Tuesday 16th April ~ A Varsovian Tram & Train Odyssey

My first full day in Warsaw and time to get my bearings. Armed with my 3 day travel pass I set forth, and headed from my 13th floor apartment to nearby Plocka tram stop...

Bus 2207, a Mercedes Conecto, with a southbound service on Plocka, in the Wola district. Though I didn't actually travel on any buses during my trip.

It was on to Type 116N tram 3012 on line 8 as far as Pl. Zawiszy, then a short walk to Warsaw Ochota train station where I boarded EMU EN57-1654 to Warsaw Zachodnia (Warsaw West).

Type 116Na low floor tram no.3030, built in 2000, at Pl. Zawiszy with a northbound line 8 service

At Warsaw Zachodnia I crossed platforms and waited for a loco-hauled train to arrive for a short move. This arrived in the shape of electric loco EU07-217 with the 06.47 Szczecin Glowny - Warsaw Wschodnia (Warsaw East), which I innocently boarded for the short ride to Warsaw Centralna... Unfortunately not so innocent as a guard came to check my ticket, which despite me not understanding Polish, I gathered was not valid on this train. He asked to see my passport but nothing further. I got off at Warsaw Centralna, which is entirely underground. Glad to get a Polish loco in the bag anyway ;-) After a bit of sightseeing round the Palace of Culture I headed for Centrum tram stop, where I boarded a type 105N tram, (1278) + 1277 on line 35, for the ride north to Ratusz Arsenal.

Type 105Nm tram 1467+1468 head north at Centrum on line 4. This tram might look quite old but was only built in 1996.

1278+1277 at Ratusz Arsenal. I had travelled from Centrum on this tram.

At Ratusz Arsenal I changed to the west-east platforms and boarded type 105N tram 2042 (+ 2043) on eastbound line 26 for a ride across the Vistula river to Dw. Wilenski, in the Praga district. From there I came back the way I had come, but on foot, walking across the Slasko-Dabrowski bridge to Stare Miasto.

Type 116Na-1 tram no.3023 starts the crossing of the Slasko-Dabrowski bridge on westbound line 23

At Stare Miasto I boarded type 120N tram 3137 on line 20 for the short ride to Ratusz Arsenal, from where I headed south back to Centrum aboard type 105N tram 1400 (+1399) on line 18.

Two 116Na-1's, 3030 on southbound line 8, and 3014 on northbound line 25, pass at Centrum

Next it was another ride east across the Vistula river, this time across the Poniatowskiego bridge. This I did aboard modern type 120N tram 3141 on line 22, from Centrum to Kijowska.

120Na tram no.3221, introduced in 2012, at Kijowska. A loco hauled train is passing overhead.

My next move was aboard one of the older type trams - type 105N no. 1272 (+1271) on line 22, from Kijowska to Most Poniatowskiego, followed by a walk west across the Poniatowskiego Bridge.

Type N2K no.2060 + 2061  calls at Most Poniatowskiego on line 24

I walked thence to Warsaw Powisle train station, and boarded Pesa ELF EMU no.27WE-009 (same one I had from the airport yesterday) with an S2 line service to Chopin Airport. I took it to Warsaw Ochota.

EU07-516 passes Warsaw Powisle with an express heading for Warsaw Centralna

Finally it was type 105N tram (1296 +) 1295 on line 8 from Pl. Zawiszy to Plocka.

Monday 15th April 2013 ~ Flight to Warsaw

Today I set off for five days in Warsaw. I headed for Harringay station to catch 313 058 on the 09.55 to Moorgate which I took to Moorgate. A walk over to Bishopsgate to catch a coach to Stansted Airport, Terravision Irizar YN06 NZA.

Terravision Irizar coach at Stansted Airport. I had arrived on this from Liverpool Street.

Then it was into the airport for my flight. This was in the shape of Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EFN, with the 13.05 to Warsaw Chopin airport.

Boeing 737-800 EI-EFN on the tarmac at Stansted Airport with the 13.05 to Warsaw Chopin airport

EI-EFN after arrival at Warsaw

The flight took around 2 and a half hours. After arrival, passengers alighted onto the tarmac and were taken to the terminal by a couple of buses. My bus was no.2077, leaving the plane at 16.42.

One of Chopin airport's plane-terminal transfer buses

After leaving the terminal I headed for the train station (Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina), which was only opened in June 2012. My train was a new Pesa ELF EMU, no. 27WE-009, on Line S2, with the 17.35 to Sulejowek Milosna. I took this to Warsaw Ochota. 

EMU EN57-1778 calls at Warsaw Ochota with a westbound local service

From Ochota I walked to Pl. Zawiszy tram stop and boarded Type 120N tram 3211, a modern low-floor tram, on Line 8 for the ride to Plocka, near to where my apartment for five days was located.

Saturday 13th April ~ Darting to Archway

I set out on a trip to Hornsey Library today. Walking to the Harringay Sainsbury's W5 stop I was surprised to see one of the old order on the W5, Dart/Nimbus DCS4, heading for Sainsbury's. When I arrived at the stop it became apparent though, to my slight disappointment, that DCS4 had failed.

Failed Dart Nimbus DCS4 at Harringay Sainsbury's

My ride to Hornsey Library then was in the hands of Solo OS2 on the W5. However on exiting the library a noticed a Nimbus at the westbound W5 stop on Crouch End Broadway so I decided to head over for it. However this was not a revived DCS4, but another Nimbus, DCS7. So it was a noisy and rattly Dart Nimbus DCS7 on the W5 from Crouch End Broadway to Archway. Return was aboard Solo OS12 on the W5, from Archway to Endymion Road.

Friday 12th April ~ I forgot something...

After my psych appointment I boarded Enviro400 T147 on the 341, intending to take it into Central London, but I bailed early at Manor House as I realised I had forgotten something (I forget what...). So I took Enviro400 T153 on the 341 back to Harringay Green Lanes. Setting out for the second time, it was onto Gemini-2 DW480 on the 29 from Harringay Green Lanes to Finsbury Park. Alighting there I crossed over to the bus station for hybrid Gemini-2 WHV19 on the 19 to Green Park. At Green Park it was on to New Routemaster LT5 on the 38 for a ride to Charing Cross Road, then on to Gemini-2 DW483 on the 29 back to Harringay Green Lanes.

Thursday 11th April ~ An evening walk through Islington

It was around 17.30 when I boarded Gemini-2 WVL490 on the 19 at Finsbury Park and took it to Highbury Corner. After the walk it was on to Enviro400 T159 on the 341 at Angel for the ride back to Harringay Green Lanes.

Wednesday 10th April ~ Park Lane Medley

Started off with Gemini VLW48 on the 141 from Harringay Green Lanes to Wood Green, then it was on to Enviro400 T217 on the W3 from Wood Green to Finsbury Park via Alexandra Palace. After a quick change from Finsbury Park north to Finsbury Park south bus station I boarded President TPL269 on the 4 to Aldwych. This was diverted at St Pauls to run via Queen Victoria Street and New Bridge Street, and then back on to it's regular route at Fleet Street.

This is ALX400 no.9842 passing St Clement Danes church on the Aldwych with a 172

After a coffee I then boarded OmniDekka SLE31 on the 13 at it's first stop on the Aldwych to Oxford Street (Selfridges). I then went for a walk to Marble Arch and then down Park Lane...

OmniDekka SLE22 passes Selfridges with an eastbound 13

ALX400 TLA2 on the 94, followed by President VP520 on the 6, outside Selfridges

Polish coach of Kamel Travel, Lublin, on Park Lane

French coach of Lisieux Voyages on Park Lane

French coach of Girardot on Park Lane

Enviro400 E228 on the 436, followed by Gemini-2 HV78 on the 73, northbound on Park Lane. Note the Enviro is advertising the same Evil Dead film as ALX400 no.9842 seen earlier at the Aldwych.

I eventually ended up at Victoria, where I boarded Enviro400 no.9553 for the ride to Waterloo on the 211.

Enviro400 no.9553 at the 211 terminus outside Waterloo station. Another Enviro400 is parked behind, also on the 211, whilst Citaro MEC30 is arriving with a 507 from Victoria.

Finally my ride home was courtesy of Enviro400 T166 on the 341, from Waterloo (County Hall stop presumably...) to Harringay Green Lanes.

Thursday 9th April ~ Another Gemini-2

Just the one today, Gemini-2 WVN24 on the 259 from Caledonian Road to Manor House.