General News
9 August, 2024
A Mum's World: a journey to Melbourne, peaceful return to train travel
Ylande Grosser explains why train travel beats driving.
Tiani and I caught the train to Melbourne last week and it felt like such a treat.
It's five years since I've stepped off the platform onto a country train and it was brilliant to be back.
A winter railroad adventure seemed like the perfect solution to an appointment in the city and a middle-aged mum's distinct dislike for night driving with an onslaught of hundreds of semi-trailers and their blinding headlights.
Miraculously, I remembered our polar fleece blankets which were great for cuddling up in the quiet carriage where my baby girl and I alternated between snoozing and reading our novels.
When the second half of the journey seemed to take a long time, I remembered it was because I was relaxed rather than gripping on to my steering wheel for dear life and flying through the Pentland Hills dodging traffic in the dark and rain.
Stepping out at Southern Cross Station with our little wheelie cases, I found I had arrived in the city without once engaging in a rant about the Westgate Bridge roadworks - which I need to now assume will never be completed.
What calm and civilised delight we reached our destination with.
I didn't need a gin and tonic; it had become and optional beverage rather than a medicinal cure.
Apart from when I was totally dependant on public transport as a university student, the next railway phase of my life came when I had three little girls at home - two of whom needed specialist dental care in Collins Street.
We'd take the train down and back on a Saturday once every two months to get our dose of city laneways, historic arcades and exotic food courts.
The V-line train provided easy access to a water fountain and a toilet which just seemed to make a long trip with three young children more manageable, and for me with three little girls who loved to read or draw, they had no trouble being constrained to a seat in a carriage.
Aware of my blessings, I'm sure many a mother of three active boys may feel the need to laugh out loud or cry on reading such a ridiculous statement containing information about children sitting still and being contented doing so.
Ca la vie!