Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

A listener asked me what exactly the train strikes that have been endured this week are about, a question that's not that simple to answer. But here I am trying to give a broad overview of the reasons for the strikes and what the next steps are.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the UK deals with the latest round of national rail strikes, I'll be talking about the interesting media figure, and person, that is the general secretary of the RMT union, Mick Lynch.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered every Friday to your inbox by signing up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Airline schedules have been torn up on Monday, withThe Independent identifying more than 320 flight cancellations to and from London’s airports alone.So is the UK terrible at coping with extreme weather? Well, I don't think it is, actually. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered every Friday to your inbox by signing up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most protracted and disruptive national rail strikes since 1989 begin on Tuesday 13 December. They involve walk-outs on a total of 12 days, stretching into the New Year, by the RMT union as well as some industrial action by the TSSA and Unite unions.But so long as you plan carefully, there is no reason to avoid the trains on strike days – thousands of them will be running.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered every Friday to your inbox by signing up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK Border Force have announced a series of strike days as Britain's winter of discontent continues. I detail what the strike is over and when the days will be, and what it will mean for Britain's airports during the some of the busiest times of the year.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered every Friday to your inbox by signing up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast is from Burton-upon-Trent station in Staffordshire, and I am speaking about the state of the railways, and why I am despairing.I've based that on new strikes being called by the RMT union and the dispute surrounding it, which suggests to me that we are in for the long haul.It's not great for the future of the railways, and it's not great for the traveller.Of course, this podcast is free as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe to it here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I speak to you from the kitchen where I am trying to apply for a visa to India. Breathtaking bureaucracy and a fall at the last hurdle.Of course, this podcast is free as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe to it here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the end of the Covid crisis, UK passport holders have been barred from the eVisa scheme due to a political dispute on access to Britain for Indian travellers.The option was restored for nationals of 156 countries, including all 27 European Union members. But the UK was in a small minority of nations whose citizens must apply in person for a visa.The process is far more expensive and time-consuming than the online eVisa, and there is a long waiting list for appointments at Indian visa centres in the UK.But the High Commissioner for India in London, Vikram Doraiswami, has now issued a video message saying: “This service will be made available for you forthwith.“That should enable friends from the UK to travel far more easily to India."The video was accompanied by a tweet saying: “eVisa facility will again be available for UK nationals travelling to India. System upgrade is underway and the visa website will soon be ready to receive applications from friends in the UK”.But it is not clear exactly when operations will resume. The UK does not appear on the list of nationalities for which the eVisa is an option.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can find at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm in London Paddington station with news of intensified competition on the line between the English and Welsh capitals.Starting in 2024, Grand Union Trains will run five times daily from Carmarthen via Cardiff and Bristol Parkway to London, in competition with GWR.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travellers hoping to escape by train to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam in the run-up to Christmas could have their plans wrecked by the latest strike call.Members of the RMT union working at London St Pancras as security staff for Eurostar will walk out on four days in a dispute over pay.Read the full story here: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurostar-strike-london-paris-brussels-amsterdam-b2236106.html This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.