My wife and I are flying to London in September, and after a week in London, plan to take the train to Glasgow for two weeks in Scotland. It’s our first visit to London. We’re wondering about any differences in the routes and speed. I noticed there’s a faster train, but maybe that’s not as good for sightseeing? Is there a better time during the day to travel? Check in for our hotel in Glasgow is 3pm.
Any advice?
It looks like it’s a 5 to 6 hour train ride.
Thanks!
Welcome to the forum!
You will need to be more specific as to what you need advice about.
There are high-speed trains to Glasgow taking 4.5 hours leaving from London Euston train station.
"but maybe that’s not as good for sightseeing? Is there a better time during the day to travel?"
The main aim is to get there - nothing wrong with the views, but you'll have plenty of time for sightseeing when you arrive, so pick the fastest route.
In terms of t8me of day, off peak (after 9.30 weekdays) will be cheaper. You'll still get in prior to checkin, but you can leave your bags with the hotel and head out. If there's a delay/problems it's more likely to happen later in the day, so go for a morning departure if you can.
If going to Glasgow just take the hourly direct train from Euston, not the East Coast line from Kings Cross with an Edinburgh change.
The really scenic but slower route is Kings Cross to Leeds, change, Leeds to Carlisle via the Settle and Carlisle line, change, Carlisle to Glasgow. You book this route as three sectors for the best fares.
Agree with what's been said here, just wanted to note that the west coast mainline (train from Euston to Glasgow Central) is very much not a high speed train. Our only high speed train runs in the southeast along the Eurostar tracks towards Dover. There was talk of a second high speed line one day extending to Glasgow but at this point we'll be lucky if the section to Birmingham is built. It's a bit of a sore point for those of us who frequently make train journeys!
By High Speed, most people take it to mean around 160mph plus. The trains from London (Euston) to Glasgow are Pendolinos and the top speed they will do on this route is 125mph and they will tilt slightly to take bends at speed. The Train Company is Avanti West Coast.
A You Tuber has uploaded a video about this route.
The faster trains generally leave on the half hour from Euston and take 4.5 hours. the journey is pretty much all through pleasant countryside and after Wigan it gets progressively more beautiful.
Whilst the trains from 9.30 will offer off-peak fares you should be able to get Advance tickets for earlier trains given that you are not travelling until September. I can see fares at £36.50 for a date in early August for 7.30am and 8.30 departures.. With an Advance fare you must travel on the train you book but that should not be an issue if you are setting off from central London.
September bookings are not yet open but will soon. You can go to the Avanti West Coast website, (who run the trains), and set an alert for when your date goes on sale.
Under the arbitary definition of High Speed given above even the 'Javelin' trains on HS1 do not qualify as they have a rated top speed of 140mph and then only when on the High Speed tracks
This is actually the same official top speed as the Pendolinos- which they have done on test but are limited to 125mph in passenger service due largely to signalling constraints.I
In fact on test w/th a specially cleared line 145 mph has been achieved.
