Glasgow trip 18th July

[cambsy]

I’m planning a trip to Glasgow on Sat 18th July, Using National Express Coach Exeter-London-Exeter, then train Euston-Manchester-Glasgow-Euston, trip will be filling several functions, first trip since Covid started, see how travel has changed with Covid, and try out the new TPE 397’s and a blast on a pendolino. How do people think ill find travelling during Covid and social distancing? Will i find it still pleasant day out or will it be something to avoid gain? I’m using trip to judge wether ill go back to regular trips, cut back or even wait for it to go back to normal, be happy to get any advice I can.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I've not done any trips since this whole thing started but I do have 3 days planned at the end of next week around Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas, mainly to photograph some buses but I do intend on some very limited bus and train journeys.

I very much doubt I will find it particularly enjoyable, having to wear a face covering will reiterate that times are not normal yet, I'm of the opinion though that I want to do something so I'm prepared to go with it!

 

[xotGD]

My advice is don't go.

Why increase your risk and that of fellow passengers unnecessarily?

If you do decide to go, stay safe.

 

[Techniquest]

My advice is don't go.

Why increase your risk and that of fellow passengers unnecessarily?

If you do decide to go, stay safe.

I am of similar thinking, a long distance non-essential trip is just asking for trouble. If it was en-route to a holiday, coming back a few days later, then there would be some justification for it.

However, just going to see how the world health crisis has affected travel just seems, well, over the top. I can't think of the right words for it. I have been, admittedly, considering a day trip to Birmingham or Worcester tomorrow in a bid to both get out of Hereford for the first time in ages and to get some shopping done in shops that don't exist in Hereford. I also considered going to visit my little sister in Cheshire today, coming back tomorrow.

The face covering thing doesn't put me off surprisingly. I also have plenty of anti-bacterial gel, and lockdown has made me even less sociable than I was before, so none of that is an issue. What *is* an issue is the lack of physical distancing I've seen everywhere in Hereford, including at work. I've seen a huge lack of hands cleansing lately, and this is just in one small place. Society seems to have forgotten we're not completely out of the crisis yet!

Which has led me to donning masks at work (disposable for now, my own washable one is in the post) and upping my game with cleansing the hands. During the 'peak' of the crisis, everyone distanced and cleansed stuff so much more frequently masks weren't necessary. Now, no I'm keeping my odds of keeping infection-free high, and I'm going to keep avoiding non-essential train travel for a while yet.

As much as I would love to get out and about again, is it really worth going for a journey just for the sake of it? No.

 

[cambsy]

I have weighed up when safe to go, and with pubs, restaurants etc opening.

Having been in job, which I worked throughout lockdown, not being able to social distance, and abiding by the rules when not working, I feel it is a reasonable time to start travelling again.

I know its still risky to travel to a degree, and only with recent easements have I felt right to travel again; if I wait for Covid to not be a risk, could a long time, which not fair on me, whilst everyone else is getting back to normal, going on holidays etc

I've got to take the plunge sometime and now feels as good a time as any to do just that.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I'm only going on trains to get out of Wigan occasionally, not to bash or whatever (no car). I have a couple of days off week after next and was thinking of a Lancashire Day Ranger to do the various Novas, but (i) I don't like wearing the face covering and (ii) I'm not sure it really makes sense to do it at the moment. I'll probably have a day out somewhere by the coast or maybe go to Alderley Edge. The other day I'll go and have a coffee with my daughter in Warrington. I've got a week off in late August, let's see how things are then...

 

[NorthWestRover]

PS I went to St Anne's and Lytham a couple of weeks ago. It was fine there, but the train journey was eerie.

 

[Techniquest]

I'm only going on trains to get out of Wigan occasionally, not to bash or whatever (no car). I have a couple of days off week after next and was thinking of a Lancashire Day Ranger to do the various Novas, but (i) I don't like wearing the face covering and (ii) I'm not sure it really makes sense to do it at the moment. I'll probably have a day out somewhere by the coast or maybe go to Alderley Edge. The other day I'll go and have a coffee with my daughter in Warrington. I've got a week off in late August, let's see how things are then...

I think leaving any 'red pen' trips until that week off in August is probably wise. Hopefully, by then, any spikes in infection rates caused by a sudden surge of people shifting about will go down again.

I have a week off in early October, and even then I'm not sure about doing any proper bashing. I would say that the short day trips you mention, like meeting up with your daughter, would be reasonable. Obviously keeping to distancing rules, face coverings on the trains, that sort of thing.

There was consideration, following an appointment this morning, to go for a little afternoon trip, but I really didn't feel right about the idea. One of those 'gut instinct' moments, so I went home via Sainsburys and had a decent meal instead!

 

[route101]

I’m planning a trip to Glasgow on Sat 18th July, Using National Express Coach Exeter-London-Exeter, then train Euston-Manchester-Glasgow-Euston, trip will be filling several functions, first trip since Covid started, see how travel has changed with Covid, and try out the new TPE 397’s and a blast on a pendolino. How do people think ill find travelling during Covid and social distancing? Will i find it still pleasant day out or will it be something to avoid gain? I’m using trip to judge wether ill go back to regular trips, cut back or even wait for it to go back to normal, be happy to get any advice I can.

I used a TPE service few days ago from Edinburgh. It was quiet, so plenty of space . Are you staying in a hotel?

 

[cambsy]

I am doing the whole trip in a long day, no hotel stay, using overnight National Express coaches.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I've been to Manchester for the day today. It was absolutely fine. Hell of a lot of double Voyagers and 185s out.

If you do go, make sure you social distance, wear a face covering and have hand gel enjoy!

 

[Jamesrob637]

I've been to Manchester for the day today. It was absolutely fine. Hell of a lot of double Voyagers and 185s out.

If you do go, make sure you social distance, wear a face covering and have hand gel enjoy!

For the Double Voyagers thread really but every :25 arrival is a double into Manchester today. Partly makes up for the lack of:00 arrival (the one from Bristol and the more attractive for you, living in Cardiff)

 

[Segedunum]

I did a return trip to Sheffield last weekend to catch up with people I hadn't seen in months. That, and I did feel like getting out for the sake of my own sanity as I don't drive.

The current environment isn't really conducive to having a massive bash on trains. Wearing a face covering became rather oppressive after a couple of hours of non-stop use (other than a quick pull down for a couple of minutes at Doncaster to let my face cool off) so Euston-Manchester-Glasgow-Euston will be quite a mammoth trip. Newcastle to Sheffield was enough for me, and even then I was a bit tetchy about ensuring that my hands were washed/sanitised very regularly (ideally before and after boarding any service) and that I was well away from fellow passengers at all times.

However, technically speaking, provided that you take all of the precautions there isn't too much of a problem, as you're not exactly planning no. I'd just say be aware that it's nowhere near the same as before and the enjoyment of travelling on the railway for the moment as its own thing is pretty depleted for me. I can't see myself travelling on the railway for the sake of it for a good while to come.

So do it if you're prepared to take all precautions, but don't expect to make it a regular thing for a while yet. It just isn't worth it.

 

[AnthonyRail]

I’m planning a trip to Glasgow on Sat 18th July, Using National Express Coach Exeter-London-Exeter, then train Euston-Manchester-Glasgow-Euston, trip will be filling several functions, first trip since Covid started, see how travel has changed with Covid, and try out the new TPE 397’s and a blast on a pendolino. How do people think ill find travelling during Covid and social distancing? Will i find it still pleasant day out or will it be something to avoid gain? I’m using trip to judge wether ill go back to regular trips, cut back or even wait for it to go back to normal, be happy to get any advice I can.

I need to go Glasgow in October from Devon . I mite look into your route. How long is that all together travelling

 

[scotrail158713]

I am doing the whole trip in a long day, no hotel stay, using overnight National Express coaches.

That’ll be a long day
But I’d say just go for it. The consensus on here seems to be that trains are still fairly quiet (barring maybe beach-bound trains on sunny days) so distancing should be fine.

 

[xotGD]

The government reiterated the policy today that nonessential journeys by public transport should be avoided.

 

[Techniquest]

The government reiterated the policy today that nonessential journeys by public transport should be avoided.

Which still begs the question of what is classed as an essential journey. For me, personally, I would say that is key workers commuting, travelling to a funeral or to make final farewells, and to be honest I can't think of much else that I would count as 'essential'.

Going for a day trip for mental health reasons, I'm afraid, does not count in my view.

I do plan to pop out to no further than Worcester in a few weeks, to meet up with a friend I've not seen since January, but even then I will still be ensuring proper social distancing as much as possible. It will be my first movement out of Herefordshire since 6th March, and indeed my first journey by all means (including cycling) since late May, when I last did some cycling to colour in more of my map of Herefordshire for cycle coverage.

That's all assuming of course that the world health crisis doesn't get worse! I'm looking forward to the meetup, of course, but I'm not really looking forward to the journey. It will be nice to get away, naturally, but I'll be closely monitoring distance from other people and won't have that feeling of freedom a train journey normally offers.

So I would still vote against spending hours on overnight coaches and long distance trains, just for a jolly. Overnight coaches aren't much fun anyway, as I'm sure most people will attest to. I've never had a proper rest on one, they're as much fun as a middle seat long-haul flight overnight...*shudders*

 

[cactustwirly]

Which still begs the question of what is classed as an essential journey. For me, personally, I would say that is key workers commuting, travelling to a funeral or to make final farewells, and to be honest I can't think of much else that I would count as 'essential'.

Going for a day trip for mental health reasons, I'm afraid, does not count in my view.

There's nothing to stop you from doing journeys that are not "essential", the advice from the ToCs is to wear a face covering and only to consider alternative modes of transport.

 

[High Dyke]

The government reiterated the policy today that nonessential journeys by public transport should be avoided.

One of the reasons the wife and I have cancelled a weekend away to Glasgow at the end of July, for our tenth wedding anniversary. Even though the Ibis have transferred our booking to the adjacent Novotel, at no extra charge, issues regarding rail staff travel means it's easier to defer the trip until a later date. Hopefully when face coverings aren't compulsory.

Instead, we can drive to a hotel in Norfolk, about an hour or so away. Still plenty of things to see and do.

 

[92002]

One of the reasons the wife and I have cancelled a weekend away to Glasgow at the end of July, for our tenth wedding anniversary. Even though the Ibis have transferred our booking to the adjacent Novotel, at no extra charge, issues regarding rail staff travel means it's easier to defer the trip until a later date. Hopefully when face coverings aren't compulsory.

Instead, we can drive to a hotel in Norfolk, about an hour or so away. Still plenty of things to see and do.

No real need to cancel your trip. Scotland opened up for tourism from this weekend. So hotels and B&Bs now allowed to open again for a shorter Summer season.

 

[route101]

No real need to cancel your trip. Scotland opened up for tourism from this weekend. So hotels and B&Bs now allowed to open again for a shorter Summer season.

Im looking at a few days up north week after next!

 

[High Dyke]

No real need to cancel your trip. Scotland opened up for tourism from this weekend. So hotels and B&Bs now allowed to open again for a shorter Summer season.

It's more an issue with travel up there, rather than hotels and attractions being open. The hotel had actually transferred our booking to an adjacent hotel at no extra cost. A four hour rail trip, with all its conditions and the current rail staff travel restrictions makes a difference. We'll look forward to visiting Scotland again either later this year or early next.

 

[cambsy]

I have now booked my trip, on Sat 18th July, i08.40 Euston-Man Pic, 12.26 Man Pic-Edinburgh, 17.00 Edinburgh-Kingds Cross, the reason for change of destination is the Transpenine Express services to Glasgow, are only running from Preston, and there were no advance fares on the 16.37 Glasgow-Euston, or not released yet, it was £105 single.

I have found the the ticketing system at the moment to be very user unfriendly, I had to wait till Mon 13th July for the Transpenine Express advance fares to Glasgow or Edinburgh, to become available. at one point on real Time Trains, all TransPennine.Express trains were cancelled on Saturday 18th, and on the Avanti West Coast website, the advamce fares were sold out, to then appear available once the timetable was finalised, so overall. its been very confusing trying to book advance tickets.

I ended up checking the various websites regularly for when the advance fares became available, so they didn’t sell out before could buy them, in the end I got the fares for, £35 Euston-Man Pic, £36 40 Man Pic-Edinburgh, and £51.50 Edinburgh-Kings Cross, with travel voucher cost me £82.65, which not too bad.

 

[route101]

I have now booked my trip, on Sat 18th July, i08.40 Euston-Man Pic, 12.26 Man Pic-Edinburgh, 17.00 Edinburgh-Kingds Cross, the reason for change of destination is the Transpenine Express services to Glasgow, are only running from Preston, and there were no advance fares on the 16.37 Glasgow-Euston, or not released yet, it was £105 single.

I have found the the ticketing system at the moment to be very user unfriendly, I had to wait till Mon 13th July for the Transpenine Express advance fares to Glasgow or Edinburgh, to become available. at one point on real Time Trains, all TransPennine.Express trains were cancelled on Saturday 18th, and on the Avanti West Coast website, the advamce fares were sold out, to then appear available once the timetable was finalised, so overall. its been very confusing trying to book advance tickets.

I ended up checking the various websites regularly for when the advance fares became available, so they didn’t sell out before could buy them, in the end I got the fares for, £35 Euston-Man Pic, £36 40 Man Pic-Edinburgh, and £51.50 Edinburgh-Kings Cross, with travel voucher cost me £82.65, which not too bad.

How was your trip?

 

[Jamesrob637]

I have now booked my trip, on Sat 18th July, i08.40 Euston-Man Pic, 12.26 Man Pic-Edinburgh, 17.00 Edinburgh-Kingds Cross, the reason for change of destination is the Transpenine Express services to Glasgow, are only running from Preston, and there were no advance fares on the 16.37 Glasgow-Euston, or not released yet, it was £105 single.

I have found the the ticketing system at the moment to be very user unfriendly, I had to wait till Mon 13th July for the Transpenine Express advance fares to Glasgow or Edinburgh, to become available. at one point on real Time Trains, all TransPennine.Express trains were cancelled on Saturday 18th, and on the Avanti West Coast website, the advamce fares were sold out, to then appear available once the timetable was finalised, so overall. its been very confusing trying to book advance tickets.

I ended up checking the various websites regularly for when the advance fares became available, so they didn’t sell out before could buy them, in the end I got the fares for, £35 Euston-Man Pic, £36 40 Man Pic-Edinburgh, and £51.50 Edinburgh-Kings Cross, with travel voucher cost me £82.65, which not too bad.

£83 for over 800 miles' round trip is very good VFM

I always say you're doing well if you get 8 to 10 miles for a pound. Hope your trip went well.

 

[cambsy]

The trip started with National Express from Exeter, which was nice, with seat next to me empty, they are using just the window seats, so 50 per cent capacity, arrived in the departure hall, about 06.25, at temporary stand, seems not be using arrivals, then walked to victoria station, very quiet streets, then took Circle Line via Liverpool Street to Euston Square, started very quiet, though picked up few as went round, but never crowded, then short walk to Euston.

Got top Euston about 07.20 am, was very quiet, with only WH Smith’s and Sainsbury’s open, so got my food and pop for trip from Sainsbury’s, then waited 08.40 to Manchester Piccadilly, steadily few people arrived into Euston, but a lot down on usual, then boarded 390005 for trip to Manchester, found a table of 4 to myself, train was quiet, so plenty of space, and social distancing, had good run to Stafford, then checked by 07.43 Euston-Preston, arrived Crewe about minute late, and couple mins late, 10.48 at Manchester Piccadilly.

When arrived Manchester Piccadilly, went straight over to Platform 13, so did not notice how busy station was, Platform 13 and 13 were quite busy, as waited for my train 11.24 to Manchester Airport, which was then my next train, 12.07 Manchester Aiport-Edinburgh,
397006 duly arrived, they are nice units, look very smart in their livery and very stylish front end, they to me are a step up from the 350’s or 185’s previously on route, the end doors give a lot better feel of a Intercity regional train than doors throughout train, The interior was nice, with lots of tables, though as with most modern trains the seats were hard, which dont mind too much,
Transpenine Express are using paper tickets to notify where allowed to sit for social distancing, the train was very quiet for whole journey, punctual through out, arrived Edinburgh about 15.39,

Edinburgh was reasonably busy but again most outlets were shut, had wander around as waited 17.00 to Kings Cross, 9 car Azuma 801206 formed my train to Kings Cross, There were no reservations showing but were then expected to seat only in booked seats, fortunately the reservations showed for few mins before turning off again, so took opportunity to move to available table, from my window seat in 2 seats, the train was quiet all the way so wasn’t problem, but it was annoying and frustrating,
the train manger was very pro active on face covering wearing, was watching closely on cctv, and threatened some passengers with police meeting them at next station if they didnt wear them, fortunately they put them back on, so didnt get delayed by waiting police at station, train ran well, arriving early most stations, and arrived Kings Cross few mins early about 21.42.

The most noticeable aspects of travelling during COvid 19, were that it was definitely a lot quieter than usual, but it made travelling more comfortable, was also very little open on stations, and no catering on most of the trains, found wearing a face covering, didnt put me off traveling, as got used to it, and if took off, occasionally got a polite please put back on, was really good to get traveling again, and if situation stays same and allowed to travel, will definitely be doing more trips in coming months, and would say to anyone, get travelling and doing hobby again, it perfectly fine to, there are differences, but none of them are much of a problem and dId not dampen the enjoyment of travelling again, at least for me.

 

[route101]

Sounds a decent trip. I done a trip last week to test the water, went well. Did enjoy the quiet trains.

Tomorrow I'm getting LNER , hopefully the reservation system is showing what seats are free
I noticed on Avanti it was saying available for every seat.