Originally Posted by
Rutan16
Enjoy the train(s) to Southampton -Lovely on those four and five car Voyagers with the tilt turned OFF and stopping at every point conceivable and some not so down the Chiltern and Oxford line and reversing in Reading really takes for ever !
Unless you route via London and navigate the murky and at the moment most unbearable underground- I can tell my own commute home today really was hell !
As for Edinburgh I suppose you travel via York and a change to that “ can’t make any money” franchise East Coast because TPE can’t run a proper service !
Heyho each to their own.
Personally I’d get in the car book a Premier and take in few more customers in both cases.
Again I’d say a fourty minute patient queue seem far more appealing.
Have to agree with this having taken the Reading to Manchester part of the Southampton train many times. It seems to take for ever - about 4 hours and then add on 60-90 mins to Southampton after the reversing manoeuvre described. The worst part is that it generally has as many standing as sitting so there is virtually nil chance of any refreshment and even a loo break is a military operation. Virgin LON MAN at the weekend is just as bad when there are events on. The big thing that flights still have going for them is an absolute limit on the number aboard, a GUARANTEED seat and the ability to get in and out of it, confident that it will still be unoccupied when you get back.