Today was the start of our holiday on the Isle of Arran, travelling by train. We had “split ticket” our journey from Morpeth to Brodick as we wanted to travel first class to Glasgow, but saw no point paying for first class from Glasgow to Brodick as in fact no first class is available on this section. So, we started off on the 08:56 from Morpeth, in first class seats. I’m pleased to report coffee arrived promptly, and our breakfast order was similarly taken quickly and indeed delivered shortly after Alnmouth. But we were to be disappointed when it came to toast and marmalade, and perhaps a 2nd cup of coffee, because apparently the kitchen closes at Berwick in readiness for the crew change at Edinburgh. LNER really do need to work out how not to make a meal (pardon the pun) out of crew changes which currently result in the withdrawal of first class service for a good 40 minutes before and after the crew change.
Alas we had problems on our 2nd leg of the journey; the 10:30 Scotrail from Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street, as a failed train in front halted us for 2 hours just outside Edinburgh Park. This is quite long time to be stranded on a train, and whilst there were regular announcements as to the lack of progress, the Conductor did not pass through the train checking on passenger welfare, and I would also have expected some sort of reception team at Glasgow perhaps offering complimentary water and helping with missed connections. Sadly there was nothing.
So, we made our way to the bus stop for the shuttle service to Glasgow Central, only to find ourselves in the middle of a climate change protest march. The police told us there would be no vehicles for at least an hour, forcing us to drag our suitcases through the streets, crossing through the middle of the march, to get to Central Station, but at least there were Police Officers on every corner to help us find the way, which in the end was not as far as we feared. Nevertheless, the impact of the march and our unintended walk with heavy suitcases did make us wonder if we would have been better off taking the car after all – perhaps an unintended consequence of the climate change march. From Glasgow Central on to Brodick, knowing we had already missed one ferry, we had no further delays but got the Ferry 2 hours later than the one booked.
