Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Thousands of people have been affected by the unexpected travel issues across the UK during the holidays. What has caused these scenes of chaos and confusion? I go over the biggest problems and how it has impacted travelers with long wait times and the possible risks of not making their destinations on time. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual, no passenger trains ran in the UK on Christmas Day, with very few running into Boxing Day. Do you think that’s the right policy? Should everyone get time off on two low-demand days?Or is the Continental Europe approach, often with a near-normal service on 25/26 December, better?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder debates whether the national rail trains should run on Boxing Day and if it effectively eases travel stress. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at the Church of St Nicholas celebrating the Christmas legend. If you come to this church you'll see a mural to Santa Claus. It wasn't until the late 20th century that archeologists decided to excavate this area and the result is exquisite, especially the Marble mosaics.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at from Kings Cross reporting on the problems with overhead wires after the havoc that Storm Pia caused yesterday. Not to mention the strikes in Paris. I also meet someone who might just be Britain's unluckiest passenger.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel pod here: How is Storm Pia affecting travel in this all-important week? I'm (once again) at London Waterloo.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Krakow is difficult to leave. Partly that is because this extraordinary city in southern Poland is so rich in culture, history and gastronomy. But it is also because the railway station is nigh-impossible to find, as I discovered on my way to the airport train.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week before Christmas Day, and the strains in the UK’s transport industry are showing. I’m in a long security queue at Gatwick. With many train cancellations too, this looks like a tough week for travelers.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year one in 25 children at school in England was taken out of school for a holiday – resulting in a £60 fine for parents. Clearly, some parents see paying fines as worthwhile because of the enormous savings that can be made. Why are families penalised – and should the government clamp down on holiday prices?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cologne, Frankfurt, and Geneva should appear on the train departure screens from London by 2030, the boss of Eurotunnel has vowed.Yann Leriche, chief executive of the tunnel firm’s parent, Getlink, says he expects new entrants to start competing with Eurostar – and to double the number of direct rail routes from the UK.Eurotunnel is the infrastructure operator between Folkestone and Calais. It currently runs the LeShuttle car-carrying operation as well as trains carrying trucks. Freight trains and Eurostar passengers expresses pay for the right to run through the tunnel. Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.