We left Ottawa late because the plane had
to be de-iced but made up the time for an n time arrival at Heathrow. The first
surprise was that our passports (both UK and Canada) are biometric and we could
go through UK border services on the machine which took a few seconds – quite a
bit different from having to wait in line for 45 minutes.
We just missed a bus into Reading but only
had to wait 20 minutes for the next one and knew we could buy our tickets on
the bus so that saved a long wait.
We validated our rail passes and went into
the Fullers Restaurant, formerly the stationmaster’s office at the station. The
full English breakfast was a monster and set us up for the day.
Cross Country trains now run a train every
30 minutes to Birmingham but the trains are still only four cars. However, this
time we were smart in getting first class. The economy was very, very, full but there
was plenty of room in first.
The countryside is wet and soggy. Temperatures are not particularly low but the
damp makes it uncomfortable. Several
areas are flooded much to the delight of the local gulls.
We got into Birmingham New Street and found
the hotel is very close. It is adequate but nothing more.
The area is a nicely appointed German style
Christmas Market with all the normal kitsch that one has come to expect. Lots
of beer and sausages and the smell of sweet stuff. We found Moor Street station
which we will need tomorrow. It seems to
be pure Great Western.
We took a ride on the West Midland tram
from New Street to Wolverhampton and back.
They are five unit trams built by CAF. All but four of the fleet run on
battery power which is environmentally sound and allows the removal of overhead
wires. They are still using the wires but presumably to charge the batteries. Top speed is 70 km/hr and they are quiet in operation. They seem wider
than Ottawa and the floors are low and completely flat. A day ticket costs 4
pounds which seems good value.
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