Spending over 13 hours on a Voyager might sound like a test of patience, but my recent trip from Aberdeen to Penzance with CrossCountry turned into something far more – a journey through the lives of strangers, countless conversations and fleeting connections that made the miles pass in an entirely different way than expected. This is a journey that will soon be lost to history, as CrossCountry withdraws this service in May 2025.
People along the way
This post isn’t about the train itself (though yes, it was busy, expensive for some, and the usual complaints about Voyagers were there, but honestly, it wasn’t that bad). People have paid very different fares depending on where they joined – whether making the full journey or travelling within key hubs like Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth. Instead, it’s about the people I met, the variety of stories shared, the different perspectives encountered, and the social landscape of a route spanning the length of Britain.
In the hustle of everyday life, it’s easy to forget that the people around us aren’t living the same routine we are. But moments like these – where we stop, listen, and connect – offer a humbling reminder of the diversity of lives unfolding around us.
One of the families I spoke to inspired this very blog post. It got me thinking about the psychology of meeting people – sometimes for just 30 minutes, other times for hours – and feeling a connection without even knowing their name. It becomes a space where people either hold back entirely or share everything as if they’ll never have another chance. Sometimes, you feel the urge to ask for contact details but resist, knowing that part of what makes these moments special is their fleeting nature.
Unexpected conversations
Early in the journey, I met a group travelling back from client drinks in Stirling, joining at Edinburgh en route to Leeds. Somehow, we ended up in conversation about Apple Watches (of all things) and Scottish cities. Further south, between Birmingham and Plymouth, I found myself seated with a husband, wife, and their daughter. The daughter quietly worked on her coursework the entire way but would occasionally chime in with observations on our discussions. Over time, our conversation grew, drawing in a family of three at the table next to us. By the end, we had covered politics, psychology, education – and, of course, trains (how could I not?).
What interested me most was how different each group felt. The business travellers heading back from Edinburgh had an efficiency-driven energy, whereas the family I spent hours with on the way to Plymouth had an openness that meant deeper discussion.
A changing soundscape
One of the most fascinating aspects of a long-haul UK railway journey is hearing accents shift. Starting in the north east of Scotland, through the heart of England, and finally to the Cornish coast, it was like watching the UK unfold in fast motion. Conversations around me would start in a rich Scottish accent, shift into the softer tones of the Midlands, and eventually become the rounded vowels of the West Country. It wasn’t just the passengers – this extended to the various different train managers and on-board staff throughout the service too.
This constant evolution of sound added an unexpected mood to the experience. It highlighted the diversity of the UK in a way that no other mode of transport can quite replicate. On a plane, you just jump from one accent to another in an instant. On a train, you experience a gradual blending, the transitions that reflect the landscape passing outside the window.
The train itself
Of course, no discussion of a long-distance UK train journey (especially of mine) would be complete without some feedback on the train itself. The usual complaints cropped up – cost, crowding, and ageing rolling stock – but what struck me most was how many people still expressed a liking for the overall ambience. Not because the trains are old, but maybe because of the warm lighting, or the comfort of the seats, or the cream colour of the vestibule. Many different potential reasons. This is in stark contrast to the opinion of many train enthusiasts, who often criticise Voyagers.
And yes – I was fortunate to travel for free with my Arriva staff pass, which did make the experience easier to appreciate. And how many people have done the journey end-to-end, for free? For once, too, the journey lived up to its reputation for punctuality – no delays, no cancellations. But of course, as expected, it was busy at times, but that’s the nature of CrossCountry services.
On the way down, I spotted one other person on the journey who seemed to be going the full distance. However, I overheard him mention that his connecting train had been cancelled from Stonehaven, forcing him to join the Voyager from there instead. How frustrating!
The beauty of fleeting connections
This trip reminded me that railway journeys, especially one of this type and this length, is more than just getting from A to B – it’s about the people you share it with, however briefly. These fleeting interactions and glimpses into other lives, is what makes the journey feel meaningful. We often talk about travel in terms of destinations, but sometimes, the most memorable parts is the journey itself. Thirteen hours might seem long, but with the right company, time passes in a flash. It really does, trust me.
Now, I’m sure some might say I’m romanticising the trip – after all, it’s just a train journey. But in truth, it’s an experience that I’ll never forget. The connections, the conversations, and the simple act of travelling across the country have left me with no regrets and a new-found appreciation for the fleeting nature of all different lives.
Go and do this yourself before the service is withdrawn in May. Drop me a line if you want help with planning!
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