Pods and automated systems

My return to European roads began with a combination of a train and ski lift. Not really a train but it did run on a track and although the size of a small ski lift, it takes 4 people, it also ran mostly horizontally.

I had to get a very early flight, 6.55 am, so as to be in time for tonight’s first gig. I booked at the Thistle Hotel right next to Heathrow and was looking forward to taking the Heathrow Pod from terminal 5 to the business car park and the hotel. I got off the airport bus and followed the signs to Heathrow Pods. Very understated but then as it’s the link to the business car part maybe you’d expect it to be. I arrived at the pod station and saw a couple get on their Pod. Looks very futuristic. You walk up to one of the pod gates and tap the screen to choose which destination you need – A for the business car park and B for the Thistle Hotel. I tapped B and a pod approached, parked and the doors opened. I got in, sat down and waited for something to happen. Nothing did. Then I noticed the buttons which looked like those you get on the toilets on Virgin Trains. They said “Close Doors”, “Start” and “Open Doors”. The only one illuminated was “Open Doors” which felt a bit odd. So I waited a bit more. Then I pressed the button on the other side to speak to someone to find out what was happening. The man’s voice was unintelligible and when I told him that for the third time he opened the doors for me to get out and used the PA outside to tell me and the others waiting that the Pod system had a fault and they would send a bus to fetch us. Definitely a let-down.

When I checked in to the hotel, they advised me not to buy a ticket for the morning Pod just in case. However, next morning it was working again and I got my ride.

I can only half recommend the Heathrow Pod. When it’s working it’s a lovely relaxed ride into terminal 5, either from/to the Thistle Hotel or the business car park. If you park your car there, at £57 a day!, then it’s a short walk to the Pod station. However, if you use it for the hotel then make sure the weather is good as it’s quite a long walk to or from station B to the hotel reception. The hotel itself is fine, nothing fancy and just over £100 for one night.

I’m now at Copenhagen airport, waiting for Ray and the nine minute ride on a European road to the first gig.

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