Train or Plane

Birmingham to Edinburgh by train city centre to city centre is just over 4 hours, every two hours. Compared to three flights a day. So if a flight is cancelled or goes tech you have a long wait.

That is faster than air when you include check in time and airport to city centre transit at either end.

There are no current rail strikes scheduled, and do planes never get delayed? The answer is they do especially when used intensively with low cost carriers such as Easyjet- the only carrier on the BHX to EDI route.

If the west coast rail route is having problems then the hourly service on the east coast route should be running, if one hour slower.

Booked ahead the train should be less than £50. Unless you can manage with just a small under seat cabin bag the flight will be £20 or even more, more expensive.

And train is a quantum leap better travel experience.

I would normally say take the train but it depends on the day of the week and day. (Weekends are when maintenance takes place.)

On the bright side, if a strike is called, the union has to give two weeks notice so you will know ahead of time.

There are two train companies offering direct service--Cross Country and Avanti. Personally, if the timing and price works for you, I would choose Avanti. I prefer them over Cross Country but YMMV.

Thank you for the information!

CrossCountry (XC) trains from Birmingham to Edinburgh have two further disadvantages -

They go the long way, so take 5 hours instead of 4 and are often only 4 or 5 coaches (train cars) long.

Avanti's services are 9 or 11 and because they have more capacity their Advance fares are almost always cheaper than CrossCountry; they have more seats to fill.

The one advantage of XC is perhaps the fact they offer an hourly direct service more-or-less all day, Avanti's only run every two hours.

We flew from the South of England to Edinburgh via Easy Jet, and later took the train from Edinburgh back south. The train experience was soooooo much more enjoyable. Less hassle, time to stare out the window, easy access to food and facilities, more comfortable seats, better embark/debark experience. And as Stuart says, add in the cost to check a bag, and the time pre- and post-flight, and you save neither money nor time by flying. Train for sure is my vote.