A business traveler’s tale

[StrollerEd]

Plane and train compared ...

My work requires that I’m in London about 3 or 4 times a month – not a commuter but someone who travels regularly and wants to do that well. By well I mean without hassle, and preferably in peace and quiet so that I can work to justify the fare. I much preferred to use the train even if it took longer as I could work and could enjoy the travel – which included a good meal in the restaurant car.

Not now with the EC catering change - but that is on another thread.

So, I’ve reverted to the plane and thought I would record the comparison for a trip to attend a meeting in central London that starts at 10.30 for 10.45 – thinking that I would normally have used the 5.40am to Kings Cross, as most meetings are about 15 to 30 minutes travel time from there.

Set the alarm for 6.20, a good bit later than the 4.40 wake up call I would have had for the 5.40am train from Waverley. Taxi arrived at 6.50, as pre-booked and I was at the airport in almost the same time as it would have taken to get to the station. I had checked-in the night before and so with boarding card I went straight to the gate and then security. No queue but still a little tedious although I did recall that the July bombs were on buses and underground train – and in Madrid it was a train.

‘Platform 9’ was just on the other side of security, and I had a few minutes to wait as it was now 7.25 and I was hungry having skipped breakfast in favour of sleep. So I joined the queue for a Panini and juice and good coffee – but had to abandon that as we started boarding almost straight away and so was seated on the plane by 7.35 and we were away on time at 7.45

So I was hungry when the at-seat breakfast arrived. Not big, and no equivalent of the much lamented restaurant car that I used to enjoy on the train, but it - bacon, sausage, egg, tomato and potato cake- gave the appearance of being freshly cooked and was tasty. A bread roll and butter, but no marmalade. A reasonable cup of tea and I managed the milkystick.

Had been told inflight that we might be 15 minutes early into London City. In fact disembarking was much later than landing although I was at the LDR to Canning Town by 9.12 (so still within the scheduled 1 hour 25 minutes.

Then its off on the Docklands Rail with my Oyster Card, opting to go via Bank rather than Jubilee at Canning Town. Irony was that my meeting today was a pleasant walk South of Euston

I arrived at my meeting by 10am, a little ahead of the time I might have donw had I caught that 5.40am from Waverley, having woken at 4.40am rather than 6.20am.

I'm due to fly back tomorrow at about 5pm, so I'll see what I might then get as 'evening snack' delivered at seat and inclusive to the ticket price.

This is just a report not an argued position. Had I taken the train I'm sure I would have finished that PPT for the presentation before I reached my meeting place (where I took 15 minutes to do so) - but hey.

Next visit I will probably re-try the train option, depending upon whether I get a reply from EC Customer Services to the email I sent on 27 May, and/or the one I sent 10 days later to 'firstclass@'

hope the tale was not too tedious

 

[rail-britain]

I have to travel once a month to our company regional offices (Darlington, Preston, Manchester, and London)

My preference is rail, but I have travelled by airline a few times

London is the greatest challenge, as I need to be there at 10:30
I leave home at 03:30 and travel on the 04:28 Glasgow to London Euston
This allows me to have a cup of tea, rather than at home, then a short sleep to Carlisle
Breakfast is then served
I then have another breakfast after Preston, and then usually have another sleep
My alarm then goes off as the train passes Milton Keynes

Northbound I use the 16:30, usually arriving at Euston at 16:00 for this service
I usually stay awake until Preston, then nod off
On arrival in Glasgow it is then a short drive home

I have yet to travel to Darlington but looking forward to travelling with East Coast as the previous First Class service was simply hot drinks and biscuits
I then purchased Catering Vouchers to obtain a small discount for hot food, but this was hit or miss and sometimes my first option was not available
To have at least a sandwich now is better and comparable to West Coast
Equally, I am hopeful a breakfast southbound is included

 

[Mainliner]

I have travelled Newcastle-London every week (staying in London a couple of nights) for 3 years.

I prefer the train, mainly because I can sit down at a table and work without interruption for 3 hours (on my laptop, including accessing the internet and sending/receiving emails), if I so wish.

I tried flying for a month in comparison, about 2 years ago. Too stop/start - trip to airport, wait in airport, get on plane, get through other airport, trip into London. Little or no time saving, as I can walk to my office from Kings Cross.

The catering isn't as much of an issue for me as for those who have a longer journey. I have breakfast at home if I get a later train, and I usually get into London at around lunchtime, so have lunch after arriving. I normally get the 8pm train back, and tend to eat before catching the train and then just drink and relax on the journey.

I might add that over 3 years I have only ever been delayed to the extent of being able to claim compensation a handful of times. I have very fortuitously missed all of the 'wires down' incidents , and I was very impressed at how well East Coast maintained the service during the severe weather last December - on occasions arriving in the office earlier than London-based colleagues

Finally, the recent timetable change has been good for me, as the non-stop London-York section means that I now get into Newcastle 18 minutes earlier, avoiding a dash for the last Metro on the occasions when there have been minor delays

Interestingly, the non-stop York-London trains I caught in the past 2 weeks each arrived 5-10 minutes early. Last week, it had to wait outside Kings Cross for a platform, but this week it got straight in.

 

[Failed Unit]

I have yet to travel to Darlington but looking forward to travelling with East Coast as the previous First Class service was simply hot drinks and biscuits
I then purchased Catering Vouchers to obtain a small discount for hot food, but this was hit or miss and sometimes my first option was not available
To have at least a sandwich now is better and comparable to West Coast
Equally, I am hopeful a breakfast southbound is included

Ha ha ha, you are easily pleased if you consider the option of 2 very small sandwiches an improvement on buying something a lot bigger, although if you are travelling to Darlington I guess it is only 2h30 so you are not going to be starving the other end

Anyway there is a 3rd way from Scotland.
Get a nice train to Edinburgh to arrive at about 2300, wander over to the sleeper and dump your stuff in the cabin, you could if you want then attempt to go to sleep. I go into the lounge and spend the £5 vouchers on a little nip to help me sleep as I know I will get a rude awakening at Carstairs anyway.

Once the train is safely away from Carstairs there is a chance of 6 hours sleep on the way to London, the odd jolt waking you up along the way.

Upon arrival in London you get a microwaved breakfast with a pot of tea, wander over to the Virgin Lounge (don't leave the train until 7am as you won't get in before). Grab a shower have a read of the paper and head off to the meeting.

I know the account above is not really selling the sleeper, but I don't get a solid sleep on it. Saying that I don't sleep well anyway when I need to get an early morning mode of transport (plane or train) as I wake up at say 3am thinking I have missed the alarm. The sleeper does take that hassle out of it as you don't waste any time on the travel. I have yet to meet someone who can sleep through Carstairs.

Catering no way as good as East Coast, even with the downgrade, more airline standards to be honest.

 

[trainophile]

Any of you seasoned travellers care to tell us how the costs compare? That would be the first consideration for many people. Although not if your company is paying I assume.

 

[Failed Unit]

Any of you seasoned travellers care to tell us how the costs compare? That would be the first consideration for many people. Although not if your company is paying I assume.

Scotrail - £130 first single (although advance cards will get you £99 returns)
East Coast - £199 Maximum (Scottish Exec ticket which is a standard which is upgraded to first)
Air between £100 (return Lazy Jet) - £400 (BA) - But you need to add transport costs onto the other end, about £20 IIRC from Gatwick - Central London so Lazy Jet can be very cheap, the £100 return is hard to come by in the morning but happens, that is avoiding all the "extras"

On all modes you can get cheaper if you book in advance, but that rarely works for business, I only normally get 2 weeks notice. Leisure can get you £19 sleepers, £13 Rail (standard) £50 (first) single rail tickets, and various air-tickets that are cheaper than the train to get you into London!

 

[StrollerEd]

you are right that cost is not the first consideration - altho it is a consideration.

If I or one of my staff has to travel for business purposes then I want them to be able to perform well when they get there. sometimes that means they travel, stay overnight and then go to the meeting. but of course a stay in London is expensive, so the cost of same day travel is factored in. either which way they have to be able to perform effectively otherwise there is no point in traveling.

as mentioned, if you are waking early to travel often you risk not sleeping well. and in fact this morning I actually awoke at 4.47am even though the alarm was set for 6.20am - I did get back to sleep but then had to drag myself out of deep sleep at 6.20am when the alarm went off. So afar (20.45) so good, and now off to eat after a post-meeting bevvy.

I did try the sleeper but not enough sleep for me.

if I am to go down the night before then unless I do that mid-afternoon, I want to be pampered/compensated for eating into my non-work time by eating well - hence my big regret about the disappearance of the restaurant car where I could get that pampering/compensation.

 

[Essexman]

Scotland to London for early meeting - surely the answer is the sleeper.

I travel from London to Glasgow several times a year on business and always use the sleeper - usually both ways - sometimes I used to come back EC and enjoy restaurant but I won't be doing that now.

I can leave home at 10pm (but I often go a bit earlier & use the first class lounge at Euston) and arrive at Glasgow about 7.20. Time for shower and breakfast (I usually decline it on the train in favour of extra sleep). Usually I'm travelling to East Kilbride or Milliken Park for just after 9.00 so there's no rush.

Once work has finished I've enjoyed many train trips (Troon, Perth, Ballack, Stirling etc) before coming back to Glasgow for the sleeper, or sometimes get a train to Pitlochry or Inverness and the sleeper back from there. Or in winter a nice meal in Glasgow.

Similar advantages coming south.

So try the sleeper. It's almost as if you've travelled without taking any time.

 

[StrollerEd]

London is the greatest challenge, as I need to be there at 10:30
I leave home at 03:30 and travel on the 04:28 Glasgow to London Euston

<snip>

Northbound I use the 16:30, usually arriving at Euston at 16:00 for this service. I usually stay awake until Preston, then nod off
On arrival in Glasgow it is then a short drive home

ouch!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I have taken the train there and back on the same day to London, departing on the then 5.50am and returning on the 17.00 or later. It makes for a long day and I really did appreciate the cooked breakfast of scambled egg and salmon with a slice of black pudding and then the morning sun rising over the coastal view on the way down; with prospect of excellent dinner and a glass or two of vino on the way back.

Sadly ....

 

[Failed Unit]

The sleeper to be honest is ok, if you are a sound sleeper yourself. (although no lounge at Glasgow is a negative). There is nothing to stop you boarding early and going straight to bed. But as a genuine question how many of you can sleep through Carstairs where it joins? The early arrival is very good but I also need to consider performance the next day, if I want to be as sharp in meetings and the early morning options are too risky. I used to use the 1600 and have a lovely meal, but that option is gone, 2 sandwiches leaving Edinburgh late afternoon was wiped the train option.

 

[Lee_Again]

And this is the problem with 'free' food in First. It just isn't enough.

If you are away for a long day, especially anglo Scottish services, then you are really looking for a 'meal', not a snack.

For me, returning from Leeds or Newcastle, was a simple transport choice; Train everytime. I'd get on at 5(ish), have dinner, arrive home 8(ish). Now, I arrive home at 8 and still need dinner. If that's the case, I may as well drive.

And, really, how hard can it be? Even airlines serve up larger portions than EC or Virgin. When we have an unknown amount of visitors to our house, say a summer BBQ, the wife just puts on a large Chilli and a load of spuds go in the oven. Our guests can then have as little, or much, as they like. And we rarely, if ever, run out.

Oh, and complimentry drinks at my house means exactly that. We don't limit you to one or two glasses. Just don't be sick!!!

 

[rail-britain]

Anyway there is a 3rd way from Scotland.
Get a nice train to Edinburgh to arrive at about 2300, wander over to the sleeper and dump your stuff in the cabin, you could if you want then attempt to go to sleep. I go into the lounge and spend the £5 vouchers on a little nip to help me sleep as I know I will get a rude awakening at Carstairs anyway

Why would I travel to Edinburgh from Cumbernauld?
Surely the options would be Glasgow or Westerton?
I would use the sleeper, but the overall fare is higher and there is no need for overnight accomodation, when I can stay at home

The only time I have required to use the sleeper was the ALR, thus allowing both to be completed at the same time

 

[Mainliner]

Any of you seasoned travellers care to tell us how the costs compare? That would be the first consideration for many people. Although not if your company is paying I assume.

I travel Standard (as I have to pay) :cry:.

I am normally able to book 3 months ahead, at which point the train is considerably cheaper.

Easyjet used to have a Newcastle-Stansted service, which I occasionally used, as their prices for late-ish bookings were competitive compared to the train, but they appear to have discontinued this route. BA's prices always seem more expensive than the train, e.g. for the w/c 3 July about £125 return compared to about £80 for East Coast, at the times I need to travel.

For 2 or 3 last-minute bookings in the last couple of years I have gone by coach - at a cost of say £15 compared to £100 by train. Obviously it takes much longer and is not as comfortable, and I certainly wouldn't do it regularly, but for me the main drawback there is the lack of mains sockets on coaches - my laptop battery doesn't last 6 hours :cry:

 

[trainophile]

but for me the main drawback there is the lack of mains sockets on coaches - my laptop battery doesn't last 6 hours :cry:

Get yourself an Acer Aspire 6-cell, it lasts about 8 hours, although officially 7.

 

[Failed Unit]

Why would I travel to Edinburgh from Cumbernauld?
Surely the options would be Glasgow or Westerton?
I would use the sleeper, but the overall fare is higher and there is no need for overnight accomodation, when I can stay at home

The only time I have required to use the sleeper was the ALR, thus allowing both to be completed at the same time

Because president Salmon says so. The Op was taking about Edinburgh, I am very aware you can pick up the sleeper at many points including Falkirk. You still get a rude awakening when they join them up.

 

[gogogoadam]

Hi

I am surprised so many companies are paying for first class travel in these economic conditions. I travel weekly from Bedminster to London and return, changing at BRI.

I travel on the first off peak service due to cost considerations, and normally home on the 8pm or 8.45pm from PAD.

Obviously have no plane options, but I always have a reserved seat, and the journey normally goes on time.

Adam

 

[Failed Unit]

From Edinburgh because of a promotion it is cheaper to travel first then standard £199 for the First promotional fare or £202 for the standard (nearly £300 if travel on the 0540 is needed.)

 

[Mainliner]

Get yourself an Acer Aspire 6-cell, it lasts about 8 hours, although officially 7.

I'm not looking for any reasons to travel on buses

 

[LE Greys]

I'm no business traveller, for I have no business but my own (being between degrees and an unemployed writer). However, in terms of getting from Aberdeen to near Hitchin, I have several choices: East Coast, Caley Sleeper, British Airways and EasyJet.

On paper, the latter is the fastest, since they fly into Luton. However, I can't remember any occasion when they have run on time. After a scheduled 17:55 arrival got me in at 22:30, I gave up on them. Now with all the extra charges, it is clearly a false economy.

British Airways did fairly well when they flew to Gatwick. The connection to GatEx or Thameslink was easy, and getting directly to King's Cross was a great help. A free snack on the way helped, although it was not much. The service was a lot better. However, they decided to concentrate their operation on Heathrow. Oh dear! :roll: It makes airport access much harder, security is a lot slower and there is nowhere decent to eat. To cap that, the Boeing 737s were replaced with Airbus A319s, and I really don't trust sidestick controls (despite many people saying that that is silly). Still, I'd rather lose the extra two hours going through London if it means I am guaranteed a decent seat by checking in on-line and I don't have to worry about extra charges.

Still, neither of these come close to East Coast. The advantage of being able to go direct from Aberdeen to Stevenage is the main thing, and the fact that I don't have to spend ages getting from airport to destination. I've tried first and second, including the restaurant car once or twice (only if showing off). So it's pleasant, convenient and fast. Only on rare occasions is it not fast enough (Friday afternoon lab practicals) so I have had to fly. Even then, it is still a very late arrival.

The Sleeper was a separate option, mostly because of one occasion I missed train and plane (not entirely my fault - traffic). When in the top bunk, I spent too much time worrying about falling out of it to sleep. Still, it was surprisingly comfortable. If you don't have to share, then it works very well. Food is good in the evening (if you pay) but not so good in the morning. However, there is more than enough room in the cabins.

 

[StrollerEd]

just back (with stop-over in local hosterly) from plane ride back from London. will report more later: it did depart on time (at 17.10) from London City and arrived early into Edinburgh (at 18.15), but only a beer and a bag of high class crisps on board. So as I was off to said hostelry I decided to munch in the airport and got good grub for not a lot of dosh.

More later.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
before I start my teling more of my return journey, a word about the views ..

One of the delights of train travel from and to Edinburgh is the view of the coast on either side of the Border. So much more to enjoy during the Summer months when 05.40am does not mean pitch black or dark and dank. By taking the plane I missed that, but I did get to see some great aerial views of the mouths of the Medway and the Thames as the plane circled prior to landing at London City - very evocative of days gone past when those rivers would have been full of boats and sea-going traffic. The view on the way back out of LCY included a glimpse of 2012 Olympics preparation.