Naming purple trains

And so my journey begins. A long run to Edinburgh. While John and Lindy will get there in a couple of hours, locked in a metal cylinder, I won’t arrive until Sunday evening. Before then, I will travel by trains, buses and ferry and, perhaps, a tram in Amsterdam. It’s what makes travelling a delight rather than a big old sausage machine.

It was not a particularly early start, though Mirinda may disagree, as I woke her at 7:45 to drove me to Södertälje syd for my first train.

Train #1: Södertälje Syd to Malmö

Going first class is definitely the way to go. So much more room for the legs, nice and quiet as business types work laptops, free coffee, tea, sweets and fruit, it has it all. Being in the first carriage is also quite nice. Well, when you arrive at Malmö, anyway.

Speaking of business types, there was a chap across the aisle from me who had a few online meetings. I have no idea what he told his colleagues but, rather than a view of a train, his screen showed him in an office. I’d say that was a bit sneaky except one of the people on the call kept moving and she kept disappearing so, clearly, she was somewhere else too.

Anyway, none of it bothered me. I had some Archers episodes to catch up on so I sat back and listened to the goings on in Ambridge. (It was when poor old Bartleby was put down. Very sad. And Brian retiring. Not before time.)

The journey went by in no time, although it was, in fact, four hours and nine minutes. I may have dozed off a few times. And, in first class, they don’t bother checking your ticket. They just know who belongs.

Train #2: Malmö to Copenhagen

It wasn’t long ago that I came across Skånetrafiken. In fact, it was back in August when I visited Båstad. What I hadn’t realised was that their purple trains are all named. While waiting for my connecting train, I spotted two. Kurt Wallander I had heard of, but Gan had me puzzled.

I had a quick search but had to remain ignorant. According to AI, Skånetrafiken pågatågen does not, in fact, name any of its trains. This is nonsense because I’ve seen them. Still, when the intelligence is artificial, what can you expect?

After a bit more searching later (by me, not AI) I found out that “All Pågatågen are named after deceased Scanians, beings or fictional people who have left an impression.” The whole story of the purple trains can be found here.

Anyway, my train arrived and I duly tried to enter the first class carriage which was joyously empty. There was a very good reason why it was empty. The doors weren’t working. I had to move down the train to the pleb carriage.

It was fine. I managed to squeeze into a narrow seat along with my big bag. Opposite me was a woman dong the same thing with a rucksack and small wheelie bag. We smiled at each other in commiseration.

A quick trip across the wonderful Oresund Bridge and, very soon, I was back in Copenhagen.

I booked into the same hotel I was in last time I was here because of, firstly, it’s convenient location but also because the staff were so nice. And they were again today. All smiles and compliments about my beard.

Best of all are the little notes left in the room.

I had a bit of a lie down before going out for a wander.

I do like Copenhagen, especially as I get to know it better with every visit. Mind you, I won’t repeat my visit to a ramen restaurant. I thought it would be nice. I was wrong. I don’t mean it was awful just not very flavourful.

Something that really did appeal to me was the fact that, when I return on my way home, there will be a musical version of Alice, in Danish, at Tivoli. A wonderful coincidence that I shall embrace wholeheartedly.

After a beer at the English Pub, where a not very good band was playing, I headed back to my room and bed. Tomorrow, Hamburg.