The 26 hours has been charmed by the reliability - two short delays, one at Lewes as we waited for a late running connecting train from London, and one outside Westbury waiting for a platform.  Both were explained by train crew, and neither created the slightest worry in my mind; both simple reduced the wait time for the next connection.

 
So, Graham has found a train or trains to Clermont-Ferrand that did not
1. expire in the heat and leave everyone stranded for several hours in an uncooled train, or
2. get cancelled in advance by SNCF in an attempt to avoid (2).
A new batch of cancellations was announced for this weekend because this heatwave is forecast as even hotter than last month's.

 
1.  I remember my pruning back some of that foliage, where it was approaching the pavement, a couple of weeks ago. Now, if only I could recall where I was at the time ... 

2.  Isn't Taunton, obviously - even to me. 

CfN. 

 
Home (16.6.2026, 15:00) to my hotel room opposite the station in Clermont Ferrand in 26 hours. Lots of pictures, lots of stories already but forgive me banking those for the book I'll be writing. The ferry docks at 05:00 (french time) which is 04:00 UK time, so not a long night's sleep though the chairs are comfy enough.  I need a few minutes break before I head out to look around and see what impression I get in about an hour.

I tell people that travelling by train / bus / ferry is easy. And apart from the odd little challenges, it is. But I should probably not recommend quite such an intensive trip to newcomers.  I travelled by train except where noted:
to Melksham Station (walk)
to Westbury
to Fareham
to Brighton
to Lewes
to Newhaven Town
to ferry check in (walk)
to ferry (bus)
to Dieppe (ferry)
to customs hall (bus)
to Dieppe Gare (bus)
to Rouen Rive Droite
to Paris St Lazare
to Gare de Lyon (metro)
to Gare d'Austerlitz (walk)
to Bourges
to St Germain de Fosse
to Clermont Ferrand