Day return from York

[Ploughman]

What is the furthest I could go on a day return from York with at least 2 hours at the return point?
International allowed.

 

[yorkie]

It will be international, no doubt about that.

 

[alex17595]

Are we talking about trains only here, or including other transport?

0600 York-London
0917 London-Paris
---------------------
Insert international journey.
---------------------
1913 Paris-London
2200 London-York

Here is a start.

 

[andythebrave]

Le Mans is possible. Not sure if any further would meet the 2 hours at destination requirement.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Within this country you can get to Camborne or Inverness and back with a minimum 2 hour break at destination.

 

[Ploughman]

Are we talking about trains only here, or including other transport?

0600 York-London
0917 London-Paris
---------------------
Insert international journey.
---------------------
1913 Paris-London
2200 London-York

Here is a start.

Train only.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[34D]

Following from alex17595:

0600 York-London
0917 London-Paris Nord 1247
---------------------
0958 Paris Gare de Lyon - Lyon part dieu 1156

15:04 Lyon part dieu - Paris Gare de Lyon 17:05
---------------------
1913 Paris-London
2200 London-York

Note - I haven't considered times to cross Paris, nor Eurostar minimum check in (but the latter should be okay).

Is this a competition, or a request for a genuine itinerary for a day out?

Edit - this is wrong as I read the Paris arrival time wrong
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Take two, still following from alex17595:

0600 York-London
0917 London-Paris Nord 1247
---------------------
1327 Paris Austerlitz - Orleans 1432

1728 Orleans - Paris Austerlitz 1832
---------------------
1913 Paris-London
2200 London-York

Note - I haven't considered times to cross Paris, nor Eurostar minimum check in (but the latter should be okay).

 

[alex17595]

Right I have come up with a way to add a whole hour of time! (Makes it muuuch longer though)

01:38 York-Manchester
05:05 Manchester-London
08:31 London- Paris Arr. 11.47
--------------------------------

--------------------------------
1913 Paris-London
2200 London-York

 

[telstarbox]

Amsterdam?

05.54 York - Darlington (TPE)
06.58 Darlington - Dinsdale (Northern)
10.05 Durham Tees Valley Airport - Amsterdam Schiphol 12.20 (KLM)
21.35 Amsterdam Schiphol - Durham Tees Valley Airport 21.45 (KLM)
(bit tight)
22.15 Dinsdale - Darlington (Northern)
23.21 Darlington - York (East Coast)

 

[Ploughman]

Train only.

Idea is just me musing on possibilities.
Thanks again.

 

[34D]

Train only.

Idea is just me musing on possibilities.
Thanks again.

Any advance on Orleans (SW of Paris)?

I would strongly urge one night of (affordable) hotel accommodation for a much more relaxed time.

If you do the long one day, then strongly consider first class on the way home

 

[Starmill]

I would strongly urge one night of (affordable) hotel accommodation for a much more relaxed time.

If you do the long one day, then strongly consider first class on the way home

If this isn't a hypothetical scenario, and unlike me as this is... I'd agree. I've been up shortly after 3am and after spending the day out on the 2100 from KGX before (in STD)... it err wasn't very comfortable.

 

[andythebrave]

Any advance on Orleans (SW of Paris)?

I would strongly urge one night of (affordable) hotel accommodation for a much more relaxed time.

If you do the long one day, then strongly consider first class on the way home

Yes! Le Mans is further.

I'll second the accommodation or 1st recommendations.

 

[Techniquest]

If this isn't a hypothetical scenario, and unlike me as this is... I'd agree. I've been up shortly after 3am and after spending the day out on the 2100 from KGX before (in STD)... it err wasn't very comfortable.

Wusses, the lot of you! Allow me to explain...

Last Sunday I was up and about by 1100, after going to sleep around 0200 and being woken briefly at 0400, 0600, 0800 and 1000. Not a bad thing so far, but then I was up all night on a 'norm' night out with work friends until 0300 on Monday. Then it was 2 and a bit hours festering outside the station waiting for the 0526 to leave Hereford, and I was off to Reading to do a Thames Valley day out on the rails. By the time I finally got back to Reading around 1600 and checked into the Travelodge, to make my bag easier to carry and to have a decaff coffee (I had only had about 10 minutes sleep on the way to Newport as well I should add), I then left again around 1645 to carry on with my never-ending mission to underline every train in the country. I then eventually returned begrudingly to the Travelodge around 2135, finally lying down and having a proper break around 2300, sleep coming finally around 2355.

So if I can manage 36 hours or so, not forgetting I had 9 pints and a shot of some spirit, during the night out then I'm sure one long day can easily be managed! I'm getting old too, so you youngsters should be easily able to manage it!

Oh, and how much coffee did I have on Monday? One on the HST to Reading, another on the Turbo to Iver and one more at Cookham a few hours later. Food wise? Just a bacon baguette on the HST and a small sausage sub in Reading, until I got to Burger King around NINE hours later.

Of course, I'm forgetting that my 7 day ALR in 2011 involved 5 nights away from a proper bed too, sleeping on the seated sleeper whenever the MK2 brake noise and general comfort didn't stop me that is. You can imagine by day 6 I was right proper fed up and knackered, on the final day I was so much better after a proper sleep and a shower!

My point is, this long day from York to Le Mans is easy enough to do if you're that determined.

 

[cambsy]

I have done 7 day ALR in 1st and 2nd class, where i have lived on trains for the 7 days, grabbing a shower at stations and various combinations of sleepers and seats, and station benches, quite a few years back i managed just over 10,500 miles in 7 days, that was intense, still often do work from 5pm till mid night, then coach to London, breakfast, then bash to Glasgow etc, coach home and bed about 5am next day, with work 5pm later that day, so a 24hr day out is pretty easy.

 

[Starmill]

Determined is one thing, comfortable enough to enjoy it quite another.

The analogy applies to many other things in life.

 

[Techniquest]

Determined is one thing, comfortable enough to enjoy it quite another.

The analogy applies to many other things in life.

That's where coffee comes in handy Energy drinks were also invented for a reason :P As it used to say (why they took it off I don't know, as it was very true) on the side of cans of Rockstar Xdurance, "For those who live exhausting lifestyles". It has to be said the stuff works well and might as well as be called "Motivation in a can". Although I still swear by Monster Khaos, by far and away the best way to perk myself up for a busy day!

If you want to maximise limited days off, live two lifes etc, then you need to be determined. You'd be surprised how much Red Pen Fever can take over and drive you forward, and yes I speak from vast experience there!

cambsy: That's the spirit! I think it was about 5,000 (I don't have exact data to hand) for me on my 7 day ALR in 2011, although I did do a lot of short distance leaps which didn't help my mileage!

 

[cambsy]

I did the 10,500 miles many years ago by doing ECML and Cally sleepers every night, had as many 20 minute or so connections as possible, i had to have the trains all pretty much on time and they were luckily, maybe one day will try again.

 

[34D]

Determined is one thing, comfortable enough to enjoy it quite another.

The analogy applies to many other things in life.

I agree with this. There's a lot to be said for a good meal, with wine, then an unrushed night with a lady (or guy) followed by a lie in

 

[DarloRich]

Amsterdam?

05.54 York - Darlington (TPE)
06.58 Darlington - Dinsdale (Northern)
10.05 Durham Tees Valley Airport - Amsterdam Schiphol 12.20 (KLM)
21.35 Amsterdam Schiphol - Durham Tees Valley Airport 21.45 (KLM)
(bit tight)
22.15 Dinsdale - Darlington (Northern)
23.21 Darlington - York (East Coast)

Easier just to get a cab from Darlo to Darlo International airport. Getting from Dinsadle to the airport will be a pita

But it was train only

 

[Chapeltom]

On the subject of long days I once had to do the following. Leave my hostel in Skopje at 3am local time (2am English time). Take a 5:10am flight back to Luton, arriving around 7:30am English time. Walked to Luton, had breakfast, down to London for my booked train around 11am from Euston to Liverpool. Eat, check in at my hostel in Liverpool, go to Uni for 4 hours, train to Warrington to see a gig. Back to Liverpool by 11:30, have some food, shower and in bed by 1am. That was intense! Why I ever booked a weekend away knowing I'd got a gig to go to, I don't know!

I think the furthest I've done in a day is Colchester and back by train, 4 hours there. Still an 18 hour day though.

 

[IanD]

Determined is one thing, comfortable enough to enjoy it quite another.

The analogy applies to many other things in life.

Given that you're sat down looking out of the window for most of the day then how difficult could it be?

I've never understood thos people who think that one long day on the trains is "hard work". Especially those who bang on about what a feat of endurance it is to sit on your arris from Aberdeen to Penzance. Would be different if you were forcibly restrained in your seat, blindfolded with no access to refreshment - but you're not so man up!

I long for the days when I had the time to do nothing but sit on a train all day (aka student days) but sadly the opportunities for me to do so now are few and far between.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

On the subject of long days I once had to do the following. Leave my hostel in Skopje at 3am local time (2am English time). Take a 5:10am flight back to Luton, arriving around 7:30am English time. Walked to Luton, had breakfast, down to London for my booked train around 11am from Euston to Liverpool. Eat, check in at my hostel in Liverpool, go to Uni for 4 hours, train to Warrington to see a gig. Back to Liverpool by 11:30, have some food, shower and in bed by 1am. That was intense! Why I ever booked a weekend away knowing I'd got a gig to go to, I don't know!

One February in the 80s I did this:

Left Newcastle some time after 2230 on Friday evening, arrived Kings Cross at 04xx, walked to Paddington (underground not open and not included in the fare at the time anyway!), 0700 from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, bus to Lands End and back. Overnight to Paddington at approx 2000 arr 0555 (sleepers ran on Saturday evening in those days). 8 or so hours riding on the Undergroud. Euston to Glasgow arr 2230ish, 2350 overnight train to Inverness arr 043x, 0600ish to Thurso, Bus to John O'Groats then on to Wick, 1600ish from Wick to Inverness arr approx 2230, 2330 overnight to Edinburgh arr 0530?, day out in Edinburgh (had I thought about it, I'd have done the Fife Circle and North Berwick at the time but hindsight is wonderful!), late train from Edinburgh to Newcastle. Then I had to walk home from the station. And it was snowing most of the time.

That was a long couple of days. But I'd do it again in a flash if I had the opportunity.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Especially those who bang on about what a feat of endurance it is to sit on your arris from Aberdeen to Penzance. Would be different if you were forcibly restrained in your seat, blindfolded with no access to refreshment - but you're not so man up!

Actually in a Voyager you might not be far from the truth...

 

[Starmill]

Given that you're sat down looking out of the window for most of the day then how difficult could it be?

I've never understood thos people who think that one long day on the trains is "hard work". Especially those who bang on about what a feat of endurance it is to sit on your arris from Aberdeen to Penzance. Would be different if you were forcibly restrained in your seat, blindfolded with no access to refreshment - but you're not so man up!

Clearly we have somewhat different ideas about what one does on such days out!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

One February in the 80s I did this:

Left Newcastle some time after 2230 on Friday evening, arrived Kings Cross at 04xx, walked to Paddington (underground not open and not included in the fare at the time anyway!), 0700 from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, bus to Lands End and back. Overnight to Paddington at approx 2000 arr 0555 (sleepers ran on Saturday evening in those days). 8 or so hours riding on the Undergroud. Euston to Glasgow arr 2230ish, 2350 overnight train to Inverness arr 043x, 0600ish to Thurso, Bus to John O'Groats then on to Wick, 1600ish from Wick to Inverness arr approx 2230, 2330 overnight to Edinburgh arr 0530?, day out in Edinburgh (had I thought about it, I'd have done the Fife Circle and North Berwick at the time but hindsight is wonderful!), late train from Edinburgh to Newcastle. Then I had to walk home from the station. And it was snowing most of the time.

That was a long couple of days. But I'd do it again in a flash if I had the opportunity.

I wonder how possible that is on today's timetables. Glasgow to Inverness at 2350? There's one at 1811 these days...

 

[IanD]

Clearly we have somewhat different ideas about what one does on such days out!

Well, I doubt either of us are sprinting up and down the carriages between stations

I wonder how possible that is on today's timetables. Glasgow to Inverness at 2350? There's one at 1811 these days...

Sadly impossible with the same timings. In those days there was an overnight sleeper both directions between Inverness and Glasgow/Edinburgh which would split/join at Perth. they were generally quite busy whenever I used them in either direction. The seated sections heading north weren't particularly quiet or warm (at any time of the year but especially in February).

Unfortunately, there's no service from the south that arrives in Inverness in time to catch the first Thurso train north theses days.

 

[Techniquest]

Given that you're sat down looking out of the window for most of the day then how difficult could it be?

Sitting on trains all day is easy yes, but my average day out involves lots of planning moves, where to alight, making observations, busy on social media and lots of running from one train to the other. That sounds easy enough but when you're facing long ramps to a station building at the other end of the platform to get to another long ramp down to the next train, on a connection of just a few minutes, that makes things more challenging!

It also depends on what you've been up to the day before, how much sleep you've had and what's going on the day after. If it's been a stressful and exhausting day the day before a long trip it can be a lot less fun than if it's been an easy day. Very much so if you've not slept much the night before a long day, something I'm very well versed in as I rarely sleep much the night before a trip. If so I usually end up on 4 or 5 coffees during the day, particularly if it's been 4 or less hours sleep and I'm still needing to be awake until midnight or later (this after getting up at 0600).

Hope that lot makes sense!

I've never understood those people who think that one long day on the trains is "hard work". Especially those who bang on about what a feat of endurance it is to sit on your arris from Aberdeen to Penzance. Would be different if you were forcibly restrained in your seat, blindfolded with no access to refreshment - but you're not so man up!

Well I can't speak for others, but for me it would be an endurance trip of, what is it now, 13.5 hours since I'd be having to forego partaking of nicotine for the trip which would make things awkward! However it wouldn't the worst experience ever, and I'd keep busy all the way posting live updates and observations no doubt, with the laptop constantly on to type up the trip report and upload photos. So it's possible the trip would be over before I knew it! I'd still prefer to do the ABD-PNZ trip in First Class mind, complimentary coffee would make it easier

I long for the days when I had the time to do nothing but sit on a train all day (aka student days) but sadly the opportunities for me to do so now are few and far between.

I don't get the option very often myself, down to every 2 weeks at the most now. I used to be on the rails every day, or every couple of days if things were a bit tight, years ago when I lived in Swansea. Yes they weren't big trips admittedly, fairly local trips around South Wales but still.

Your epic trip to Lands End and John o Groats sounds amazing, would love to do that sort of thing but as you point out, it's just not doable anymore. Not without hotels and several more days of travel. No such things as night buses in London I guess back then?

 

[IanD]

Your epic trip to Lands End and John o Groats sounds amazing, would love to do that sort of thing but as you point out, it's just not doable anymore. Not without hotels and several more days of travel. No such things as night buses in London I guess back then?

Too stingy to pay for the night bus!

I did a similar trip the following year except it was across 2 weekends so not as intensive (final year, damn lectures retimed so I'd miss too many if I did it in 1 go!). Every year they had a £10 anywhere return offer with the student/young persons railcard so it would have been rude not to make the longest journeys possible from Newcastle