti train

Birmingham

Avanti West Coast is owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%)

I'm also visiting some stations nearby Birmingham, here is Nuneaton station

Atherstone station

Anti-trespass panel

Avanti Pride version

Annatomix at Tamworth station

My hotel in Birmingham offers a real British experience

Birmingham Christmas market