Duxford air show

[trebor79]

Getting the train with family to this on Saturday. Annoying I've since discovered Greater Anglia offer bundled air show and rail fare tickets that work out cheaper than the air show tickets alone for 2 adults. Buying show and rail tickets separately for 4 adults and 2 kids is 50% more expensive. C'est la vie.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has experience of this and whether:
The trains will be rammed.
There will be a long wait for the shuttle bus at Cambridge (every 30 minutes does not seem sufficient).

We're coming from Norwich direction.

 

[Magdalia]

We're coming from Norwich direction.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has experience of this and whether:
The trains will be rammed.

Norwich-Cambridge trains will probably be crowded, because there is engineering work between Norwich and Stowmarket on Saturday.

 

[trebor79]

Norwich-Cambridge trains will probably be crowded, because there is engineering work between Norwich and Stowmarket on Saturday.

and I guess they won't do anything sensible like put a double set on.

 

[Bald Rick]

and I guess they won't do anything sensible like put a double set on.

AIUI Platform lengths rule that out at intermediate stops.

 

[trebor79]

AIUI Platform lengths rule that out at intermediate stops.

Quite so, but:
Only 1 train a day stops at the short platform stations, the others are all long enough.
The 755s have SDO I think anyway.
12 coach charter trains stop at all of the stations where the normal service stops, except for the tiny 1 train a day stations, overhanging level crossings and all.

 

[Bald Rick]

Quite so, but:
Only 1 train a day stops at the short platform stations, the others are all long enough.
The 755s have SDO I think anyway.
12 coach charter trains stop at all of the stations where the normal service stops, except for the tiny 1 train a day stations, overhanging level crossings and all.

Ah ok, school day today!

 

[Ted633]

Not personally used the shuttle bus for Duxford, but by what I've heard it is a very slick operation. Obviously getting out there is a queue, but it moves quickly.

If you don't want to rely on the bus, you can get the train to Whittlesford Parkway and walk (just over a mile) from there. This is what I normally do, albeit I'm normally alone and haven't got much to carry.

 

[Magdalia]

I guess they won't do anything sensible like put a double set on.

That would not be sensible because of lack of platform capacity at Stansted Airport.

 

[trebor79]

So. No probs on the way there, straight onto a bus to Duxford.
Mega queue for buses at the end of the show, predictably. Dragged the kids away from the play park bit near the way out and joined the queue on the apron. 30 second later it had grown by about 150 people, at which point kids stopped moaning about being dragged away.
Arrived Cambridge and had a bite to eat, waiting for the Stansted to Norwich train with many other people when 12yo spotted another Norwich train a few minutes later.
They'd put a relief on! So we got on that as it was already in the platform and watched the regular service department with standees.

All worked well. Was not surprised at the queue for the return buses, we got outta there relatively sharpish, as we were getting on our bus and hour later the queue was about twice as long as when we'd joined it.
Was pleasantly surprised at the relief Norwich train.

 

[Bald Rick]

good day? I saw the B17 fly over me at about 1000 feet yesterday en route.

 

[trebor79]

good day? I saw the B17 fly over me at about 1000 feet yesterday en route.

Yeah. Plenty of other things besides the flying. There was a small miniature railway and vintage funfair with helter skelter and steam powered gallopers. Amazingly this was free, unlike other airshows like Old Buckenham where a few minutes on a bouncy castle is £5.

Probably too many spitfires for me. Yeah I know it was Battle of Britain themed but once you've seen a few you've seen them all. Catalina and the Breguet Alize were the highlights for me. Red Arrows were good of course but a fairly low energy display due to airspace above. I can never make out what the leader is saying on the radio when they play it over the PA.