Train Transfer

At what stop does the transfer occur?

Best site to check out is www.nationalrail.co.uk

Here is a sample journey: GTW dep 8.23am > arr.STP (London St.Pancras) at 9.20am. Walk over the London Kings Cross - takes about 5 minutes; Dep KGX (London King’s Cross at 10.00am > arr. EDB (Edinburgh) at 14.20pm.

If you show up at Gatwick Airport rail station and pay on the day, it will cost you £148.60 one way. If you pre-book about 11 weeks ahead, you can do the whole trip for about £45.50 - but you must use specific trains.

It is a long trip following a flight. I would consider only going as far as York on the first day as that is a very interesting place to visit and is on the mainline from London to Edinburgh. Alternatively, consider flying direct from America to Edinburgh or flying from Gatwick to Edinburgh. This site will show you who flies where & when = best to click monthly view.
www.skyscanner.net
http://www.visityork.org

Roy, what are you using to plan your journey? Which route are you taking? Where is the change of trains? What departure time are you looking at?

pre book the train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/

but just buy a walk up ticket at Gatwick to St Pancras

(or fly)

It depends on which train you get on, some goes into Victoria Station, in that case you will have to take the tube from Victoria Station to Kings Cross station.

Thanks for the replies. Is there a difference in service or quality between the different rail road companies.

Roy, there is no real difference in service quality between railway companies. Usually it is decided by route, for example Gatwick to London St Pancras is Thameslink, London Kings Cross to Edinburgh is Virgin East coast. But you can still buy a ticket from Gatwick to Edinburgh, which is valid on the two trains, like a 'code-share'.

Sometimes (but rarely) there are alternative routes with alternative companies, then the competition is on price and speed. Or one company operates the slow / stopping / regional / commuter trains, and another does the fast non-stop services.

Roy, you are seeing several companies operating between King’s Cross & York. All are very good and all have trains that can do 125mph.

Different companies use different types of trains and have different stopping patterns. On the same or similar route some may use electric trains and some diesel. Some more modern trains, some less modern trains. Some long trains, some short trains. Some will have food and magazines for sale on board, some don't.

They all are pretty reliable, some a little more and some a little less. Some currently have industrial relations issues, some don't.

All 26 franchised train operating companies are privatized, and operate under the terms of a franchise setting parameters. A few companies are free lance and just pay for access. It shouldn't matter to you.

An example is the service between London and Birmingham.

Virgin West Coast has 9 or 11 car trains, 3 times an hour which usually stop at 3 stations along the way and have a large first class section with at table meals and snacks, and a very large standard class section with a buffet and shop in coach "C". They travel along at 125 mph in most areas and cost the most as a rule. They are almost all electric, with a few diesel trains. They all tilt around corners.

London Midland run commuter trains all along the corridor, via Northampton, and trains between Birmingham and London are often 4 cars long, some are 8, and at Northampton they are often added to other coaches to form 12 or 8 car trains. They will stop many times along the way, are usually the cheapest, but although they often do 110 mph the stops make them relatively slow. There is often an extended stop at Northampton of around 15 minutes. They fill all the spaces with seats so there is no food or shop onboard. Advance tickets can be as low as £6. They are completely electric but don't tilt. There is a tiny first class area with the same seats as standard (but they recline one inch) and virtually the whole train is standard class. Near London they can be very crowded.

Both of the above use the West Coast Mainline between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.

Chiltern railways use mostly modern diesel trains between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street / Birmingham Snow Hill on what used to be a secondary line. They make a moderate number of stops, have one class which they call neither first nor standard, are short trains and are slower. Some peak time trains are longer, have a food service and a "business" area for an upgrade fee but most don't. Tickets can be as low as £5.50 but most are higher.

Thanks big time!