At last we are on our final approach to London Stansted Airport. This airport is situated 30 miles to the North East of central London near border to Hertfordshire. For the last 45 minutes our plane has been gradually decreasing her altitude and speed. This airport is not as busy as Heathrow and Gatwick. At Heathrow, most of the time arriving plane has to join the Holding stacks or pattern to accommodate the busy arrivals of planes from all over the world (about 650 aircraft's in a day). Takes-off (departure) another 650 aircraft, which makes a combine arrival and departure of 1300 aircraft's a day using only two runaways ! I guess it must be pretty stress full for the air traffic controllers......
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| Stacking Process whereby planes waits for their turn prior landing (Plan View) |
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| After earlier holding pattern, planes are directed to land when their turn is up (Side View) |
The sound of the landing gear locked-on seems rather loud, signalling we are not far from the runaway now. The runaway here runs in the North East/South West direction - written as 04/22 or 040 degrees and 220 degrees with respect to True North. This airport has only one runaway. I can see the wing flaps or flapron being extended to it's maximum in order to stabilise and hold steady the aircraft. Five minutes later we are on the ground. We have safely landed in London after a good 13+ hours in the air. Thank you God once again......
We came to a screeching slow speed when the pilot reverses the engines and applied the brakes. Soon we were taxiing away from the runaway into the taxiway before reaching the apron area. It was already dark outside, could see the signalman giving direction to our pilot to park the plane at the designated gate. Our plane was parked at Satellite 1, Gate 15. We came down the plane and being stuffed into three awaiting buses to take us to the main terminal. Woosh....the cold English winds blowing thru' my face as I was getting onboard the bus nearest the plane. Lucky me, being on the front part of the plane. Last to board the aircraft but the first few to disembark (Last-in First-out). This arrangement similar to my "inventory management" process in my last job....LiFo....ha ha ha.
Glancing at my watch, it showed 20.30 hrs on Feb. 2nd. From the time I departed, 14.30 hrs , it seems that time had only moved 6 hrs......but in actual fact 14 hours had just passed. I have 10 hrs to spare before my next flight to Paris. Not taking any chances, but will still take the fastest transport to Heathrow (except the London Cab). The Express train will be my best bet. Then will take the tube right up to Heathrow.
When the bus was eventually filled up, we moved slowly to the terminal. Our satellite terminal is the furthest from the Main Terminal. Within 7 minutes we were already disembarking the bus and walking in the arrival hall. Nice to have the heated atmosphere inside and I quicky proceed to the immigration counter. The queue was not too bad....I wouldn't complain. After 30 minutes or so, I was already waiting for my luggage at the collection area.
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| Good to be early - not so crowded. |
By the time I got my luggage....(it looks intact), rushed out to look for the train terminal. It was not so hard to find as this is a small airport compared to Heathrow and Gatwick. Yo ho...17 Pound Sterling for a one way trip for standard Class to Liverpool Street in London. First Class is 26 Pound Sterling. So I bought a return standard class ticket for 29 Pound Sterling (as on 18 Feb will be returning back to this airport), a saving of 5 pound sterling. Not bad eh ! By the time I got on the train, it was nearly 22.00 hrs. It will take about 45 minutes to get to Liverpool Street Station in London. Bought some sandwiches and coffee on board the train. The express train was quick and comfortable. As it was already dark outside can't see much of London outskirt, apart from some back scattering lights and same time it's drizzling non stop.
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| Train arrived Liverpool Street Station on time. |
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The London Underground Network Looks Like a Spaghetti Carbonara to me !
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Arrived at Liverpool Street Railway Station at 22.47 hrs. I told myself, "I have to act fast and can't afford to make any mistake, as the last tube for the day on Blue Line (Piccadilly Line) is at 23.45 hrs". Hardly an hour, to make it to Heathrow. Taxi will be my last resort ! Train is my second choice but to get to Paddington Railway Station and buy ticket (with queue) in 30 minutes will be a bit too optimistic as the last train will depart at 23.25 hrs. It can be done but the setback is the train fare of 25 Pound Sterling one way. My best bet is the London Underground (Tube) as it cost only 6 Pound Sterling. Hence, with the London Underground Map in hand, studied and visualise the route to Heathrow Airport. So, decision....decision....and as you can see from the Map above, best route will be, taking the Red Line (Central) to Holborn then switching to the Blue Line (Piccadilly) westward to Terminal 4. With that decision made.....off I go on my most "scary-time constraint-budget constraint-late hours-exciting environment-mind boggling" trip of my life on the underground tube service. It is somehow crowded, as nightgoers might be on their way home after a night-out, on their last train for the evening. I have only 4 stops to reach Holborn Station. So cannot afford to doze off......In less that 10 minutes I was out and about at Holborn Station and looking for the escalators going down to the Piccadilly Line. The Holborn Central Line Station platform looks rather old station, with the Piccadilly Line dug underneath the Central Line. The Piccadilly platforms looks quite new.
You can see the starked contrast from the picture above. As soon as I got on board the Piccadilly Line train, I said to myself "Thank God.....I would not have made it this far without your mercy and help". I was exhausted from the lack of sleep, anxiety and the rushing up to get where I am now enroute to Heathrow Terminal 4. That's where Air France operate from......
To be continued...........
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