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>
What's on this weekend? Westminster Day of Dance Saturday 18th May (10am-6pm)
11 teams of Morris dancers jangle and wave hankies in and around Trafalgar Square.
0m:00s Doors close at Ebbsfleet. Start the clock.
