Great Western Coffee Shop

Might need to work in sproutland for a while

Long term I'll fly if the gig works out but short term flights are horrid

Is there any engine or cheaper option to get bristol to sprouts than FGW then Eurostar bearing in mind I have a rail card

The only cross-channel shipping link that includes rail travel is Dover-Calais with P&O. And then only day returns are available. ^22.35 with a Railcard from London Terminals. Ticket not available for journeys starting outside London/South East, although can be purchased from any station.

Any train to/from Dover Priory (inc HighSpeed 1 from St Pancras) including bus transfer to Dover East Docks. No reservation needed for the ferry, just a control ticket issued with the rail tickets.

So possible to buy two of these day returns for specific dates and not use one portion to make a period return priced at ^44.70 with railcard.

Then you need your travel to London and from Calais to Brussels.

Free courtesy bus from Calais Port to Calais-Ville and Calais-Freuthun stations, return fares around ^90 from Calais to Brussels.

That combination compares favourably with the cheapest through booking Bristol-Brussels with Eurostar.

Personally, I would go via Harwich - Hoek van Holland - evening to Harwich, sleep on the boat, train in the morning via Rotterdam is the timing worked out ... is the "Dutch Flyer" ticket still available for the middle segment (Liverpool Street to anywhere in the Netherlands) section of this journey?

Yes - see http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland/ (http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland/)

Where exactly are you making for?

If it's Brussels itself, then it's very difficult to beat the Eurostar for performance if not for price.

If you're heading for Antwerp and the like, then the Harwich ferry is worthwhile.

The trouble with the Calais crossing is that the onward connections aren't very good. Well, except for the idea of going to Calais Frethun and catching a Eurostar, which rather defeats the object.

The traditional ferry route ran to Ostend, where it linked straight on to the Belgian rail network - but I think that's only served by ferries from Ramsgate these days.

when you say out of london/south east, would it include the west of england line?

Day Return fares to Calais are only available from London and a selection of stations in Kent, South London and Surrey. This list is incomplete. Many more intermediate stations have fares. Adult Anytime Day Return prices.

London Terminals. ^33.90

Abbey Wood, Bromley South, Catford, Dartford, Orpington, Woolwich Arsenal. ^31.20

Gravesend, Sevenoaks. ^25.20

Chatham, Gillingham, Hastings, Paddock Wood, Rainham, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells. ^21.90

Faversham, Herne Bay, Margate. ^19.10

Ashford, Canterbury. ^19.10

Guildford, Woking, Chertsey, Virginia Water. ^52.00

Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Richmond, Surbiton, Wimbledon (plus many other South and South West London stations). ^53.10

Don't ask me why it is more expensive from South and South West London than Guildford and Woking.