Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Some say New York JFK is not the worst airport in the world. It's my first visit here since early 2020, and I hoped the main US gateway had improved. But it's even worse. And if you take the Airtrain (one good thing about it), beware the Jamaica jive.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

Today I'm on the Greyhound bus from Albany New York to Boston, celebrating 110 years of this remarkable transportational institution.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

I am aboard the Ethan Allen Express train from Middlebury Vermont to Saratoga Springs New York State. There's only one such southbound train a day. Fares are heavily subsidised, and yet it's barely one-third full.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

I'm speaking to you from Montreal where I marvelled at yesterday's solar eclipse. Have a listen to the excitement I recorded as night descended for roughly 90 seconds over the crowds. Sadly what you can't hear is the confused seagulls who had no idea what was going on. But no animal behaves as strangely as humans during an eclipse.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

Join me, Simon Calder, as I navigate the suspense and excitement at Heathrow's Gate B32, waiting to board the Eclipse Express to Montreal. Discover the celestial mechanics and the fervent hopes of eclipse chasers eager to witness the solar spectacle sweeping across North America.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

National rail strikes by train drivers have entered their 22nd month with a series of “rolling” walk-outs, one region at a time, planned for early April. Members of the Aslef union plan to halt thousands of trains on 5, 6 and 8 April. The aim is to disrupt services on the 14 rail firms in England that are controlled by the UK government and represented by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG). Rolling strikes cause maximum disruption for minimum loss of pay.Today I'm talking to Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers' union, Aslef, on the first day of the latest round of strikes.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday.

Passengers are under stress at airports – they’ve all got a plane to catch, it’s an unfamiliar environment and now a stranger is going to rummage through their belongings. Many airline passengers say the worst part of any journey is the airport security check. People resent having to pack liquids in small quantities and then extract them – and electronics such as laptops and tablets – from cabin baggage. New scanners are being installed at checkpoints at all the UK’s main airports – but not fast enough to meet a government deadline of June this year. This morning the transport secretary has given airports an extension, but warned that they could be fined if they further delay the roll-out of smoother security.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe now and have it delivered every Friday.

Join me as I unravel the upcoming train strikes by the Aslef Union, highlighting the key issues and offering advice on coping with the travel chaos. From alternative transport options to essential travel advice, get prepared for the strike days.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe now and have it delivered every Friday.

In this episode, Bernhard Rieder shares insights on Austrian Railways' pioneering efforts with Nightjet. We cover the expansion of their network, the allure of night train travel, and the impact on European tourism and sustainability efforts.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe now and have it delivered every Friday.