Broken Train, Taxi Stuck in Traffic: An Audit Trip That Spiraled Out of Control

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Performing an audit demands meticulous planning—especially in the pharmaceutical world where we schedule everything down to the minute. We block out calendars, confirm facility access, and coordinate interviews. When an audit is planned, everyone adjusts to our timeline. So, nothing is more inconvenient—both for us and the auditee—than falling behind schedule.

When I tell people I avoid public transport like the plague and prefer my own car, I mean it. That preference holds unless the client insists. This time around, though, the client arranged a train ride to Amsterdam Airport for our flight to Edinburgh—around €100.

🚆 Train trouble

In 's-Hertogenbosch, we boarded an already crowded train heading for Schiphol. We had standing room only. Then, after an endless wait, the conductor announced a track accident—no departure. Panic set in.

🚖 Taxi to the rescue—then gridlock

With time bleeding away, our only option was a taxi. We hopped in, anticipating around €100. Then came traffic—and it grinded to a halt. We rerouted via Rotterdam, only to slam into another accident near Schiphol. An hour stuck in traffic later, the taxi meter climbed past the cash we carried, and guess what? No card machine in sight.

Thankful the client arranged an invoice to the taxi company and rebooked our flight—this time in business class.

💸 Costly consequences of keeping commitments

What should've been an inexpensive journey skyrocketed: €350 taxi and €1,250 business-class flight, on top of our €100 budget-friendly ticket.

Normally, I never spend more without explicit approval. But in this case, getting there on time trumped budget. Audits can't wait.