Glasgow’s planes like Swiss clockwork always arrive on time. And its trains.
Because when my birth city’s burghers go upgrading their transport network they sensibly choose Swiss.
Now few of you might put Scotland’s largest city as the third oldest subway in the world.
Built in 1896 they are only behind Budapest, earlier that year, and the Daddy of them all, London in 1863.
Which means they’ve been at it 130 years.
The toblerone underground
And in contrast to the Hungarian capital you won’t get spot-fined by a scary Magyar guard for not validating your ticket.
Today’s Glasgow Subway looks very different from the one my grandparents would have taken.
The witty Glaswegians christening the Subway they have today the Clockwork Orange on account of their orange livery.
And with some driverless trains on the way later this year.
Although our Swiss hosts, at the grand Glasgow City Chambers last night, would not say if our trains would now be toblerone-shaped.
Ca va, we’re having some fun with you here, Swiss trains run, well, like clockwork.
Edelweiss, bless my Swiss home
We gathered to mark the opening of the new summer seasonal Edelweiss flight route from Glasgow to Zurich.
Which will launch on May 29, running twice weekly (Mondays and Fridays) until September 14.
And because this is a return arrangement us Scots have put their mark on the Edelweiss planes.
With the Scottish Leather Group, the largest manufacturer of leather in Britain, kitting out the planes and seating passengers in style.
Deal us in
Switzerland, of course, has four seasons like the rest of us although we naturally associate it with winter and falling down mountains.
But having enjoyed its summer charms, walking and yodelling in the valleys.
There’s a whole new summer world waiting for those who travel through Glasgow.
Now you’ll be wanting to know how much you’ll have to shell out and the fares aren’t mountainous.
We found a sample return flight for the first week in June from £215.11.
