Blackburn to Portsmouth harbour

[harryh38]

Iv Not been on train for over 20 years, advice please.
Cruising from Portsmouth 1st November 16.00hrs on board. return 26/Nov for train about noon.(Fred Olsen shuttle bus station to ship) My wife and I are pensioners so senior rail cards seems best.
From the mindfield of options Iv taken three.
1/ 1st nov 07.16 blackburn to portsmouth arrive 13.07 with return 11.45 on the 26th nov train from portsmouth. Price great for two at near £100 + £56 for rail cards. This seems to be train specific and Im not sure what that means but I think it mean if i miss it or a connection i pay extra. is that right?
2/ Same trains but £32 more(off peak return) does this allow a bit of flexabillity that if I miss a connection i can use the next off peak service?
3/There is option to go via Euston/tube/Waterloo London
or Wolverhampton/Southampton at about the same price and journey time.
Which is easyest?
Any ideas or advice welcome
Harry

 

[MidnightFlyer]

or Wolverhampton/Southampton at about the same price and journey time.
Which is easyest?
Any ideas or advice welcome
Harry

A Route London ticket is far more expensive but includes Underground travel for Euston-Waterloo. A Route Not London ticket (i.e. Wolves and Southampton) is far cheaper and slightly busier (i.e. onboard) but it will be far easier for you (same platform arrival / departure at Wolves).

Not many people aside from you and I on here from Blackburn!

 

[ainsworth74]

1/ 1st nov 07.16 blackburn to portsmouth arrive 13.07 with return 11.45 on the 26th nov train from portsmouth. Price great for two at near £100 + £56 for rail cards. This seems to be train specific and Im not sure what that means but I think it mean if i miss it or a connection i pay extra. is that right?

If they are ticket type: Advance (which I think they are from that price) then you are required to travel on the trains that you hold reservations for. However if there is a delay whilst you are travelling on the train and you miss a connection you will be allowed to catch the next service to complete your journey. The only restriction is that if under Route section of the ticket it says a specific train company like VWC (Virgin Trains) and it's this service that you miss then you should technically travel on the next VWC service. Best advice is to speak to platform staff/guard they will be able to advise.

2/ Same trains but £32 more(off peak return) does this allow a bit of flexabillity that if I miss a connection i can use the next off peak service?

As you are travelling on a Saturday both outward and return there are no restrictions on this ticket so you can use it on any train. M-F there are restrictions to this ticket (peak/off-peak restrictions are related to tickets not the trains themselves).

 

[cuccir]

As you are travelling on a Saturday both outward and return there are no restrictions on this ticket so you can use it on any train. M-F there are restrictions to this ticket (peak/off-peak restrictions are related to tickets not the trains themselves).

The 1st of November is a Tuesday!

Based on what I could find on the internet, I presume you are searching on the Virgin Trains website? If so you are being offered a special internet only ticket that Virgin Trains only offer through their website - this is effectively a 'mix and match' of two ticket types, whereby you get a 'off-peak single' for your outward journey and an 'advance single' for your return. For your services, this costs a total of £99.80 (£66.10 for outward journey, £33.70 for return).

Virgin have a special offer whereby off-peak tickets are valid on their trains at peak times, if you have a rail-card. So, you can use your off-peak ticket on any train on the 1st November - it costs you no more to book onto a train, though. I'm not sure of the full Terms and Conditions of this offer - others will know more.

For the return leg, you have to travel on the booked trains - the only relaxation being if you get delayed whilst travelling on the train. If you cannot make your first connection, you will have to buy a completely new ticket, which may costs +£100. If there's any chance of your boat getting into Portsmouth late, I'd recommend booking an off-peak single for the return leg as well - this is the £132.20 option.

 

[ainsworth74]

The 1st of November is a Tuesday!

Ahh yes, that would be the 1st of October I was looking at on my laptops calender then

 

[Oracle]

Stupid question but is the bus going from Portsmouth & Southsea as against Portsmouth Harbour? The passenger port is nearer the former and the ferry bus used to go from there and not The Hard net to the Harbour Station.

 

[Greenback]

Iv Not been on train for over 20 years, advice please.
Cruising from Portsmouth 1st November 16.00hrs on board. return 26/Nov for train about noon.(Fred Olsen shuttle bus station to ship) My wife and I are pensioners so senior rail cards seems best.
From the mindfield of options Iv taken three.
1/ 1st nov 07.16 blackburn to portsmouth arrive 13.07 with return 11.45 on the 26th nov train from portsmouth. Price great for two at near £100 + £56 for rail cards. This seems to be train specific and Im not sure what that means but I think it mean if i miss it or a connection i pay extra. is that right?
2/ Same trains but £32 more(off peak return) does this allow a bit of flexabillity that if I miss a connection i can use the next off peak service?
3/There is option to go via Euston/tube/Waterloo London
or Wolverhampton/Southampton at about the same price and journey time.
Which is easyest?
Any ideas or advice welcome
Harry

Which is easiest very much depends on how you define easy!

As Matt has said, a cross platform change of train at Wolverhampton is probably easier for most people than crossing London. Even when you add in the change at Southampton, where there are lifts to the footbridge that you can use, it's probably is still easier!

When you have both cheaper and easier, it will probably make sense to avoid London. However, the trains on that route are likely to be very busy, but that will not be so much of a problem if you have seat reservations (and the system is working!).

The biggest concern I would have myself is the possibility of delay en route. It is a long journey and, although unlikely, it is quite possible that, with two or three changes you might miss a connection or two and arrive in Portsmouth a couple of hours late. Even if you still manage to board the ship, any delay you encounte ris likely to make you both anxious and stressed about the possibility of missing the ship.

I myself would consider the possibility of travelling the day before and staying overnight, either in Portsmouth or somewhere close by. Alternatively, is there a coach service that is run in conjunction with Fred Olsen? At least the ship will wait for the coaches!

I hope you don't think I am being too negative, but I have seen plenty of advice on cruise forums about not risking arrival at the port on the afternoon of departure. I have also read the horror stories of those who have missed their ship and had the hassle and cost they incurred of trying to catch up with it!

 

[island]

Virgin have a special offer whereby off-peak tickets are valid on their trains at peak times, if you have a rail-card. So, you can use your off-peak ticket on any train on the 1st November - it costs you no more to book onto a train, though. I'm not sure of the full Terms and Conditions of this offer - others will know more.

Only off-peak single (SVS) and off-peak return (SVR) are included in this easement of peak-time restrictions. The half-price online off-peak single (SVH) is not. How enforceable the distinction is, I don't know.

 

[dave87016]

I am from Blackburn

 

[harryh38]

thank for info.
I think the £132 + rail cards is favorite, via London as there seems to be more alternative trains if there is a problem or delay.
The main line seats are bookable but not connections.
Does anybody know if the tuesday Blackburn to Preston 07.15 is busy? Do we need to be early to get a seat and get our big bags onboard at Blackburn or may be Millhill?
The t/table give an hour to arrive Euston to leaving Waterloo whats the actual tube time and what time does that leave to walk between trains?
I have reasons to rule out overnight hotel and long bus travel by F/Olsens .
Thanks Harry

 

[wintonian]

thank for info.
I think the £132 + rail cards is favorite, via London as there seems to be more alternative trains if there is a problem or delay.
The main line seats are bookable but not connections.
Does anybody know if the tuesday Blackburn to Preston 07.15 is busy? Do we need to be early to get a seat and get our big bags onboard at Blackburn or may be Millhill?
The t/table give an hour to arrive Euston to leaving Waterloo whats the actual tube time and what time does that leave to walk between trains?
I have reasons to rule out overnight hotel and long bus travel by F/Olsens .
Thanks Harry

20 min trip on the Northern line to Waterloo, you will have plenty of time to grab a coffe as well.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

thank for info.
I think the £132 + rail cards is favorite, via London as there seems to be more alternative trains if there is a problem or delay.
The main line seats are bookable but not connections.
Does anybody know if the tuesday Blackburn to Preston 07.15 is busy? Do we need to be early to get a seat and get our big bags onboard at Blackburn or may be Millhill?
The t/table give an hour to arrive Euston to leaving Waterloo whats the actual tube time and what time does that leave to walk between trains?
I have reasons to rule out overnight hotel and long bus travel by F/Olsens .
Thanks Harry

No trouble at all on the 0715. It has no real layover in Blackburn, but still aim to be there about 5-10 mins before departure. Plenty of luggage racks (and seating) at carriage ends.

 

[Greenback]

thank for info.
I think the £132 + rail cards is favorite, via London as there seems to be more alternative trains if there is a problem or delay.
The main line seats are bookable but not connections.
Does anybody know if the tuesday Blackburn to Preston 07.15 is busy? Do we need to be early to get a seat and get our big bags onboard at Blackburn or may be Millhill?
The t/table give an hour to arrive Euston to leaving Waterloo whats the actual tube time and what time does that leave to walk between trains?
I have reasons to rule out overnight hotel and long bus travel by F/Olsens .
Thanks Harry

Fair enough! I think that via London will be quicker and more comfortable, as long as you are happy with the cross London transfer. We have done it with cruise luggage and I found it hard work dragging a huge bag along, with a holdall and rucksack also in tow!

It shouldn't take a full hour between Euston and Waterloo, even when you have to walk down the platforms and you visit a shop! The tube part itself shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Have a good journey and a lovely cruise!

 

[OwlMan]

You can always get the bus from Euston - Waterloo (as you have your national bus passes it will cost nothing). There is less walking using the bus than the tube. Buses 59 & 68 go from the bus station outside Euston.

 

[Greenback]

As much as I prefer the bus to travel across London, there is no way I would use a bus with the amount of luggage Mrs Greenback likes to take on a cruise!

 

[class377man]

Might be worth considering a cab although I have no idea how much it would cost.