Can anyone provide a suggestion about which route to choose to travel from Southampton to Edinburgh Waverley? We plan to leave Southamption after 9 in the morning, using a US purchased Railpass, and would like to avoid a station switch via the Tube in London if that's possible. We'll be traveling in early September if that makes any difference. Thanks!!
Posted by
Lake District, England
10178 posts
If you are on a Rail pass then take an hourly Southampton to Manchester train and change at Wolverhampton or (my clear preference) Stafford.
Same train.
You need to create a free account with Great Western Railway (even though you aren't using them) to make free seat reservations.
If you are wanting to avoid London that is your only real option without multiple changes.
However be aware that Cross Country have on going strike action affecting different routes unpredictably each day, until October.
So also make back up reservations via London, just in case.
Posted by
Freedonia
17713 posts
If a full strike is called, you will be given at least a two week notice. That's the law.
If train routing becomes difficult, know that Loganair offers a nonstop flight between Southampton and Edinburgh.
The railpass won't cover it but if you must get to Edinburgh that day, at least it's an option.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10178 posts
To me personally Wolverhampton/Stafford to Edinburgh I regard as being hourly. On the other hour I am used to thinking of it as being a Glasgow train with a same platform interchange into a Trans Pennine Manchester Airport to Edinburgh at Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith or Carlisle (the last can sometimes be cross platform 1 to 3 or vv). Usually a 12 minute or so connection. If it's running really tight Carlisle usually hold the Edinburgh train on the opposite platform to keep the connection.
If the connection was going to fail as the Avanti train was too late then Lancaster station has a very nice pub on the northbound platform.
At Stafford if I had unexpected time to spare in the daytime I would personally suggest to go to the very nice Alberts cafe in Victoria park opposite the station.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10178 posts
In trying to find a source for the doubted Cross Country industrial action which started several weeks ago I found a notice on National Rail timed at 2049 on Wednesday that it was quietly suspended, presumably for negotiations or a new pay offer to be considered. That notice also confirms that it was due to last until 25 October.
However suspended isn't the same as cancelled. As with Avanti earlier in the year the mandate is still there so action can be restarted again at very short notice. It is all very hard to predict and plan for. Avanti was on and off a number of times.
By the way the two hourly Edinburgh trains usually have a ten minute connection into a Glasgow train at the same stations. So both Scottish terminals have an hourly service from Birmingham and points beyond west, south and east. Quite a well thought out timetable.