CrossCountry South West-North East axis

[Zoe]

I would take my chances with XC over driving that sort of distance.
Each to their own though

National Express coach would save you having to drive but the journey time is not good at 13 hours 25 minutes.

 

[Minilad]

National Express coach would save you having to drive but the journey time is not good at 13 hours 25 minutes.

Wouldn't fancy a coach for 13hrs 25mins to be honest !!

 

[starrymarkb]

Or Fly in 90 mins from Exeter or in 1:15 from Bristol. Not sure if Plymouth/Newquay have Scottish flights.

But TBH Air is probably the most suitable form for the distance and volumes. Train is the better option for journeys under 4hrs, which is probably why XC have geared their services to the shorter runs.

HS2 will dent London-Glasgow traffic when opened to birmingham, and will probably decimate it when fully open (I can see some flights operating as feeds for long hauls, but with smaller aircraft) - see Madrid to Barcelona (90% drop in air passengers between the cities) after the AVE opened. Similarly French domestic flights have plummeted with the LGVs opening, believe Toulouse is the only city left with a major air service (every hour) - don't believe the TGV has reached it yet...

 

[Zoe]

will probably decimate it when fully open

I can't see speeds getting that much higher north of Lancaster. The pass through the Lake District and Southern Scotland is quite narrow and currently holds the WCML and the M6/A74(M).

 

[Jonny]

I can't see speeds getting that much higher north of Lancaster. The pass through the Lake District and Southern Scotland is quite narrow and currently holds the WCML and the M6/A74(M).

I think an East Coast route would be a better bet - call me biased because I'm from somewhere on the East Coast route, but it's flatter and generally more amenable to long fast runs. It would be brilliant, the only trouble is that it would be HS3 (yes, high speed 3 ) - which might be needed if the Brum/North-West traffic ends up above expectations.