Of planes and trains
I'm off to Turin on Saturday. I'm flying with British Airways and their trade union have just announced a suicidal 12-day strike starting on the 22nd.
That means that I should get there but may not get back until early January!
I've looked fares on Easyjet (expensive) and Ryanair (astronomical); I've contemplated a rail journey instead but the morning train to Paris - it takes just under 6 hrs is sold out for days and the afternoon train doesn't get there until clubbing time.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be patient... although I don't really want to be in the position of having to take more time off work or miss the Murder Mystery!
Looking at Trenitalia, I've noticed that the new Frecce Rosse (Red Arrows) are now in service!
Non-stop trains connect Milan and Rome in just 2hrs 45min.
Milan-Naples and Turin-Rome (via Milan and Florence) is a 4hrs 10 min journey.
The trains can reach (in tunnels) a top speed of 360 km/h (224 mph).
It all looks very impressive (and very expensive too). Well until the next strike, of course!
That means that I should get there but may not get back until early January!
I've looked fares on Easyjet (expensive) and Ryanair (astronomical); I've contemplated a rail journey instead but the morning train to Paris - it takes just under 6 hrs is sold out for days and the afternoon train doesn't get there until clubbing time.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be patient... although I don't really want to be in the position of having to take more time off work or miss the Murder Mystery!
Looking at Trenitalia, I've noticed that the new Frecce Rosse (Red Arrows) are now in service!
Non-stop trains connect Milan and Rome in just 2hrs 45min.
Milan-Naples and Turin-Rome (via Milan and Florence) is a 4hrs 10 min journey.
The trains can reach (in tunnels) a top speed of 360 km/h (224 mph).
It all looks very impressive (and very expensive too). Well until the next strike, of course!