Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

After Friday's "mini" budget, Britain has found itself in the midst of a financial storm with markets spooked by the government's plans for tax cuts and borrowing. It has sent the pound crashing to historic lows against other currencies, which is causing all manner of headaches - not least making our holidays all the more expensive. But there is some things you can do to make that holiday money st...

I’m at Kintan, a Japanese barbeque joint in London’s west end, to celebrate Japan reopening its borders to international travellers. Hong Kong has also today opened its doors to foreign tourists for the first time since the Covid pandemic broke out. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, that you can subscribe to here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast....

"Shutting down the railway network" – that is what the RMT union has vowed to do on 8 October, with its latest strike. The rail union made the announcement on World Car Free Day, and said: "Our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes." I am not sure that is a great message for the long-term health of the rail industry. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, t...

When rail services between London and Yorkshire were disrupted due to overhead wire problems, a Labour MP took to Twitter to say: "Just another reminder that we need to bring rail into public ownership and make it fit for the future." But she was aboard a state-run LNER train, on tracks owned and operated by Network Rail. Both organisations are offshoots of the Department for Transport (DfT), whic...

Today’s podcast comes to you from the 10:17 Elizabeth line service from London Paddington to Heathrow airport - the first train to leave the terminus in 28 hours. At around 6am on Monday 19 September, nearly two miles of overhead wires in the Hayes & Harlington area came down on the tracks and six passenger trains became tangled in them. Nobody was hurt but it meant that, on the morning of the...

Travel disruption struck early on the day of the Queen's state funeral, with the complete shutdown of the Great Western Railway in and out of London Paddington station. I'm at London Waterloo, which is providing an alternative escape route for travellers to South Wales and the West of England. More problems anticipated on Tuesday morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Simon is at London King's Cross rail station, where preparations are under way for a busy bank holiday weekend – culminating in the most solemn event for many decades, the state funeral of the Queen. Of course this podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

200 flights to and from London Heathrow are to be cancelled on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as a result of airspace closures for the Queen's funeral. Here's what it means for travellers. This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can find in your inbox every Friday by subscribing here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

I’m walking through the amazing aircraft graveyard of Lourdes, where Airbus A380s go to die. It was, at the start of the 21st century, the plane that was going to revolutionise the world. So, what went wrong? This podcast is free, as is my newsletter, which you can find at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I traipse across the Pyrenees, I cast my mind back to other adventures hiking and recollect which summits I've enjoyed climbing. Now, I'm not great with heights, wouldn't say I'm an athlete and my hiking kit consists of a pair of 25yr old boots. So this list is for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors with. This podcast is free, as is my newsletter, which you can find at https://www.independent...

I am in the French Pyranees, walking along the GR 10 trail — a path that climbs up and down over the mountain range, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. With a wide choice of flights and trains from the UK, and from Paris, you can quite easily get over here for a short trip. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters...

When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in February 1952, the jet age had yet to begin (though it would within weeks of her becoming Elizabeth II). Third Class still existed on British Railways (it would be scrapped four years later). And the vast majority of her subjects in the UK could simply not contemplate the idea that they could travel abroad on holiday. By the end of her reign, Briti...

The joy of exploring a railway station – so long as it is Bristol Temple Meads, one of the great achievements of Brunel. I take you with me on a little tour of the station in today's podcast. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My travel podcast is rather different today, I'm on the West Somerset Railway, travelling from Watchet to Dunster – one of the UK's many great heritage railways. A vintage steam locomotive is hauling British Rail carriages from the 1960s, all very retro and scenic, but I am using it to get from A to B – so much more relaxing than the bus. I hope that the tantalising gap of a few miles between the...

Today's travel podcast is about the painfully slow process of aligning international travel rules in the era of Covid-19. It's now 30 months since the coronavirus pandemic started triggering border closures around the world – and while frontiers clattered shut very swiftly, they are taking an age to loosen. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here: https://www.ind...

It’s back to work, college or school for millions today – and, with the squeeze eased on the transport system, I should be looking forward to an autumn full of travel opportunities. But another series of rail strikes have been announced for September in disputes over pay, working conditions and jobs. One date in particular will see the biggest national disruption for rail for 40 years: Thursday 15...

Today, the consumer group branded as Which? has stepped up its campaign against reforming air passengers’ rights rules for flights within the UK. Campaigners say that any reduction on the statutory £220 compensation for passengers whose flight are delayed by three hours or more will simply encourage airlines to become slacker on timekeeping. I disagree... Of course this podcast is completely free,...

Today I’m at London St Pancras International station, talking about the decision of Eurostar to end its link to Disneyland Paris. The direct train to the Magic Kingdom has been going for 26 years, and survived the coronavirus pandemic, but the extra costs and red tape associated with Brexit make it impossible for Eurostar to continue it beyond June 2023. Of course this podcast is completely free,...

Europe’s largest budget airline, Ryanair, has set out plans for its biggest-ever winter schedule from the UK. Yet at the same time the chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has been berating the current prime minister and warning of economic turmoil because of the hard Brexit. And what does he think about Ryanair flying from Heathrow? Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscri...

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis has slammed Air Canada as the “worst airline in North America” after he was allegedly kicked out of first class on a recent flight from the US to Canada. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m on a ferry in the harbour of Marseille, southern France. But I’m talking about events this week under the Channel – when Eurotunnel car carrying shuttle had to be evacuated. What can we learn from it? Of course this podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter. Make sure you subscribe here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Today I am in Villefranche in the south of France. In search of Sir Elton John – in a very relaxed sort of way. Mostly, I want to celebrate the beauty and the ambience of this corner of the Mediterranean. Spoiler alert – I don’t meet the great man. Of course this podcast is free, much like my newsletter that you can get every Friday. Sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted o...

Today’s podcast is all about the remarkable move by Scotrail to persuade people not to travel on one of its key inter-city trains, the 10.51am from Inverness to Edinburgh. Is it a sign of the shaky shape of railways in the UK – or a smart plan to nudge people to take less busy and cheaper trains? Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independen...

Today's podcast is brought to you from on board the surprise Florence Express after my delayed indirect train became a direct train – a minor Italian rail miracle. I'll talk you through how trains in Italy work, from ticketing (yes, you can book on Trainline) to high-speed competition. A nation where rail is really important – and a joy for the traveller. This podcast is free, as is my weekly news...

I’m walking along the north coast of Sicily, between Capo d’Orlando and Brolo, to the accompaniment of some chirruping cicadas. Along the way, a rather fancy yacht marina and the ghostly peaks of the Aeolian islands. Sicily is the essence of the Mediterranean, and a gorgeous distillation of Italy. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to here: http://www.indepen...