Castle Cary or Yeovil Pen Mill to Cheltenham

[ThirdRail]

Hi all.

I'm making a trip from either Castle Cary or Yeovil Pen Mill up to Cheltenham on Saturday but I understand the normal route from Bristol is closed due to engineering works.

From what I can see I can change once at Temple Meads and travel via Newport on what I assume would be a Cross County Service and probably a Voyager or via two changes at Westbury and then Swindon on GWR services. I am travelling up early morning starting at 07:30 and back in the early evening. Which route would you recommend, taking into account the changes and rolling stock? The Temple Meads one is easier but takes more time and also I keep hearing that X Country services are usually packed.

Cheers

 

[Romilly]

Welcome to the forum.

The journey planners, if starting at Castle Cary, are also offering Castle Cary - Bath - Swindon - Cheltenham.

As regards what is "best", it depends on what your criteria are: price? journey time? number of changes? getting a seat?

 

[30907]

The train from Swindon at 0914 is normally through from London and therefore an HST (subject to engineering works etc...). I can't imagine it will be heavily loaded.

 

[ThirdRail]

Thanks for the welcome and the replies. The price works out the same (when splitting at Bristol or Swindon) and the timings aren't that different so I guess getting a seat and having a pleasant journey is the most important in this case although for the first half I guess I'll be stuck on a 150/153 anyway.