Retirement Train Travel

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Yesterday I made a day trip to London, meeting up with the youngest to visit the "Van Gogh and Britain" exhibition at the Tate. It was a long day but spending time with the youngest who struggles to get home these days and seeing what was an excellent art display made it worthwhile.

Such is our excellent East Coast mainline train service that journey times between Northallerton and London Kings Cross are only two and a half hours. Fatigue aside, this means that a day return, where I arrived before midday and left at 9 pm, is eminently "do-able." Moreover and with a Senior railcard and an Advance Purchase ticket the cost is over £250 less than the unbelievable price of an Anytime Return fare!

Arriving at the station with fifteen minutes to spare, it resembled a market day on the platform with crowds congregating, awaiting the arrival of the train. As I wandered through the throng, I was surprised just how many people I recognised from both my present and previous existences and the time I spent there was surprisingly sociable.

Those from the present were clutching their railcards, looking in turn both relaxed and excited about the events planned for their day ahead; some were going no further than York, others all the way to London. They were all seeing friends or family and travelling for pleasure, dressed for leisure and sporting sensible shoes. There was a buzz in the air around them.

In contrast those from the past were reading and sending work related e-mails or speaking on their mobile telephones, finalising details for business meetings and conferences. Their brows were wrinkled in concentration and although they paused to exchange pleasantries, their minds were clearly elsewhere. They of course were the ones in the business suits (plus high heels in the case of the ladies); no railcards, just Anytime Returns, ensuring that they were able to use the Peak service trains heading back North in the early evening. They were serious and somewhat removed from the zest for life emanating from  their fellow passengers.

The contrast between the two tribes could not have been wider and not only did I have no doubts as to which group I now most associate with, but there were also no regrets.



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