Edinburgh to Kettering

[Journeyman]

I make an annual trip from Edinburgh to Kettering. I've done it using Caledonian Sleeper to Euston and then a train from St. Pancras, and also on LNER to Kings Cross and out from St. Pancras. This is far from ideal as it involves a fair bit of doubling back, but I'm not a fan of CrossCountry at all, and I'm keen to minimise changing as I usually have heavy luggage with me.

I see there's a Peterborough to Kettering bus, so I thought I might give this a try. Does it leave from close to Peterborough station, and where does it drop you in Kettering? Is it normally busy? Is there much space for luggage?

Ideas on making this journey simple welcome.

 

[cactustwirly]

I make an annual trip from Edinburgh to Kettering. I've done it using Caledonian Sleeper to Euston and then a train from St. Pancras, and also on LNER to Kings Cross and out from St. Pancras. This is far from ideal as it involves a fair bit of doubling back, but I'm not a fan of CrossCountry at all, and I'm keen to minimise changing as I usually have heavy luggage with me.

I see there's a Peterborough to Kettering bus, so I thought I might give this a try. Does it leave from close to Peterborough station, and where does it drop you in Kettering? Is it normally busy? Is there much space for luggage?

Ideas on making this journey simple welcome.

That Peterborough - Kettering bus really doesn't sound great, it's a 90 minute bus journey (although it is a Stagecoach Gold route)
I'd personally get XC to Sheffield (aim for a HST service) for EMT to Kettering changing at Leicester (same platform)

 

[Journeyman]

That Peterborough - Kettering bus really doesn't sound great, it's a 90 minute bus journey (although it is a Stagecoach Gold route)
I'd personally get XC to Sheffield (aim for a HST service) for EMT to Kettering changing at Leicester (same platform)

CrossCountry are utterly ghastly and very expensive, though. 90 minutes on a bus is probably easier than what I've done before.

 

[cactustwirly]

CrossCountry are utterly ghastly and very expensive, though. 90 minutes on a bus is probably easier than what I've done before.

If you split your tickets, and aim for HST services or double Voyagers, then they're no too bad at all, much more preferable than any bus IMO!

 

[Journeyman]

If you split your tickets, and aim for HST services or double Voyagers, then they're no too bad at all, much more preferable than any bus IMO!

I really don't have any particular issue with buses. The overall journey time is the same, has one less change, is likely to be cheaper without all the hassle of attempting to sort out split tickets, and as I'm keen to go in first class, the quality of service on LNER blows XC out the water.

I just wanted to know if the bus service is any good, and if anyone has used it.

 

[westcoaster]

The X4 is run by new 68 plate enviro 400MMC's in full gold spec, think the service is every 30 mins now. And it passes my street and never seems full. It stops in central kettering (horsefair?) And major stops in and our of kettering.

It only leaves from peterborough station after 1900.

 

[Journeyman]

The X4 is run by new 68 plate enviro 400MMC's in full gold spec, think the service is every 30 mins now. And it passes my street and never seems full. It stops in central kettering (horsefair?) And major stops in and our of kettering.

That's good to know, thanks. Does it drop off anywhere near Kettering station, as I need to be in that area.

 

[westcoaster]

This shows the rough route and stops, st marys hospital/london road is closest to the station.

 

[Techniquest]

I use Stagecoach Gold services now and again in Gloucestershire, and can vouch for them being fairly decent. On the double-deckers up here at least, the seats are fairly comfortable and have USB charging ports too. They take contactless payments too, which saves faffing around with cash. I assume the ones from Peterborough would as well, but it may be worth checking.

What's handy is that when planning a journey on the Stagecoach Buses website it will usually tell you the cost of the journey too. Always very handy when planning a journey, especially if you budget things in advance.

I've never used the route in question, but generally speaking luggage space is not normally too much of an issue on Gold services. I would definitely not hesitate to recommend your plan over XC. If memory serves Peterborough town centre is a 10 minute walk from the station, so not too bad.

As for getting to Kettering, it might be worth looking at using the ECML to Grantham and changing there to an EMT service to Nottingham and change again for Kettering. Or use EMT over from Peterborough to Leicester and again to Kettering. My final suggestion, although it needs to be carefully planned as it's a limited service is to head to Peterborough, XC 170 to Oakham and EMT to Kettering via Corby. I know it involves XC but it's still worth thinking about.

 

[87electric]

It’s a 5 min walk from Peterborough rail station to bus station. Bay 15 is usually the X4 to Kettering service.

 

[Techniquest]

It’s a 5 min walk from Peterborough rail station to bus station. Bay 15 is usually the X4 to Kettering service.

Clearly my memory is not as clear as I thought it was