Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

My travel podcast is rather different today, I'm on the West Somerset Railway, travelling from Watchet to Dunster – one of the UK's many great heritage railways.A vintage steam locomotive is hauling British Rail carriages from the 1960s, all very retro and scenic, but I am using it to get from A to B – so much more relaxing than the bus.I hope that the tantalising gap of a few miles between the Great Western main line at Taunton and the start of the WSR at Bishops Lydeard can be closed – allowing Minehead and the north west Somerset coast to be reconnected with the national railway. Meanwhile, do check out if there's a heritage railway that can help you with part of your next adventure.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast is about the painfully slow process of aligning international travel rules in the era of Covid-19.It's now 30 months since the coronavirus pandemic started triggering border closures around the world – and while frontiers clattered shut very swiftly, they are taking an age to loosen.Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s back to work, college or school for millions today – and, with the squeeze eased on the transport system, I should be looking forward to an autumn full of travel opportunities. But another series of rail strikes have been announced for September in disputes over pay, working conditions and jobs. One date in particular will see the biggest national disruption for rail for 40 years: Thursday 15 September.Some advice for the new prime minister – and the rail unions.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the consumer group branded as Which? has stepped up its campaign against reforming air passengers’ rights rules for flights within the UK.Campaigners say that any reduction on the statutory £220 compensation for passengers whose flight are delayed by three hours or more will simply encourage airlines to become slacker on timekeeping.I disagree...Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m at London St Pancras International station, talking about the decision of Eurostar to end its link to Disneyland Paris. The direct train to the Magic Kingdom has been going for 26 years, and survived the coronavirus pandemic, but the extra costs and red tape associated with Brexit make it impossible for Eurostar to continue it beyond June 2023.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe’s largest budget airline, Ryanair, has set out plans for its biggest-ever winter schedule from the UK. Yet at the same time the chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has been berating the current prime minister and warning of economic turmoil because of the hard Brexit. And what does he think about Ryanair flying from Heathrow?Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis has slammed Air Canada as the “worst airline in North America” after he was allegedly kicked out of first class on a recent flight from the US to Canada.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m on a ferry in the harbour of Marseille, southern France. But I’m talking about events this week under the Channel – when Eurotunnel car carrying shuttle had to be evacuated. What can we learn from it?Of course this podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter. Make sure you subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I am in Villefranche in the south of France. In search of Sir Elton John – in a very relaxed sort of way. Mostly, I want to celebrate the beauty and the ambience of this corner of the Mediterranean. Spoiler alert – I don’t meet the great man.Of course this podcast is free, much like my newsletter that you can get every Friday. Sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s podcast is all about the remarkable move by Scotrail to persuade people not to travel on one of its key inter-city trains, the 10.51am from Inverness to Edinburgh. Is it a sign of the shaky shape of railways in the UK – or a smart plan to nudge people to take less busy and cheaper trains?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.