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Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
May 1st - Taking in the new frontier of passenger lounges
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I'm in Newcastle, whose international airport is the venue for a world lounge first: three tiers, loosely corresponding to economy, business and first class travel. My guest in the Aspire lounge – or lounges – is David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport. He tells me his vision for the lounges and how it sets a possible path forward for other airports.
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March 21st - This Metro is good for the Seoul
05:01Clean, efficient, and amazing value for money. No, not me: the Seoul Metro system, which has some foibles but overall is an excellent and incredibly far reaching network.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 20th - The long and winding route from Zagreb to Seoul
06:18When choosing the optimum flight path gets tangled with geo-politics, the results are never positive. My report on the long and winding route from Zagreb to Seoul on the world's longest budget airline link.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 17th - A closer look at rail reform plans
07:06Reporting from King's Cross, I explore the recent Commons debate on rail reliability. I offer my perspective on Labour's approach to rail reform and the challenges of improving UK rail services.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 16th - Celebrating 30 years at The Independent
21:22Today's travel podcast, in which my excellent travel desk colleagues – Annabel Grossman, Benjamin Parker and Natalie Wilson – quiz me about 30 years at The Independent.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 15th - Looking skyward with astronomer Dr John Mason
11:00Good heavens! Today I'm looking skyward with astronomer extraordinary Dr John Mason, who reports on the total eclipse last month, and the biggest display of Northern Lights for decades, last weekend.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 14th - An open goal for Berlin with Euro 2024?
07:37One month to go before Euro 2024 kicks off in Munich, and two months before the final (England v Scotland?) in Berlin. Today I speak to Charles Wilson of CW Sports Travel.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 13th - "I'm on the train" – but is the wifi any good?
05:42South Western Railway is shortly to bring in ultra-fast wifi on trains between London and Hampshire. But almost everywhere else in the UK, connectivity on rail is lousy. Why is this, and what can be done about it?This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 10th - M25 shutdown: a test of traveler patience
06:32I explore the weekend closure of the M25 and its impact on travellers between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. From Central London, I delve into the reasons behind the closure, the detours, and how to navigate the changes.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.May 9th - Laying the track for Summer 2024
06:47We're now at the end of the latest round of rail strikes by the train drivers’ union, Aslef, and so it's a good moment to look forward with some anticipation to the new rail options when the summer timetables come into effect on 2nd June.This podcast is free, as is the travel newsletter from The Independent. Sign up for it here.