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Book by phone as soon as tickets go on sale and hope you get a helpful operator or try for weekend first as has been suggested. Sadly FGW have made their HSTs far less family friendly by taking out most of the tables - even in the Family Coach.

I was on the 11.05 to Weymouth. Delayed about 20 mins at Clapham then about 40 mins Basingstoke - Southampton. Guard (who was quite amusing) told is it was technical problems.

60 minutes late going down. SWT blamed passenger taken ill at Clapham Junction but that was only about 20 minutes, the rest was slow running between Basingstoke & Southampton which the guard on the Lymington train told me was power supply problems. About 40 minutes late coming back. 12...

No trains between Eastleigh & Southampton. Does anyone know any more? I'm booked on 11.05 Bournemouth so hoping cleared by then. http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/alerts.aspx#C0A3D71A7B8F1D7C37F669DBC0E097CE

I generally say coaches except for underground trains where I say car. I'd still use carriage occasionally, such as referring to the 'carriage shed', and 'railway carriage'.

What is wrong with using the old style clippers that make a hole in the ticket? - obviously avoiding the magnetic strip. A couple of years ago I took my young nephew on a Javelin train on HS1 and the guard brought out a steam engine shaped stamp for his ticket. Nephew was very pleased to have...

Ticket's from Upminster's booking office to most slightly unusual destinations (ie anything off the C2C route) usually fail to open the barriers at Upminster, but do open them at all other stations on the journey. It is frustrating and I've missed trains as a result. Staff are aware but no one...

I've been served after the last station the Travelling Chef is shown as available (going west). It seems to depend on how flexible the buffet staff and chef are. I'd go straight to the buffet when you board and ask nicely. You might be lucky.

I went from Paddington to Bristol & back today. 20 minutes delay each way due to signalling at Maidenhead but otherwise fine. Usual two trains an hour but not very busy. FGW advise was not to travel London - Bristol but my experience was that was unecessary advice.

Thanks for the advice. I managed to book from Upminster - Hereford via Birmingham for £70. Seems strange that one can book to Hereford but not Ledbury.

Trying to book ticket to Ledbury for this weekend, taking in Villa v West Ham : I can book London to Ledbury return via Birmingham but both FGW & EC websites won't accept Upminster - Ledbury via Birmingham. As journey from Upminster passes through London can anyone tell me why this is?

Thanks. I'll see what the strike situation is next week and decide whether to ask East Cost for refund (which I accept is down to their goodwill), or give it a go in which case I'll get the 8.02 and maybe buy a travelcard (usually takes 60 minutes Upminster to Paddington by the way. I use...

What ticket do you have to cover the first part of your journey? None. Will use Oystercard. What was your planned itinerary? Leave Upminster about 8.15 travelling via Fenchurch Street 9.30 Paddington - Bristol 15.30 Bristol - Paddington Return to Upminster via Fenchurch Street...

Thanks - I booked through East Coast but tickets are from Paddinton to Bristol - no tube. I'll see what they say.

I've booked advance return tickets from Paddington to Bristol for Wednesday 12th but if tube strike is on next week as well, it will be hard to get to Paddington (from Essex). In the circumstances could I get a refund on the tickets?

Saturday Live - talking about train travel in 1970s & now. I'm on from 35 - 43mins, then short bits at 56½ & 72 mins. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03sr0wk Comments welcome - I disagreed with Richard Coles who referred to bad days of British Rail.

I'm on Radio Four 'Saturday Live' tomorrow talking about train journeys if anyone's interested - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03sr0wk

One of the problesm with catching an early day train is the cost. Few cheap tickets so it's often cheaper to go up the night before and stay in a hotel. The sleeper allows you to leave late evening and arrive in time for 9am meetings. Even with HS2 it will need a 6am departure from London to get...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ph18l I'm on from 26 minutes 35 seconds, talking about train travel, if anyone's interested.

When the sleeper service to Newcastle was stopped it was suggested that passengers could double back from Edinburgh. I've done that once and arrived at Newcastle for a morning of meetings, then got an afternoon train back to London. I find that sleepers are a great way to travel for...