Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

May 24th - The Elizabeth Line begins service

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After years of delays, spiralling costs and a name change, Crossrail, now the Elizabeth Line has finally begun service today and I'm one the first tra...

May 23rd - Spain drops hard-line approach to unvaccinated British visitors

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just ahead of the half-term week for many UK schools, Spain has dropped its hard-line approach to unvaccinated British visitors. Now any unvaccinated ...

May 20th - Scotrail's Schedule Shredding

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scotrail is having a terrible time of it, having to slash one-third of trains across the nation from Monday. I look at the reasons why they have ...

May 19th - What's really happening with travel disruption of Jubilee weekend

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend, there are reports of travel chaos for people travelling to the capital for the celebrations. I can see ...

May 18th - A summer like no other for pricing of holidays abroad

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A summer like no other. Never before have I seen such extremes of pricing for holidays abroad – including a Ryanair trip from Stansted to Pisa that ...

May 17th - In praise of train operator apps

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The sermon today is Smart Save. Never heard of it? Well, it’s the name given by LNER, the train operator on the East Coast main line from London to ...

May 16th - Fact-checking the latest train fare-bashing news story

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Sunderland football fan is travelling to London via ­Menorca to watch a match at Wembley, as it’s cheaper to fly on a budget airline th...

May 13th - The trains, they are a-changing

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday the rail schedules in Great Britain will undergo their usual summer update – with winners and losers across the nation.Of course this podc...

May 12th - The Foreign Office comes to their senses on passports

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since Brexit, the rules on passport validity for British visitors to the European Union have tightened. But the UK government tells tra...

May 11th - The busiest day of the year for the number of available airline seats revealed

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Friday 12 August will be the busiest day of the year for the number of available airline seats, a leading analyst has predicted.John Grant, chief anal...

May 10th - In praise of overbooking

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's sermon: in praise of overbooking. Selling more tickets than there are seats on an aircraft can be a real benefit. When airlines do it right –...

May 9th - Could Ireland's public transport fare plans be the blueprint for the UK?

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Back to the future on the railways: for the first time since 1947, fares across Ireland on trains and buses have been cut by 20 per cent. It follows t...

May 6th - Sale of the half-century is upon us for European rail enthusiasts

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two bits of good news has put a spring in my step into the weekend. Overnight Ryanair has aligned with the actual European rules on passport validity....

May 5th - Passport validity for Europe

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's all about passport validity for Europe. The only subject, it seems, in town. Sometimes it feels that I'm on my own in wanting to make sure people...

May 4th - The Elizabeth Line gets its debut date

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Elizabeth Line, or long known as Crossrail, finally has a live date for trains to commence carrying passengers from the 24th May. Initially the gr...

May 3rd - The joys of staying in a backpacker hostel, from a lovely village in the hills above the Algarve.

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm coming to you from beautiful Carrapateira, a little village in the Algarve hills overlooking the southern coastline of Portugal. To get the ...

May 2nd - Off the beaten track in Portugal

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I love Lisbon, one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities, and the locations on its western flanks – in particular Cascais, Estoril and Sintra....

April 29th - Portugal via Gatwick

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Good afternoon from Funchal, Madeira. Today I'll be speaking about how the travelling experience was from Gatwick to Portugal - and the joys to be fou...

April 28th - Diversionary tactics: Life as an air passenger

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a planeload of Virgin Atlantic passengers from Johannesburg find themselves flying away from London to refuel in Durban, my thoughts about how dive...

April 27th - On The Buses and looking at the future of intercity bus travel

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For many, the thought of getting a bus between Britain's cities is the option of last resort and some would say buses have no future in Britain's infr...

April 26th - Passports, Please

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us are digging out our passports again only to discover that they're not valid for as long as we thought. The Home Office is reporting an 'unp...

April 25th - Cruises Look To The Future After Their Dismal Past

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I'm on the Celebrity Beyond, a new cruise ship set to launch imminently and take its floating residents around the Mediterranean. It's a bold move, la...

April 22nd - The Great Rail Row

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm discussing the context around the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham's tweet showing high-end train tickets from Manchester to London...

April 21st - Will Great British Railways Put The Great Back Into British Rail?

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In May 2021, the government announced its plans for the biggest reform to the railway in three decades, bringing it back together, after years of frag...

April 20th - How safe is Sri Lanka right now?

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country full of discoveries to be made - but the political and economic situation at the moment is giving many of you second ...

April 19th - The Great British Rail Sale

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More than one million train tickets are being slashed to as much as half-price in the “Great British Rail Sale”, and it is attracting a lot of int...

April 18th - Homage To Waterloo

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy bank holiday! Chances are if you're travelling by train you might be passing through London's Waterloo station. It's the UK's busiest train stat...

April 15th - The Complications Of Heading North In The UK

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I am at London's Kings Cross, the only way to get to Scotland by rail this Bank Holiday.  Of course travellers should always choose train o...

April 14th - The Joys Of Going Against The Flow

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The great Easter getaway is most definitely on. I've been to hubs across the capital today to witness for myself the scenes of queues and hordes of pe...

April 13th - How To Make Getting Away Less Stressful This Easter

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking ahead to the Easter rush, we've unfortunately got a forecast of chaos potentially looming. Public transport works are happening on all the usu...

April 12th - Unexpected Extras In The Billing Area.

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m lunching at the Da Pietro restaurant, facing the exquisite cathedral facade in the city of Como. How did an ambitiously priced €10 side ...

April 11th - Uphill Above Lake Como In Northern Italy.

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this fine Spring day I'm hiking The Brunate Trail in Como, the Northern city in Lombardy, Italy, coveted by celebrities and holiday-makers alike. I...

April 8th - The Joys Of The Airport Hotel.

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I’m in heaven, or at least as close as you can get to it within the UB7 postcode: room 177 at the Thistle Heathrow Terminal 5 hotel, looking out acr...

April 7th - Spain Reverses Announcement On Opening Up To Unjabbed Travellers.

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An important correction on yesterday's podcast. In an extraordinary reversal of an announcement made on Wednesday, Spain has withdrawn its promise to ...

April 6th - Spain Opens Up To Unvaccinated British Visitors

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Britain's most popular destination to escape to, Spain has dropped restrictions around vaccinations and tourists from Britain as the great reopening g...

April 5th - American Travel On A Budget

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The cost-of-living crisis is forcing many people to cut back on their spending, and holidays tend to be one of the first things to get the chop. Howev...

April 4th - Cancelled Flights Are Devastating Hundreds Of Easter Holiday Travel Plans

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As normality returns and restrictions are eased, the UK’s two biggest airlines are finding it hard to cope. There are widespread cancellations by ea...

April 1st - Airlines And Airports Sound Warning Over Queues

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Airports and airlines are under pressure at the moment, with passenger numbers soaring and staffing issues leading to crowds, confusion and cancellati...

March 31st - Reflection Of My Travels Through The Baltic States

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I'm at the end of my week of travel across the Baltic states where I've encountered the most majestic scenery, vibrant cities full of history and with...

March 30th - The Joy Of Taking The Bus Round Eastern Europe

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Right now is a fine time to the a stranger in a strange land – that is both friendly and safe - and as I continue my journey around eastern Europe I...

March 29th - Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Baltic Seaside

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I do love to be beside the seaside, and it's been a while. To my right, the waves are breaking; to my left, a beautiful pine forest. The sand is incre...

March 28th - A New Lease Of Life For Gatwick?

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reporting for you from the newly reopened South Terminal at Gatwick, de-mothballed after almost two years. This summer the competition to Europe from ...

March 25th - The Government Response To The P&O Ferries' Mass Sacking

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The government has vowed to make P&O Ferries "undo" its the mass-sacking of 800 of its workers. Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said the fe...

March 24th - The World Is Opening Up To Travel, But At Not All At The Same Speed

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world is slowly reopening, as more countries drop their covid-era restrictions. Some like Singapore, South Korea and South Africa are dropping the...

March 23rd - Air New Zealand plans to launch one of the longest flights in the world, connecting New York with its hub in Auckland.

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Air New Zealand is planning to launch one of the longest flights in the world, a direct track from New York to Auckland. From 17 September, the carrie...

March 22nd - Flybe Flies Again: Everything You Need To Know.

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On 5 March 2020, the UK’s largest regional airline collapsed. Flybe was mired in debt. Yet on 13 April 2022, the familiar Q400 aircraft in a purple ...

March 21st - The Sad News Of A Plane Crash In China – And Seeking To Put Aviation Safety In Perspective.

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An airliner, operated by China Eastern Airlines, has crashed in the southern province of Guangxi while carrying 132 people on board. A rescue operatio...

March 18th - More From Dover

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a sudden announcement yesterday, P&O Ferries made 800 of its UK seafaring staff redundant. The British shipping company plans to replace the fo...

March 17th - P&O Ferries Fire And Rehire

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Unions are threatening legal action against P&O Ferries after making 800 workers redundant earlier today. The company suspended its sailings after...

March 16th - Masks At Airports And On Flights

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The UK's leading airport, Heathrow, has ended the requirement for passengers to wear masks in the terminals. In a statement, the airport said it “st...

March 15th - A First Class Showing, But Can I Get Used To It?

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As I take a seat in the unusual (for me, anyway) surrounds of first class on my way to Crewe, I take advantage of the extra legroom and complimentary ...

March 14th - Budget Airlines

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Budget airlines are hoping to recover from the huge impact of the coronavirus pandemic by offering some incredible deals on flights. In fact, I've dis...

March 11th - Out On The Road

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the eve of the centennial anniversary of the birth of literary legend, Jack Kerouac. The 'On The Road' author, who pioneered the radical beat gen...

March 10th - Travel Clinic

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast is rather unusual: taking as its starting point a selection of questions asked by readers of the Independent about travel. I not only ...

March 9th - Gatwick

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gatwick airport, located in picturesque West Sussex, is ordinarily the UK's second busiest airport with flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide....

March 8th - Your Questions About St. Petersburg Cruises Answered

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

St. Petersburg is one of the biggest cities involved in cruise line tours, with many operators stopping along the way in the Russian city. But as the ...

March 7th - Today on the canals

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The UK boasts of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, forming a tranquil network of inland waterways that span the length and breadth of the country. Tod...

March 4th - Concerns over travel to eastern Europe

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the Russian military invasion of Ukraine continues, many are feeling apprehensive about travelling in Eastern Europe. I look at how to navigate the...

March 3rd - Avoiding the train ticket price hike

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast comes from Runcorn railway station! Living the dream, in spite of the mega-rise in the cost of train tickets. This week train fares ro...

March 2nd - Railway engineering works

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To help you plan your upcoming journeys, I give an overview of the rail disruptions to look out for and why they are happening.Of course this podcast ...

March 1st - Strikes Disrupt Travel Across The Capital

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast comes to you from a rare London Underground train on a day when Tube workers are striking. I explain what the dispute is about, and wh...

February 28th - Your Questions On Travel Plans Following Aviation Sanctions On Russia

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world has fundamentally changed in the last week as Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has brought about unprecedented shifts in Europe and...

February 25th - The joy of the tram, especially in Melbourne

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Clean, green and convenient. Today I'm celebrating trams, and all the advantages they have over almost every other form of urban transport. And of all...

February 24th - Russia invades Ukraine

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia has launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. I give an overview of how the Russian military operations are affecting the European ...

February 23rd - The Thorny Question Of Cabin Baggage

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before booking the tickets for your next flight, one thing you may want to consider is the many benefits of cabin baggage. If decanting your body wash...

February 22nd - Australia Is Empty

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Strict travel restrictions are having a huge impact on the number of tourists in Australia, and local businesses are feeling the hit. But I find mysel...

February 21st - Australia Reopens

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Coming to you from Sydney Harbour, tourists seem to be far and few between. But it is more straightforward than you might think to travel to this love...

February 18th - Storm Eunice: What Can We Learn?

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From commutes to holidays, Storm Eunice has caused devastation to millions of people's travel plans. Is severe weather becoming more of a frequent occ...

February 17th - Storm Warning: Eunice Is Coming...

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Storm Eunice will create mayhem for travellers on the roads, railways and seas throughout the Southern half of the UK from around dawn on Friday 18th ...

February 16th - Surcharges

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I explain how the rise in fuel prices is affecting your plane tickets.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can...

February 15th - Railways in recovery

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Railway companies are having to adapt to a myriad of changes in our travel patterns due to the coronavirus pandemic, from how we spend our holidays to...

February 14th - Why is car rental so expensive this year, and can you do anything about it?

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The coronavirus pandemic has left car rental companies with a shortage of cars, meaning car rental prices are three times higher than usual. But never...

February 11th - Eurostar Travel

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm taking the Eurostar, which has survived the Covid crisis despite being hit harder than any other transport undertaking. Join me as I explain...

February 10th - "Landmark moment for international travel" as post-arrival test is scrapped

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Covid tests for travellers returning to the UK have been scrapped at long last, which Grant Shapps has described as a "landmark moment for internation...

February 9th - J'taime Paris, Je déteste l'aéroport Charles De Gaulle

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paris is back on the tourist map as restrictions ease across Europe but on my first visit back to the French capital, I'm reminded of the complexity o...

February 8th - The Great British Railways Looks For A Home

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Much fanfare was made this week by transport secretary Grant Schapps about a competition to find a city to house the headquarters of The Great British...

February 7th - Australia Opens Up

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Australia has announced the reopening of its borders to vaccinated tourists and other visa holders for the first time in almost two years. The reopeni...

February 4th - The Road To The Future

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Motorists might have to pay by the mile in future, a cross-party Commons select committee has proposed as they see no "viable alternative" as a tax sh...

February 3rd - TfL Tries To Mind The Gap

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Transport for London has announced in their latest financial update that the black hole in London's transport network has ballooned to £1.5 billion, ...

February 2nd - Ryanair Loses Compensation Court Battle

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ryanair has failed in its attempt to overturn a court ruling that it must pay compensation to passengers affected by industrial action that dates back...

February 1st - The EU Changes Travel Rules But Inconsistency Remains

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, the EU is altering its travel restrictions in two big ways. Firstly, it is recommending a change in how member states manage travel restriction...

January 31st - Eden Project Gets Permission To Expand

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Britain will soon have a new eco-tourism attraction, following news that the charity behind the Eden Project in Cornwall have been given planning perm...

January 28th - Grant Shapps' Travel Dead Cats

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Grant Shapps has made a number of transport announcements. These have fallen during the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged parties held at 10 Dow...

January 27th - Private Jets And Public Funds

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Foreign secretary Liz Truss flew by private jet to Australia at a cost of over half-a-million pounds to the taxpayer, rather than using sche...

January 26th - Ghost Flights

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ghost flights, in which a plane completes a journey with no passengers on board, have always taken place. I take a look at the reasons why and how Cov...

January 25th - Heathrow's slide down the European table, and why it matters.

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time London Heathrow airport has sat on top off the list of best airport's in Europe. Due to a number of factors but chiefly the fallout fr...

January 24th - Travel Testing Scrapped, But Not Quite Yet

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All Covid testing requirements for vaccinated travellers arriving into England are to be scrapped, the government has confirmed. The “day two” lat...

January 21st - Is Your Train Journey About To Get Quieter?

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Train journeys could become a lot quieter if plans recently announced are anything to go by. Yes, train companies and the government are looking to re...

January 20th - The Mysterious Case Of Ryanair Flight 4978

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

British and Irish airlines are some of the safest in the world but the case of Ryanair flight 4798 shows that it's not just crashes that airlines need...

January 19th - To Book Or Not To Book, That Is The Question

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The UK government has declared Covid restrictions will not be renewed at the end of January, as the worst of the Omicron wave looks to have passed. Bu...

January 18th - Which Is The Best Central European City To Visit?

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the airlines jostling for your hard-earned holiday plans, I've got to thinking about which city in central Europe is best for a city break this y...

January 17th - The Cheapest Way Home?

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's podcast I begin with some apologies. I got the location of the Sky Garden in London wrong and wasn't quite right about Britain's number two...

January 14th - The Restrictions in France

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As UK travelers are allowed to return to France, caution remains with strict rules on masks.In Paris, it is still very possible to enjoy the delights ...

January 13th - France Is Open, But There's Much To Consider

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

France has lifted the travel restrictions for UK travellers as Omicron waves come and go. Hurrah! I hear you shout. But before you dash off to the Eur...

January 12th - What is going on with France?

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All you need to know about the travel restrictions in France and when UK travellers might be able to return.Of course this podcast is completely free,...

January 11th - Ouigo, slow and cheap French trains

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SNCF, the French state-owned railway network, are reintroducing some classic old-fashioned trains, under the brand name Ouigo, which will mean longer ...

January 10th - The best free views in London

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From Bar Elba to Greenwich Park, where are the best vantage points to get panoramic views of London for free?Of course this podcast is completely free...

January 7th - Why Is France Continuing It's Travel Restrictions?

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations but France is continuing with its travel ban from the UK unless you're a French citizen. Initia...

January 6th - Deciphering The New Testing Requirements For Travellers

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's been 24hrs since the news that UK travellers will have less stringent testing requirements coming in and out of the country. But what do they act...

January 5th - Changes To Covid Testing Before And After Travel

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I take you through the UK government's announcement that from 4am on Friday, international travel is about to become a lot less burdensome. That's rig...