Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Ebbsfleet International → Stratford International
0m:00s Doors close at Ebbsfleet. Start the clock.
1m:10s Into tunnel, about to head beneath the Thames.
2m:20s Out of tunnel, and swinging beneath the QE2 Bridge.
3m:40s Grandstand view of Rainham Marshes.
5m:30s Speeding past Ford Dagenham, and into another tunnel.
9m:20s Emerging into Stratford Box, slowly braking.
10m:20s Doors open at Stratford International.
Stratford International interlude
"Excuse me, the ticket barrier has eaten my ticket."
"Yes, it's meant to, what's the problem?"
<deep breath, and tell a small white lie to make a point>
"But there's another ticket gate to go through at the main Stratford station, after my bus ride. I need that swallowed ticket to get out of the station, because the barrier staff are never going to believe I've paid otherwise."
"Ah yes. We hadn't thought of that."
<bus to Stratford Regional station pulls off without me>
<bloke digs around in green tube of discarded tickets and finds mine>
"There you go. This is going to be a problem with other people too, isn't it?"
<wait 10 minutes for next bus>
Stratford International → Stratford Regional
0m:00s Bus sets off on tour of Stratford City building site.
3m:00s Bus stops at far end of Stratford Regional, platform 11.
5m:00s Reach subway, after long walk down platform 11.
7m:00s Finally pass through ticket gates at front of station, and freedom.
<during which time I could have High-Sped to St Pancras instead>
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