Wolverhampton/Birmingham - Glasgow/Edinburgh

[Bee15_16]

Long shot with such short notice but maybe that works in my favour!

Going from Midlands to Aberdeen but i can sort out cheap(ish) travel in scotland, it's just getting from the Midlands to Scotland that i'm working on.
I say midlands because i can go from Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton but figure that Birmingham would have the better prices come up because of it being a bigger station (I may even be wrong on this)
Trying to find the cheapest way to get to Scotland on Virgin Trains or a fast(ish) service. Never gone on any other than the XC route, twice, and even though it's £10 odd with my railcard my bum would like a break from the 5 hour journey. So my question is how do i go about really finding the best fare, as i've read user's here doing searches via different places. May sound silly question but is it random what stations to go via to see if the price is any different or do you choose the bigger stations or such like?

Any replies are welcome!

Anything ive missed out or questions anyone has on what i've wrote (As it may only be me who understands what i've wrote) I will be happy to either explain or answer.

 

[Ivo]

When would this be?

 

[chris89]

The closest stations on the route by VT in the Midlands are Crewe, Wolverhampton (What i use) and New Street station.

With an YP railcard it's costs me about 62.50 ish for a return or maybe less if booked way in advance. Im not sure how much it costs from XC to get to edinburgh from New street, but that journey is 5hrs compared to 3hr 45 by VT and you don't need to change with VT.

 

[yorkie]

Cross Country is a lot cheaper in order to compete with Virgin, so it's your choice over price vs speed! Edinburgh to Birmingham is so discounted it can be cheaper than York - Birmingham (less than half way) on the same train.

 

[Bee15_16]

Whoops, i didn't name a date. Doofus.

11/02/10-16/02/10 - And yes, think i might have to take the price over the speed.

I normally get Birmingham/Edinburgh for £10.50 with YP and then FSR Edinburgh/Aberdeen for £6.80ish.

It was jsut to try and shorten the time with the Birmingham/Scotland stretch but paying double nearly triple to shave an hour or so off really isnt going to suit my bank balance.

I only wish i could positivly guarantee what seat i'm getting as i've got long legs and cant travel backwards i prefer a table, last time i booked a table i got a backwards aisle seat. Never felt so sick in all my life.

Thanks for the responces btw, much appriciated.

 

[yorkie]

I only wish i could positivly guarantee what seat i'm getting as i've got long legs and cant travel backwards i prefer a table, last time i booked a table i got a backwards aisle seat. Never felt so sick in all my life..

Either book at a station, or try to get a copy of a seating plan (or take a note of the seat numbers if you are able to go into a Voyager at your local station some time soon!) and use the Atos Origin booking engine (e.g. East Coast, Southern websites) and specify the type of seat you want, before you pay it tells you the coach letter and seat number, you can check that it's satisfactory before paying (if not, you can change it). I think it counts pillar seats as window seats though.

There are very few table seats on Voyagers, and they are likely to be wanted by groups.

Also if you have long legs I don't think a table seat will be that suitable (what if the person opposite has long legs?), it would be far better to get a 'priority seat', they are at the end of some of the coaches, perhaps someone can provide the full details... I am sure that ticket office staff can get you a priority seat.

This seating plan is no longer applicable as it's changed since Virgin days, I don't know how different it is but you can get an idea where the 'priority seats' are. You can't tell on the diagram but there is significantly more leg room at priority seats.

 

[transportphoto]

But if you request a reservation for a table seat and you get a table (providing the reservation screens are working above the seat) you can chuck out one of the 'group' and take the seat you have reserved. If all else fails just go to the train manager and he will soon sort it! Please Confirm - Could someone be given a penalty for sitting in a reserved seat which is not theirs? Get what I mean???

 

[Bee15_16]

Also if you have long legs I don't think a table seat will be that suitable (what if the person opposite has long legs?), it would be far better to get a 'priority seat', they are at the end of some of the coaches, perhaps someone can provide the full details... I am sure that ticket office staff can get you a priority seat.

This seating plan is no longer applicable as it's changed since Virgin days, I don't know how different it is but you can get an idea where the 'priority seats' are. You can't tell on the diagram but there is significantly more leg room at priority seats.

Thank you so much for the advice.
I usually have a laptop or a dvd player (Trying to find a 2nd hand cheap one or the other and its not going well so might not even need the table Heh) with me so book the table for that aswell but thats only secondary to the leg situation. I've usually lucked in with getting noone opposite me, but i didn't think about the priority seating. I always thought i could not book those as a non disabled passenger. Either way i shall look into it. Need to get my bum in gear though else i won't have a seat to even worry about!
I might just go with cheap over speed.
XC here i come!

 

[transportphoto]

CC here i come!

Just for reference - the above term 'CC' officially stands for the TOC c2c.
However this is relating to CrossCountry Trains (XC).

@Bee15_16 - could you change to XC to avoid confusion?! Please.

 

[Bee15_16]

Okie doke. Did not realise that, CC was just how i abv'd it.
XC

 

[transportphoto]

Thats fine - easy mistake to make!


Thanks

 

[Bee15_16]

Edited my posts to rectify it.
Still not booked, really need to get my skates on.

 

[yorkie]

Just for reference - the above term 'CC' officially stands for the TOC c2c.
However this is relating to CrossCountry Trains (XC).

@Bee15_16 - could you change to XC to avoid confusion?! Please.

Are you sure about that? Avantix Traveller disagrees.

I use XC as it is the term they use and appears on their trains, but the code is CC.

 

[A60K]

Are you sure about that? Avantix Traveller disagrees.

I use XC as it is the term they use and appears on their trains, but the code is CC.

Just to confuse people, in the National Rail Timetable c2c is allocated 'CC' as the operator code, with 'XC' for Cross Country. What's the betting there's another set of codes somewhere within the railway network that are different again?

(The NRT is also where 'FC' means First Capital Connect, 'LE' means National Express East Anglia (London Eastern Railway Ltd) and 'GR' means East Coast (and which was also used when it was National Express East Coast), all of these different to Avantix Traveller's codes!)

 

[transportphoto]

@ Yorkie & A60K


Yes, I would agree.

However - I am looking at this from the perspective of a person who doesn't know the difference between the different codes on different programs.
I just usually go by what is said on National Rail Enq. and what I would find on a booking engine alike 'East Coast'

Click on Image to see larger & more readable.

Do you see what I mean?

 

[yorkie]

Yes, I would agree.

However - I am looking at this from the perspective of a person who doesn't know the difference between the different codes on different programs.
I just usually go by what is said on National Rail Enq. and what I would find on a booking engine alike 'East Coast'
View attachment 2151
Click on Image to see larger & more readable.

Do you see what I mean?

Yes, I do, but they use 'GR' for East Coast, whereas in Avantix it makes more sense 'ECC', although I don't know what the extra C is for.

It does seem quite bizarre to have a different code used in the timetable than is used for the ticketing system.

The ticketing ones seem to make more sense than the timetable ones - ironic given that customers are more likely to see the timetable ones.

I witnessed someone on a GC with a NXEC ticket about 8 months ago, and they must have pointed out that it said GR on their itinerary as the guard had to explain that GR was in fact the code for NXEC. He didn't charge them a new ticket, and gave them some sort of excess, which was quite fair as they were on the wrong train. NXEC would probably have charged them £hundreds as they had questionable moral standards.

 

[Bee15_16]

Sorry to have caused such a debate

 

[yorkie]

Sorry to have caused such a debate

Not at all. Such debates are what makes this forum what it is - the premier site for fares advice & debates!

 

[A60K]

And we have those debates largely because of the irrational and idiosyncratic nature of the British railway network, and we enjoy them

 

[Bee15_16]

Haha.
Love a good debate to get my mind going and teeth into. Just have to happen upon a subject i know or have veiws about!
This one is way out of my hands, complete eejit on these train terms.


Btw anyone had any experience with the sleeper trains?

 

[yorkie]

Btw anyone had any experience with the sleeper trains?

Yes, plenty of posts have been made on that subject. Anything specific in mind?

I've only done the sleeper once since the 37s ended 3 years 8 months ago. It's not been the same since :cry: (well not unless you were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time)

 

[Bee15_16]

Didnt think to search, sorry, i'm a class a nuisance

No nothing specific. Thinking of trying to get one next time maybe but don't know if they even stop anywhere near me or on prices. Seem to only find a number to ring on the FSR website.

Got ditracted with one of those videos the race from Lancaster to Shap Summit. Funny video.

 

[yorkie]

Didnt think to search, sorry, i'm a class a nuisance

No nothing specific. Thinking of trying to get one next time maybe but don't know if they even stop anywhere near me or on prices. Seem to only find a number to ring on the FSR website.

Got ditracted with one of those videos the race from Lancaster to Shap Summit. Funny video.

If you don't live anywhere near the West Coast Main Line, the ECML north of Aberdeen, or the Highland Main Line or the West Highland Line, then you don't live anywhere near the Scottish sleeper route! The FGW route is from Penzance to Paddington. That's it these days.

And yes, that's a strange video. I know it's only fun but they really would need to do a longer race to be fair! Or how about Corrour to Rannoch

Edit: If you do live near the West Midlands, then the nearest station for the sleeper for you is Crewe, the Highland sleeper stops there (the 16 coach train has portions to Fort William/Inverness/Aberdeen).

Normal prices apply if you are going seated (you can get cheaper Scotrail only fares), but if you want a berth than that's about £36 each way extra. There are berth-inclusive advance fares available though.

 

[Bee15_16]

If you don't live anywhere near the West Coast Main Line, the ECML north of Aberdeen, or the Highland Main Line or the West Highland Line, then you don't live anywhere near the Scottish sleeper route! The FGW route is from Penzance to Paddington. That's it these days.

And yes, that's a strange video. I know it's only fun but they really would need to do a longer race to be fair! Or how about Corrour to Rannoch

Edit: If you do live near the West Midlands, then the nearest station for the sleeper for you is Crewe, the Highland sleeper stops there (the 16 coach train has portions to Fort William/Inverness/Aberdeen).

Normal prices apply if you are going seated (you can get cheaper Scotrail only fares), but if you want a berth than that's about £36 each way extra. There are berth-inclusive advance fares available though.

Thank you!
Yes, Im in the West midlands, not far from Wolverhampton but it's cheap enough usually to get around, Just trying to find alternative ways of doing the 9 hour journey
I just couldnt make head nor tail of the website or find any info really on it. Where is the best place to find information for it? I might be able to grab something form it rather than bother people with daft questions haha