US to UK

US to UK

I recently undertook a trip back to the UK and in so doing, was able to make even more comparisons between life in Australia, the UK and the US.

My journey started with trying to coordinate the train from Harrisburg and flights from New York, allowing for the subway across New York as well, all from the computer in my daughters house. I was able to book tickets for almost everything online and finally went to the train station with my printed information. I found an electronic scanner at the station where using what I had printed, I was able to print out both my outgoing and homeward train tickets which was rather cool. However, I soon discovered that in the US, you are not allowed to wait on the platform. I had to wait with many others at the entrance to the platform and have my ticket and passport ready to show. We were only allowed on to the platform once the train had arrived, and then only ten minutes before it was due to depart.

The train itself was comfortable and unlike Australian trains, had the seats all facing the same way. Unlike UK trains, there were no tables, instead, the seats had fold down tables from the seat in front, just like in an airplane. I also discovered that there were plug outlets available so people were able to plug in computers or games etc. Once we started the ticket collector came round and took tickets, putting part of the ticket in the bar by the luggage rack above our heads. I understood why when we stopped at another station and more people got on. He was able to determine easily who had their tickets checked and who had not (unless the person had moved, which people did not tend to do).

It was curious watching the world outside. In many ways the vista was similar to that seen from trains in the UK and Aus, houses close to the railway line; the usual detritus that always seems to accumulate along railway tracks. The journey to New York took some four hours and then I had to negotiate the New York Subway. Emerging from the platform I was not too sure where to go as there were no obvious places where I could get information and precious few signs. I eventually located a New York Policeman who was extremely helpful in pointing me on my way. I finally found the correct platform entrance and paid the fare, all of US$2.00! I then walked to the platform and found myself between two lines (one either side of the platform) with no obvious signs as which was the correct one for where I wanted to go. A train came in and I decided to board and thought that I would look at the map and checked which way I was going. This was based on the premise that like the UK underground and to a lesser extent Aussie trains, there would be lots of maps on board and it would be easy to work out firstly where I was and then where I wanted to go. Sadly I was wrong on both counts.

I eventually found a map above a seat where a woman was sitting. I had to lean close to read it as it showed the entire network, not just the line I was on. The woman in the seat did not seem to mind but I was very conscious of leaning over her. This was the only map in the entire carriage, and it was not especially large. I eventually found where I was but it took me about three stops to locate the stop for JFK. Fortunately, I was going in the right direction so I maneuvered myself into a seat where I could still see the map. The journey took over an hour and during that time a person got up and announced that he was happy to receive any donations, food, money, leftovers, anything. He walked up and down the carriage before getting off and going into the next one. This performance was repeated by two other people before we arrived at my destination.

When I got out of the train I followed the mass of people up the stairs as there was no where else to go. Unlike the previous station, I was able to locate the signs for the transit train to the airport. I eventually found the entrance but then had to pay US$5.00 for the privilege of going from the station to the airport, which took only a few minutes. This was one of those driverless trains that run on a loop around the airport stopping at various terminals. When I got off I found that checking in was a breeze. I was directed to a terminal where I typed in my passport number and then the reference number of my booking. It asked me to select my seat and then printed out my ticket. I carried my bags to the bag check in and it was all done in a few minutes. I then sat around at JFK eating very expensive food and drinking coffee for a couple of hours.

The flight itself was nothing special but it was my first time in a Boeing 777 which was I must admit a nice plane to fly in. Seems strange, this is a twin engine aircraft that is bigger than the first jumbo jets that crossed the Atlantic.

We arrived at Heathrow and I got through customs with no problem and went to get my hire car. I am a Hertz Club1Gold member, but that is based on my Australian Driving License. I had looked at using that and found that to hire a Ford Focus for two weeks was going to cost me over 400 UK pounds. But, if I did not declare that membership and used my UK Driving License instead, the same car for the same time period only cost 300 pounds. However, I also checked out some of the sites that guaranteed to be able to find the best deals and found one (Euro Cars) that got me the same car for 250 pounds, and as it turned out, this was supplied by Hertz. Go figure! The trouble was, Hertz made me wait for ages and I was getting more than a little grumpy after half and hour (they could not find my booking despite me having a printout showing the details and that I had already paid). They eventually did locate it but had a problem wit the car. The result was I was upgraded top a turbo diesel version which was actually very good. I managed to find my way to my mothers house reasonably easily, although, having gotten used to driving on the right, having to go back to driving on the left was somewhat confusing.

All in all the journey had taken just over 16 hours door to door, which to me was fine, much better than the 30 plus it used to take from Australia.

I will relay some of the differences I noticed in the next edition of the blog.