Pendo or Vomiter

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

I am going to Stoke at the end of the month to do the Caldon Canal.

I have the choice of via Euston or Reading.

Going via Reading seems to involve a change at New Street but coming back there is a late afternoon train from Stoke direct to Reading.

Would anyone recommend a Vomiter from Stoke to Reading. Last time I did it was 86 to Brum/Coventry (can't remeber which) and Duff from there Mk 2 coaches.

I'm thinking of risking a pendo as it's only a ^1 more but does involve treck from Eusotn to Padd.

[inspector_blakey]

Only been on a pendo once, but from memory the internal set up is fairly similar to a Voyager. It may actually be slightly more claustrophobic, as I think the windows are smaller.

The big advantage though is that you don't have the engine noise from the sack of spanners underneath!

[johoare]

Euston to Paddington isn't too bad a trek though

[devon_metro]

I'd probably go on the West coast, it's faster and you have the ability to purchase a decent selection of food on board from the shop (remember those?)

Not to mention more seats available than a Voyager.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Eather way you get the rattle of plastic at speed due to poor construction! But I would say pendo even with London crossing will be faster and like already stated more food options

[The Tall Controller]

Living in Coventry for half the year, I would STRONGLY reccomend the Pendo! The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) voyager to Reading is ALWAYS full and lets face it we all hate them! 

Pendos are similar to voyagers but their plus points is that they havnt been ruined by XC and there is plenty of room if you know where to go!

[readytostart]

I'm not going to get into the Pros and Cons of each unit but there is an hourly direct train from RDG^‡(resolve) to SOT, usually eleven minutes past the hour.
Do double check if you're travelling at the weekend though as I know at the end of the month due to engineering work on the Westbury line curve the through Bournemouth to Manchester trains will call at Reading West instead of Reading.

[Tim]

What time of the day are you travelling?  I'd probably aviod the Vomitor if it is likley to be busy.  The Pendos and voyagers are both badly designed trains but the Voyagers are much worse and give the impression of being so badly designed that someone must have done it deliberately. 

[eightf48544]

Thanks, I think you have almost unanimously voted for the pendo.

So am going up 09:36 Taplow Euston 11:00 SOT 12:24 Wednesday and back 17:12 SOT following Monday. Advanced single tickets still avialable but 2 singles not much difference to off peak return.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

however in fairness not that it matters from a passengers point of view but i think the exterior view of the class 220 in xc livery is more pleasing that the pendo in virgin ...me and my bad taste lol

[inspector_blakey]

Just had a thought...I can't remember the diagrams but there is a Virgin mark 3/DVT^‡(resolve) set that still operates on WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)). It's refurbished internally and painted in the Virgin "Warbonnet" livery externally - known to the cranks as the "Pretendolino" which I love!

[Timmer]

Just had a thought...I can't remember the diagrams but there is a Virgin mark 3/DVT^‡(resolve) set that still operates on WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)). It's refurbished internally and painted in the Virgin "Warbonnet" livery externally - known to the cranks as the "Pretendolino" which I love!

Bet people who get on board that train must think WOW what a great new train this is, so much more space and comfort compared to Virgin's airliners on rails.

[DevonTrains2008]

Euston to Paddington shouldn't be too bad - just take the Circle Line tube to Euston Square and it's a short walk from there - go for that option!

[eightf48544]

Thanks for all your help.

Tickets now purchased, through Chiltern so they get 9%, going along to Taplow to pick them up today. Do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) also get (% for using their facilities to pick up tickets.

Doing the Euston option with reserved seats on chosen trains, although with Off Peak tickets I presumme I can travel on other trains on other days that are covered by the Off Peak rules?

One point occurs to me the Euston option is a ^1 dearer than Reading does that mean I can travel back via Reading if the need arises. e.g wires down on WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line). The National Rail web site gave a via Reading train as a return option with an out via Euston at the higher price. 

[inspector_blakey]

Probably - assuming your ticket doesn't have a route marked on it that would preclude you returning via Birmingham. If it's any permitted (and looks like it probably is is NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service) offered you out via London/back via Reading on the same ticket) then you should be fine.