Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 05:15 21 Apr 2025
 
- Gatwick worst airport in UK for flight delays
- A death every three minutes: Why India's roads are among the world's deadliest
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 10/05/25 - BRTA Westbury
10/05/25 - Model Railsay Show, Calne
13/05/25 - Melksham TUG / AGM
14/05/25 - West Wiltshire RUG

On this day
21st Apr (1958)
Battery Multiple Unit enters public service (link)

Train RunningCancelled
05:37 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach
12:12 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
23:30 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
Short Run
05:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach
05:40 Penzance to Cardiff Central
05:47 Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central
05:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
05:53 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads
05:58 Westbury to Cardiff Central
06:01 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
06:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
06:28 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
06:28 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
06:31 Severn Beach to Weston-Super-Mare
06:40 Penzance to Cardiff Central
06:44 Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central
06:57 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
06:59 Westbury to Cardiff Central
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
07:20 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
07:27 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
07:40 Penzance to Cardiff Central
08:00 Cardiff Central to Plymouth
08:19 Taunton to Cardiff Central
08:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
08:27 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
09:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
09:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
09:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
09:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
10:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
10:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
10:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
10:50 Penzance to Cardiff Central
10:52 Plymouth to Cardiff Central
11:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
11:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
12:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
12:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
12:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
13:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
13:11 Taunton to Cardiff Central
13:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
13:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
14:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:49 Plymouth to Cardiff Central
14:59 Cardiff Central to Taunton
15:15 Taunton to Cardiff Central
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
16:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
16:24 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
16:27 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
16:31 Barnstaple to Axminster
16:50 Penzance to Cardiff Central
17:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
17:10 Taunton to Cardiff Central
17:24 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
17:27 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
18:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
18:10 Taunton to Cardiff Central
18:24 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
18:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
19:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance
19:15 Taunton to Cardiff Central
19:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
19:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
20:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
etc
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
April 21, 2025, 05:22:08 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[157] Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the...
[93] RNLI station celebrates 10 years of saving lives - Portishead,...
[56] Salisbury Station, 2025 edition
[53] Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner
[48] FOSS and FOSW validity - some quirks
[47] St Erth station - facilities, footbridge, improvements, incide...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: Day trip to London for morning appointment  (Read 7201 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43857



View Profile WWW Email
« on: March 31, 2011, 10:59:49 »

Quote
And second off - a question.  I [Melksham base] need to go to London at some point in the next few days - non specific, except its needs to be a weekday and soon if possible.  I need to go to [place at Trafalgar Square] on a weekday.  They open at 8:45, but I'm informed that they've long que's by that time and they're only open morning's and when they close they just cut the que off.  Therefore earlier's better.

Now - this only needs to be me and I can drive to anywhere in wiltshire at any time.

My initial thought was "via Salisbury to Waterloo" but I can't find the cheap fares that used to be there ... currently thinking of Grateley to Waterloo.   But ideas / prices would be appreciated.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13328


View Profile Email
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2011, 11:04:30 »

National Express coach (london or Heathrow) with a Connect fare to Pad if the latter usually works out the cheapest for a visa queue...Plenty of early coaches along the M4 corridor....
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43857



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2011, 11:45:29 »

National Express coach (london or Heathrow) with a Connect fare to Pad if the latter usually works out the cheapest for a visa queue...Plenty of early coaches along the M4 corridor....

Thanks, Chris ... that does look like a better idea than rail in this case!
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19304



View Profile
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2011, 13:04:23 »

Into Waterloo, assuming week day.

Earliest you can get in to London Waterloo would be 0739.

Westbury 0524
Salisbury arrive 0553
Salisbury depart 0606
London Waterloo 0739.

Cheapest fare would be an Anytime Return from a Severn Beach Line station of your choice! Say, Clifton Down - London Terminals (route: Salisbury) ^54.00 for the SOR. Perfectly allowable to start/end short at Westbury. Returns at xx50 until 1950 from Waterloo with additional 1220, 1720, 1920, then 2020 and 2120.

If your return is Off Peak (before 1640 after 1831) then you can come back to Westbury from Paddington on payment of a 'change of route' exccess. Half the difference between the SOR (route: Salisbury) ^54.00 and the SVR (route: Any Permitted) ^59.00. So ^2.50. Still allowed to travel short on the new routeing. London Terminals to Clifton Down (or other SVB Line station) via Westbury is a permitted route.

NatEx coach from Chippenham, 0500 arriving 0750 at Victoria would be a lot cheaper, possibly only ^7.50 each way (I've only looked at tomorrow, but there are still some 'Funfares' available) but you won't get me recommending coaches!
« Last Edit: March 31, 2011, 13:27:59 by bignosemac » Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13328


View Profile Email
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2011, 13:23:06 »

For a difference of only 35 minutes travel - I'd certainly be going on the coach - depending whether there was a suitable direct return - if that ^15 return can be got!
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43857



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2011, 18:17:43 »

Advise appreciated and has been passed on and taken, I understand.   04:00 bus from Chippenham!   Rather C**** than me!   Got it for 20 quid.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19304



View Profile
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2011, 18:24:24 »

Was that the 0355? I discounted that one when looking for fares. Thought a 0620 arrival into London was far too early for you!
Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13328


View Profile Email
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2011, 18:25:57 »

If it's a visa queue, you can't be too early!
Logged
inspector_blakey
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3574



View Profile
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2011, 19:11:36 »

Unless it's the American embassy (which it clearly isn't seeing as that's not in Trafalgar Square!) where i you turn up more than half an hour before your alloted entry time they'll tell you to bog off, and not very politely!
Logged
Mookiemoo
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3117


View Profile Email
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2011, 19:41:41 »

Must be new zealand house then - only one I can think of near there
Logged

Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 19555



View Profile Email
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2011, 20:26:04 »

Could also be the South African Embassy, the Canadian High Commission, the Ugandan Embassy ...  Roll Eyes
Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43857



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2011, 08:37:36 »

To follow up on your speculations folks ....

http://inthefringes.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/travelling-to-london/

and many thanks for your inputs.   The author of the blog is my daughter-in-law ...

Edit to change link to one that permanently points to the page
« Last Edit: April 02, 2011, 11:18:26 by grahame » Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13328


View Profile Email
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2011, 15:12:30 »

Interesting that she ignored bus travel in London. Central areas can usually be accessed directly from most London rail / coach termini with no changes and loading wheelchairs are pretty standard too.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43857



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2011, 15:43:11 »

Ask her, on her blog, Chris.   Wink

Quote
National Express was last on the list; it^s a 2h51 minute jolty journey and six hours on a bus will dislocate more joints than I^d care to count.

may hold a clue as to the preference for rail at every stage.   Had it come down to her having to attend in person, I would have recommended train to Paddington (probably NOT from Chippenham due to the bumpity bump over the tracks) and then taxi.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
johoare
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2818


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2011, 18:41:57 »

Am I right in assuming that it had to be either her or Chris went to pick it up?

If something like that comes up again I'd be more than happy to go get whatever it is that time.. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be allowed though..
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page