Living near Manningtree, it's always a challenge to travel by train to the rest of the country ...
Anyway, on 6th January, I have to make my way to Chester by 11:30 - hang about for a few hours, and then travel down to Weston S.Mare (or Bristol) for a meeting the next morning.
With a preference for avoiding London (cost, pain of changing trains via tube), the Ipswich Peterborough service Table 14 is a boon.
NXEA advises me that I can catch the 05:44 NXEA to Peterborough arriving 07:38. Then 07:52 Peterborough Nuneaton a 0908. Then 09:17 Nuneaton Crewe with LM a 10:38. Then 10:49 VT Crewe Chester a 11:09. So that's 5h46m for £71.00
Onwards from Chester, I can catch the 14:35 to Crewe, then ATW to Newport, then FGW to Weston arriving 19:28 for £69.50. Or I can catch the later 16:22 ATW with a single change at Newport arrive 2029 for £28.00.
I have tried different routings - but I guess I am slightly suprised because the online ticketing service seems to be spot on in terms of offering me both the fastest routes (not via London) and at £71.00 + £28.00 = £99.00 for two anytime singles, a pretty good price.
So is this a case of excellent programming? By the "Get Times and Tickets" programmers?
Anyway, on 6th January, I have to make my way to Chester by 11:30 - hang about for a few hours, and then travel down to Weston S.Mare (or Bristol) for a meeting the next morning.
With a preference for avoiding London (cost, pain of changing trains via tube), the Ipswich Peterborough service Table 14 is a boon.
NXEA advises me that I can catch the 05:44 NXEA to Peterborough arriving 07:38. Then 07:52 Peterborough Nuneaton a 0908. Then 09:17 Nuneaton Crewe with LM a 10:38. Then 10:49 VT Crewe Chester a 11:09. So that's 5h46m for £71.00
Onwards from Chester, I can catch the 14:35 to Crewe, then ATW to Newport, then FGW to Weston arriving 19:28 for £69.50. Or I can catch the later 16:22 ATW with a single change at Newport arrive 2029 for £28.00.
I have tried different routings - but I guess I am slightly suprised because the online ticketing service seems to be spot on in terms of offering me both the fastest routes (not via London) and at £71.00 + £28.00 = £99.00 for two anytime singles, a pretty good price.
So is this a case of excellent programming? By the "Get Times and Tickets" programmers?