Intercity rail passengers are the problem – HS2 was the solution

Simon Calder’s Travel Week [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD15MWZ5ajlqZ2Z5MTMmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Friday, October 6, 2023   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsP2xpZD1pbHhyZHpvN2JqZHcmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsP2xpZD03eXhtd3IxYTN5bzQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ If only we had listened to Yorkshire MP Miriam Cates. She is a loyal supporter of the prime minister’s decision to axe the entire High Speed 2 rail project beyond Birmingham. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS8_bGlkPWU4ZG5hanh3OGQydCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Waiting game: Rail passengers at London Euston station, which may one day be the hub for a much-reduced high-speed rail network   [Get inspired...](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luc3BpcmF0aW9uP2xpZD0weGV3Z21nZDJ4ZXkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9kb2ctZnJpZW5kbHktaG9saWRheXMtZXVyb3BlLWNhci1mcmVlLWZyYW5jZS1iMjQyMjQ1Ny5odG1sP2xpZD1hMTJpNDFrejE5eW8mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ [Dog-friendly Europe](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9kb2ctZnJpZW5kbHktaG9saWRheXMtZXVyb3BlLWNhci1mcmVlLWZyYW5jZS1iMjQyMjQ1Ny5odG1sP2xpZD02ODM4YWl2cGNtZHEmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Taking a car-free break on the Continent with a four-legged friend just got easier with this rail package holiday. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luZGVwZW5kZW50LXRyYXZlbGxlci9jb2xsZWN0aW9uL2hvdGVscy1pbi1hbXN0ZXJkYW0_bGlkPXZlcG05aDNydG56MCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Amsterdam hotels](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luZGVwZW5kZW50LXRyYXZlbGxlci9jb2xsZWN0aW9uL2hvdGVscy1pbi1hbXN0ZXJkYW0_bGlkPWUyYTViYW84OTFvYiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Discover our collection of the best places to stay in the Netherlands capital, from quirky boutiques to modern pads. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luc3BpcmF0aW9uL3NvbG8taG9saWRheXMtdHJhdmVsLXNpbmdsZXMtZ3JvdXBzLWxvbmVsaW5lc3MtYjI0MTM2MzkuaHRtbD9saWQ9cHRuZTJ6enM1a3F5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Solo holidays](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2luc3BpcmF0aW9uL3NvbG8taG9saWRheXMtdHJhdmVsLXNpbmdsZXMtZ3JvdXBzLWxvbmVsaW5lc3MtYjI0MTM2MzkuaHRtbD9saWQ9cXZ4dWl5bnVvamVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Could group travel be the answer to the loneliness epidemic? If you’re stuck in a rut, try a lucky-dip trip with strangers.   Simon’s dispatches “There are many, many more creative options we could take to increase capacity,” Ms Cates said this week – and promptly proposed one that she believes is “a lot cheaper and a lot less disruptive” than HS2. The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge said: “You can just add additional carriages on trains and then ask people to move to the middle carriage to get off at the platform.” What could possibly go wrong aboard a standing-room-only Friday night 15-carriage train from Birmingham to Manchester as it calls at Stockport, or draws into an 11-carriage long platform at Piccadilly station? Yet given the decision by ministers to blight transport in Britain for decades, they may just try it. The [stump of High Speed 2 running from London to Birmingham](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oczItYmlybWluZ2hhbS1tYW5jaGVzdGVyLXJpc2hpLXN1bmFrLWIyNDIzNzQxLmh0bWw_bGlkPTgxeHhuZ2pidTVmNSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) will handle just eight trains an hour – fewer than half the number first proposed for the HS2 line. The nine trains out of an original 17 that will no longer run would mainly have served locations beyond Manchester in the North, southern Scotland and North Wales that were supposed to enjoy hugely improved access to both the Midlands and London. That shows the prime minister’s contempt for the North – while the arguments used to abandon the scheme show contempt for the whole nation. The government calls HS2 “a scheme for long-distance rail journeys between a handful of cities and London”. Yet those are exactly the journeys that are causing problems for everyone else. Allowing passengers to travel from Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield to London in just over two hours, as they do now, sharply reduces space for local, regional and freight services. HS2 was the solution: to transfer all the high-speed intercity trains from the Midlands and North to new infrastructure in order to create more capacity on the network the Victorians bequeathed to us. I have had plenty of time to contemplate this because I am writing aboard a fast train approaching Euston that has halted somewhere in the suburbs due to a "slow-moving freight train" blocking the approach to the capital. Shifting intercity passengers onto a dedicated high-speed network transforms connectivity for everyone else. Britain has a motorway network because it removes faster intercity traffic from the local roads. Yes, those drivers on the M1, M4 and M6 benefit – but so do all the other motorists making shorter journeys. HS2 would have the same effect. Ministers know that, but pretend otherwise. [They have ripped the guts from a huge public transport investment halfway through](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oczItYmlybWluZ2hhbS1tYW5jaGVzdGVyLWxvbmRvbi1sZWVkcy1iMjQyMjQ5MC5odG1sP2xpZD1lbWFhbGNuOXhkYWomdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~), saddling future generations with most of the costs of a hopelessly botched project but with few of the benefits. They are treating the UK's travellers unkindly, and history will not be kind to them. [The transport improvements the government proposes with the cash saved on HS2](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oczItYmlybWluZ2hhbS1tYW5jaGVzdGVyLXJpc2hpLXN1bmFrLWIyNDIzNzQxLmh0bWw_bGlkPXBwNzd0dXFxNmU2MiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)[Protected by Outlook: ~/AAAHagA~/RgRm0yKWP0SVaHR0cHM6Ly9zaG93cy5hY2FzdC5jb20vZ3JlZW4tbGlzdC10cmF2ZWwtd2l0aC1zaW1vbi1jYWxkZXItYW5kLXRoZS1pbmRlcGVuZGVudC9lcGlzb2Rlcy9hdWd1c3QtMzB0aC13aGF0LWRpZC1nby13cm9uZy13aXRoLXRoZS11a3MtYWlyLXRyYWZmaWMtY29udHJXBXNwY2V1Qgpk6Zad8GRMpG7fUhdzaW1vbmNhbGRlckBob3RtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~. Click or tap to follow the link.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvcGFzc2VuZ2VyLWNvbXBlbnNhdGlvbi1mbGlnaHQtcmlnaHRzLWNhbmNlbGxlZC1kZWxheWVkLWIyMzk3MDYyLmh0bWw_bGlkPTZyYzVsMHE5dm94ZSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFmcmljYS1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC9lZ3lwdD9saWQ9Y3dncWE2ZnhqOHYxJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj Tip of the week: Egyptian escapes No fewer than 10 new or restored services from UK airports to Egypt are due to begin over the next month. Half of them are to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast (above): [easyJet](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWFzeWpldC5jb20vZW4_bGlkPWhpY3pzaWJtZ3ZpdCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) will fly from Liverpool, Belfast International, Edinburgh and Glasgow, while [Wizz Air](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SsaHR0cHM6Ly93aXp6YWlyLmNvbS9lbi1nYi8_bGlkPTh5Z2Exbzg1bzh6eCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) starts a link from Gatwick. Wizz Air and easyJet will compete from Luton to Cairo’s second airport, Sphinx International. [Tui](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHVpLmNvLnVrLz9saWQ9NWUzMzZ6cG5sYzdxJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) starts flying from Gatwick to Mars Alam and from Newcastle to Sharm El Sheikh, while [British Airways](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJpdGlzaGFpcndheXMuY29tL3RyYXZlbC9ob21lL3B1YmxpYy9lbl9nYi8_bGlkPWhiMHJkYjk0c3phcCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) resumes from Gatwick to Sharm. Start dates are 29 October to 8 November. [12 of the best things to do in Egypt](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFmcmljYS1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC9lZ3lwdC9iZXN0LXRoaW5ncy10by1kby1lZ3lwdC1iMjM4NzA3Ny5odG1sP2xpZD0yMXlsdDQxZm82bXMmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) PICK OF THE WEEK: VALUE ADDED TRAVEL ~/AAAHagA~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_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Explore Canada & New England’s scenic ports & historic cities on a luxury Cruise from £1,499pp including flights and hotel stays in Boston & Quebec city! Travel Dates: Aug - Oct 2024.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4SeAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZhbHVlYWRkZWR0cmF2ZWwuY29tL3R5cGVzL2NydWlzZS1ob2xpZGF5cy9wcmluY2Vzcy9lbWVyYWxkLXByaW5jZXNzL2NsYXNzaWMtY2FuYWRhLWFuZC1uZXctZW5nbGFuZC1mcm9tLWJvc3Rvbi10by1xdWViZWMtY2l0eT91dG1fc291cmNlPWluZGVwZW5kZW50JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09cmVmZXJyYWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWNsYXNzaWNfY2FuYWRhX2FuZF9uZXdfZW5nbGFuZF9mcm9tX2Jvc3Rvbl90b19xdWViZWNfY2l0eV9jcnVpc2Vfb2N0XzIwMjMmbGlkPXZrdHBsZHh5b3RxOCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPW10bDE1ajNnYmwxayZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9eWtvbDFhb3VrMHoyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj   Deal of the week: London-Birmingham by rail Competition between Birmingham and London is now so intense that you can travel for under £10 each way – even on [Avanti West Coast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXZhbnRpd2VzdGNvYXN0LmNvLnVrLz9saWQ9NnVhbnNrMTc1ZnpyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) expresses taking as little as 76 minutes. The intercity rail firm has cut its “[Superfare](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvYXZhbnRpLXdlc3QtY29hc3QtY2hlYXAtdHJhaW4tdGlja2V0cy1zdGFuZGJ5LWIyMjk5MjM4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWd2dTI3dGhsd28zNyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)” price from £12 to £9. The reason: to compete with London Northwestern Railway, typically charging £8 in advance for a 2h 18m journey, and Chiltern (under £7, 2h 01m). To qualify for Superfare, book between one and three weeks in advance. Choose the date of travel and opt for a morning, afternoon or evening departure. About 24 hours ahead you will be told which train you are on. [Birmingham city guide](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QRAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC91ay9lbmdsYW5kL2JyaW1pbmdoYW0tdHJhdmVsLWd1aWRlLWJlc3QtaG90ZWxzLXJlc3RhdXJhbnRzLWNpdHktdGhpbmdzLXRvLWRvLWIyMTMzOTY1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWI2dTJsdHJ4ZnhuNCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   Question of the week: Cabin baggage uncertainty Q I travel with cabin baggage only, but I always fret that I will be told it must go in the hold. Do I have the right to insist that it stays with me? A Legally, no. The aircraft captain’s instructions are final. He or she delegates such decisions to cabin crew and ground staff, and if they insist your cabin bag must be stowed in the hold you must comply. But if your bag is compliant with weight and dimension rules you can politely raise an objection on several grounds. Flight connection at a hub? Having to consign a bag to the hold will typically mean you must pick it up from baggage reclaim and exit through the customs area. So even your checked luggage is transferred “airside” to the connecting flight, you still need to go “landside”. This can jeopardise your journey. The contents of your bag may also be worth mentioning. If you are carrying prescription medicine, say so. The normal response from departure gate staff will be that you can keep the luggage with you, though on occasion you may be asked to transfer the medicine to a smaller bag if you have one. Finally, if you have equipment containing lithium batteries you should declare the fact because of a potential fire risk. Once again, you are likely to be able to take the bag on board. [Read our cabin baggage allowance guide for all the major airlines](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvYmFnZ2FnZS1hbGxvd2FuY2UtYnJpdGlzaC1haXJ3YXlzLWVhc3lqZXQtcnlhbmFpci1iMjM3NjcyMi5odG1sP2xpZD0ycjlhZDZiNG5tMnYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) STAT OF THE WEEK £12 ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvd29ybGQtYmVzdC1jb25uZWN0ZWQtYWlycG9ydHMtaXN0YW5idWwtaGVhdGhyb3ctZHVibGluLWIyNDA5NTY5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPW55amd6dnJoOHRrMSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~[One-way fare from London Stansted to Nimes or Poznan as a winter slump in fares gets under way](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QfAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvcGxhbmUtdGFsay0xMC1mYXJlcy1mb3ItMTAtb2N0b2Jlci1hcmUtcmlkaWN1bG91c2x5LWxvdy1hcy1kZW1hbmQtZHdpbmRsZXMtYjI0MjM0MDYuaHRtbD9saWQ9c3JlYnI5bXlibm95JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvd29ybGQtYmVzdC1jb25uZWN0ZWQtYWlycG9ydHMtaXN0YW5idWwtaGVhdGhyb3ctZHVibGluLWIyNDA5NTY5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXZqM2N5dmtpcWlxYyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ What you might have missed... Must buy: [Tour guide yells at tourists who refuse to shop](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9jaGluYS10b3VyLWd1aWRlLXNob3V0cy10b3VyaXN0cy1zaG9wLWIyNDI0NTg2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWwyMXJjZTY1aWkyaCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Makes scents: [Pilots may be banned from wearing perfume](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9waWxvdHMtYmFubmVkLXBlcmZ1bWUtZmxpZ2h0cy1pbmRpYS1iMjQyMjIzNC5odG1sP2xpZD03cGY0OGJwbDFnbWEmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Rule book: [Ryanair boss defends airport fees](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9yeWFuYWlyLWJvc3MtbWljaGFlbC1vLWxlYXJ5LWRlZmVuZHMtZmVlcy1iMjQyMjIwMS5odG1sP2xpZD16YXhqMjA5NDd2MjkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) SIMON'S DIARY Every day from Monday to Friday I tackle a top travel story, or explore a topic in more detail than usual in ‘Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast’ – available free on [Spotify](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3Nob3cvMHMwSGwyaExoazR5VTFIMGFHVG5Vdz9zaT05V2dSS3NjYlROMlc1eElLYi1zT0lBJm5kPTEmbGlkPTVwanVtOGJzZmlqZSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~), [Apple Podcasts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0cy5hcHBsZS5jb20vZ2IvcG9kY2FzdC9ncmVlbi1saXN0LXRyYXZlbC13aXRoLXNpbW9uLWNhbGRlci1hbmQtdGhlLWluZGVwZW5kZW50L2lkMTU2NjkxNTc3MD9saWQ9NDU4czIxbmE0dnJkJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj), [Pocket Casts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9wY2Euc3QvbXU0bDNjd2Q_bGlkPWlmODhrcGN3N2psNSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) or [Acast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5LmFjYXN0LmNvbS9zL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQ_bGlkPXdscmNqczN3amc0OSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). Every day from Monday to Friday I tackle a top travel story, or explore a topic in more detail than usual in ‘Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast’ – available free on [Spotify](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3Nob3cvMHMwSGwyaExoazR5VTFIMGFHVG5Vdz9zaT05V2dSS3NjYlROMlc1eElLYi1zT0lBJm5kPTEmbGlkPXNuamduMWJ2bXRoYiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~), [Apple Podcasts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0cy5hcHBsZS5jb20vZ2IvcG9kY2FzdC9ncmVlbi1saXN0LXRyYXZlbC13aXRoLXNpbW9uLWNhbGRlci1hbmQtdGhlLWluZGVwZW5kZW50L2lkMTU2NjkxNTc3MD9saWQ9YTlndGFrbTJ0Ym9uJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj), [Pocket Casts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9wY2Euc3QvbXU0bDNjd2Q_bGlkPXh4ZjAyeXo4Nmp0MCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) or [Acast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5LmFjYXN0LmNvbS9zL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQ_bGlkPXpqNG0yMmFicWllZSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). I find the easiest way to rush out stories is to tweet them on X, formerly known as Twitter. It’s also an easy way to contact me. My direct messages are open and I read all DMs, though regrettably I can’t respond to every one. Let me know your thoughts [@SimonCalder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S0aHR0cDovL3d3dy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zaW1vbmNhbGRlcj9saWQ9cTA0cTN0d2V6aGdyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) I find the easiest way to rush out stories is to tweet them on X, formerly known as Twitter. It’s also an easy way to contact me. My direct messages are open and I read all DMs, though regrettably I can’t respond to every one. Let me know your thoughts [@SimonCalder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S0aHR0cDovL3d3dy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zaW1vbmNhbGRlcj9saWQ9ZWEyZ3YxZDdlcDJxJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Each Saturday and Sunday I take questions live at 5.30pm British time on Instagram Live – from wherever I happen to be in the world – so please do come and say hello. Follow me on Instagram (and also now on Threads) [@Simon_Calder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9zaW1vbl9jYWxkZXIvP2xpZD1od2hjOGJtOWk1ejEmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Each Saturday and Sunday I take questions live at 5.30pm British time on Instagram Live – from wherever I happen to be in the world – so please do come and say hello. Follow me on Instagram (and also now on Threads) [@Simon_Calder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9zaW1vbl9jYWxkZXIvP2xpZD1vN20xNnduc2l0OXkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Or you can find me on TikTok. Come and have a look at what I have been up to as I bring you top travel topics and report on the latest changes in a minute or less via [@caldertravel](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9kaXNjb3Zlci9TaW1vbi1DYWxkZXI_bGlkPTZ5NDdvY3IyYm92eiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Or you can find me on TikTok. Come and have a look at what I have been up to as I bring you top travel topics and report on the latest changes in a minute or less via [@caldertravel](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9kaXNjb3Zlci9TaW1vbi1DYWxkZXI_bGlkPXA2ZjVwdHF0Njh5cSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4REAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jby51ay9BcHBsZS1BaXJUYWctQmx1ZXRvb3RoLUl0ZW0tRmluZGVyL2RwL0IwOTM1SlJKNTk_bGlua0NvZGU9bGwxJnRhZz1pbmR5dHJhdmVsbmwtMjEmbGlua0lkPWI2MDM4NmVhOGZiY2NlYWU3MmYwZGIwYmQwMzRkMmE3Jmxhbmd1YWdlPWVuX0dCJnJlZl89YXNfbGlfc3NfdGwmbGlkPW1yOWtvNjJoaGtwciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Do you want to track your luggage during your next long-haul flight? Apple AirTags are reduce now](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4REAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jby51ay9BcHBsZS1BaXJUYWctQmx1ZXRvb3RoLUl0ZW0tRmluZGVyL2RwL0IwOTM1SlJKNTk_bGlua0NvZGU9bGwxJnRhZz1pbmR5dHJhdmVsbmwtMjEmbGlua0lkPWI2MDM4NmVhOGZiY2NlYWU3MmYwZGIwYmQwMzRkMmE3Jmxhbmd1YWdlPWVuX0dCJnJlZl89YXNfbGlfc3NfdGwmbGlkPWE1Yndnc2l3M3NmZCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jlc3QtbWVucy1zdW1tZXItc2hvZXMtc2FuZGFscy1iMjM2MTczMS5odG1sP2xpZD1qenJ6ZGJkNzBhbDYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4ReAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jby51ay9Ub2lmdWNvcy1NdWx0aWZ1bmN0aW9uLU9yZ2FuaXNlci1XYXRlcnByb29mLUNvbXByZXNzaW9uL2RwL0IwOEhDTjVXODU_dGg9MSZsaW5rQ29kZT1sbDEmdGFnPWluZHl0cmF2ZWxubC0yMSZsaW5rSWQ9YWQzZDkwZGFhMzhkYzgwYTg3OTc4OTg2YmU5MDlhNTYmbGFuZ3VhZ2U9ZW5fR0ImcmVmXz1hc19saV9zc190bCZsaWQ9MHRnN3ltMXl2Z3g5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Keep your suitcase organised with this useful eight-pack of packing cubes, which is now just £12](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4ReAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jby51ay9Ub2lmdWNvcy1NdWx0aWZ1bmN0aW9uLU9yZ2FuaXNlci1XYXRlcnByb29mLUNvbXByZXNzaW9uL2RwL0IwOEhDTjVXODU_dGg9MSZsaW5rQ29kZT1sbDEmdGFnPWluZHl0cmF2ZWxubC0yMSZsaW5rSWQ9YWQzZDkwZGFhMzhkYzgwYTg3OTc4OTg2YmU5MDlhNTYmbGFuZ3VhZ2U9ZW5fR0ImcmVmXz1hc19saV9zc190bCZsaWQ9Z3loMmc4Yjh4aWVzJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Essential reading ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC91ay9lbmdsYW5kL2xvbmRvbi9sb25kb24tcmFmZmxlcy1ob3RlbC1vcGVuaW5nLXdoaXRlaGFsbC1zdXBlci1yaWNoLWIyNDIwMTg5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWhsOGdzM3l6Ynh3diZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [How a corner of Whitehall became a playground for the super-rich](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC91ay9lbmdsYW5kL2xvbmRvbi9sb25kb24tcmFmZmxlcy1ob3RlbC1vcGVuaW5nLXdoaXRlaGFsbC1zdXBlci1yaWNoLWIyNDIwMTg5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXRjdjl0NWtzNG10NCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9ncmVlY2Uvc291dmVuaXJzLXJvYmJlcnktZ3JlZWNlLWZpZ3VyaW5lLWNyZXRlLWIyNDEwNjgxLmh0bWw_bGlkPThjYW9uZTAzbW5jYiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Souvenir or theft: Is it ever OK to take a piece of your holiday home?](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9ncmVlY2Uvc291dmVuaXJzLXJvYmJlcnktZ3JlZWNlLWZpZ3VyaW5lLWNyZXRlLWIyNDEwNjgxLmh0bWw_bGlkPXZvdzJ6a2t4YTBwOSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [INDYBEST](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD1rNWt5YjN1cHAxMWkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDA2LTEwLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplHbGiH2W3IP-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) / [BEST TRAVEL BUYS](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHk_bGlkPWd5ZzVybndxYzlodSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDYtMTAtMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmUdsaIfZbcg_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QcAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2V4dHJhcy9pbmR5YmVzdC9raWRzL2Nsb3RoaW5nLWZvb3R3ZWFyL2Jlc3Qta2lkcy1yYWluY29hdC1jaGlsZHJlbi13YXRlcnByb29mLWphY2tldC1wYWMtYS1tYWMtYTg5MTY3OTYuaHRtbD9saWQ9MmxqYm01MXJnMzJ2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Best kids' raincoats to keep little ones dry during autum downpours](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QcAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2V4dHJhcy9pbmR5YmVzdC9raWRzL2Nsb3RoaW5nLWZvb3R3ZWFyL2Jlc3Qta2lkcy1yYWluY29hdC1jaGlsZHJlbi13YXRlcnByb29mLWphY2tldC1wYWMtYS1tYWMtYTg5MTY3OTYuaHRtbD9saWQ9YWNvYWZscGE0dWM4JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Trending: [Best base layers](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2V4dHJhcy9pbmR5YmVzdC9vdXRkb29yLWFjdGl2aXR5L3dpbnRlci1zcG9ydHMvYmVzdC1iYXNlLWxheWVycy1tZW4td29tZW4tYjI0MTUyMjAuaHRtbD9saWQ9ODJib3dzY2pocmk3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) ~/AAAHagA~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_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3dpbnRlci1hbmQtYmV5b25kLXlvdXItdHJhdmVsLXF1ZXN0aW9ucy1hbnN3ZXJlZC10aWNrZXRzLTcxNzIxNjg3Mzk3Nz9saWQ9NWpoaGIwdWs1cHdiJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnAiewP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3dpbnRlci1hbmQtYmV5b25kLXlvdXItdHJhdmVsLXF1ZXN0aW9ucy1hbnN3ZXJlZC10aWNrZXRzLTcxNzIxNjg3Mzk3Nz9saWQ9am9tY2JhaW0xaG43JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwNi0xMC0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZR2xoh9ltyD_g1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge](~/AAAHagA~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_4NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](~/AAAHagA~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-DUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~): 0808 2000 247 [The 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