taking a pushchair on cross country service

[whole diary]

[tom m]

My wife wants to take our 7 month old son to meet some friends in Birmingham next month and would prefer to use the train rather than the stress of driving helself. She has used FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services successfully to both london and Oxford, however this has been using either a turbo or HST^▸ (High Speed Train) where a space for a pushchair is not an issue (outside of commuting hours)

I am not a regular traverler on cross country but my concern is that space is at much more of a premium on the voyagers and I have heard that CC may refuse to take the pushchair, anyone have any experience of this?

[trainbuff]

I don't think you would be refused. But you may be asked to fold the pushchair down as per conditions of carriage. Best bet would be to aim for a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service. Assuming the travel will be after the Dawlish line is open then, trains will leave Exeter at 13.23 and 16.24. Assuming standard class travel head for Coach F where the wheelchair space is but also seats in the Vestibule. Both these services are a HST. Plymouth is an hour before and Bristol an hour after. You don't say where you are travelling from.  Hope that helps

[tom m]

Thanks, traveling from reading but next month so I am not sure the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s will be running. Would be ok folding down the pushchair but where would it go on a voyager?  I always get the feeling the voyagers are narrower than other trains on the network.

I have suggested that she might go to Marylebone instead but again it's not a route I am familiar with.

[JayMac]

From Reading it will definitely be a Voyager to Birmingham. A folded pushchair can be stored in the large luggage area in Coach D. It's possible to reserve a seat in Coach D if your wife wants to be near the pushchair. Booking online with CrossCountry allows you to select your own seat.

An alternative, if travelling with a flexible inter-available ticket (Anytime, Off Peak), is to travel with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to Banbury on a Class 165/66 and then from Banbury to Birmingham Moor St with Chiltern on a Class 165/168 or loco hauled Mk3 stock. More room for pushchairs on those train types.

Going via Marylebone is not something I'd suggest. That would involve use of the Underground between Paddington and Marylebone. Not ideal with a pushchair.

[SDS]

Would defo echo NOT using the Underground.

Paddington down to the Bakerloo is either:
stairs and then Escalator.
Lift then Escalator
or Escalator and then Escalator.

Leaving at Marylebone is just stairs.

[grahame]

Would defo echo NOT using the Underground.

Paddington down to the Bakerloo is either:
stairs and then Escalator.
Lift then Escalator
or Escalator and then Escalator.

Leaving at Marylebone is just stairs.

205 Bus works a treat, or shank's pony if you wish to stretch your legs.  It's not far at all.

[tom m]

Cheers for the suggestions, I have walked to Marylebone from pad before, the underground always makes London seem bigger than it is.

[bobm]

the underground always makes London seem bigger than it is.

It certainly does.  When I first used to go to London I often caught the Underground from Paddington to Lancaster Gate...(changing at Notting Hill)....   Then you look at a map and realise you can walk it in 10 minutes!