Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Simon Calder discusses the impact of Avanti West Coast's cancelled strike on Sunday, January 19th, which leaves most trains between Manchester and London running on a reduced schedule. Learn why reinstating services isn’t as simple as it seems and the ongoing challenges facing UK rail travel.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.

I’m at London Heathrow Airport with my good friend Arvinder Singh Bahal, author of The Tireless Traveller, and one of the few people to visit every country on Earth. From skydiving above Mount Everest to navigating Turkmenistan visas, we discuss his incredible journeys across the globe.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.

Have you ever been subject to a Penalty Fare on a train, or even been prosecuted for allegedly travelling by train? If so, the Office of Rail and Road wants to hear from you. As Stephanie Tobyn, the organisation's Strategy, Policy & Reform Director told me, they are interested in understanding how the current rules are working.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.

Part two of my report from the west coast of Florida – and I am in Anna Maria Island, meeting independent retailers and the local oyster hero, as well as finding out about the secret life of dolphins.

I have managed to swerve the worst of the wintry weather in the UK. I booked a £501 return flight to Tampa on the west coast of Florida and headed south to the city of Bradenton, which offers kayaking through revived mangrove – and a working fishing village.

Motoring in America is different from the UK. I'm driving along in an automobile with the cinematographer and director Douglas Bolton, who's an expert on US motoring. He's been putting me right about the key points to be aware of. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's newsletter. Sign up here for a weekly update.

Bradford begins its year as the UK City of Culture with an extraordinary opening event on January 10th. Simon Calder speaks with Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of the program, about the city's rich industrial heritage, stunning architecture, and diverse culture. From the Brontës’ wild moors to the newly reopened Science and Media Museum, Bradford promises a year of artistic innovation and exploration.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.

Amid headlines warning of skyrocketing airfares due to a new "flight tax," Simon Calder unpacks the reality of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate. It's not a tax, nor Labour’s policy, but a step towards greener aviation adopted under Conservative leadership.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.

Mark Smith, the Man in Seat 61, joins Simon Calder to unravel the myth of a 13-country rail journey. They discuss the route’s logistical impossibilities, the story’s viral origins, and how it fuels excitement for international train travel.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.