train - london to portsmouth

First of all Rail Europe is the American brand identity for SNCF: don't use them to book British trains as the price will probably be excessive. You can book tickets for London-Portsmouth at http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/. There is no point in paying for first class, second class is perfectly acceptable. I also don't know where you get the 2.5 hour time from. Fast trains from London Waterloo take about 90 minutes.

What Phillip said. Also, what do you mean by "restricted" 2nd class? I work on the British railway and have never heard that expression.

Having done this trip a few times (my sis lives in Portsmouth and always visit her when I go overseas) - I don't recall there being 1st and 2nd class seats...the ones we had we perfectly fine - lots of room for people and luggage...we just purchased our tix at the main train stn on the day of travel (and if I recall, it was much cheaper to do round trip then one way - I think we even did round trip tix even tho we were only heading back to London and not returning to P - I don't think we realised the round trip thing at first...)

Hello" Thank you for the replies. I would also like to know if it's better to purchase an advance tix for the bus/tube or purchase at the station.
Thank you again!

I still don't know what you meant by restricted second class, and I'd really like to know. Can you say please? As you will see if you go to the National Rail Enquiries website there are much cheaper fares if you book ahead and commit to a particular train on a particular day, non-refundable, non-changeable. If you want flexibility and don't want to be tied down and don't mind paying the extra you can get them as you arrive at the station. Which is "better" for you? Dunno. Only you would.

If you want, Aquacars in Portsmouth will meet you at the airport or fetch you from your hotel in London and whisk you to Portsmouth for less money than two train tickets. Google them and see what the cost is for transporting just one person. We've used them and it's so much more convenient being taken from arrival at Heathrow directly to our hotel in Portsmouth.

Nigel,
Thank you for the suggestions. I'm not sure what second class means, that what it says on their website, I was hoping to get insight from the blog. thanks you

Trains in the UK never have second class. We have First and Standard, and a few have Business. So, whatever source you were using , I question "Second" and I question "Restricted", as you posted previously. The difference between Standard and First is usually about 50 percent upcharge to First, or even much more, and for that what you get varies from route to route and train company to train company. The company I work for, for example gives curtains, an overhead light and seats which recline one inch, 2+2 across. Some companies include food or drink at certain hours, some don't. Some have 1+2 seating, some have 2+2. Some have First Class and Standard Class cars, most have First as a section within Standard with a door. On my trains, for example, where in 4 coaches there are nearly 400 seats, only 24 of those are First. There are several routes to Portsmouth from London, operated by at least 3 companies. Which were you contemplating?

Nigel,
I was thinking about southern railway. They are inexpensive and seem to have the basics. Have you heard anything about this company?

Southern Railway operate trains from London Victoria to Portsmouth, but over a much longer and slower route than the South West Trains one from Waterloo. The comfort will be much the same, but I'd only go that way if the ticket were much, much cheaper.

Phillip has the answer. Southwest Trains is the direct route. If you can travel slow and got a great deal Southern will take good care of you.