Fantasy post coronavirus journey

[Vespa]

Once all this over, I'm thinking of doing a round robin trip round the UK.

Liverpool to Cardiff stay 2 days
Cardiff to Bristol 2 days
Bristol to Penzance 3 days
Penzance to Paddington Night Riviera 2-3 days stay
London - Edinburgh or Aberdeen Caldonian Sleeper stay possibly 3 days
Scotland to Newcastle explore Tyne and Wear metro. 3 days
Newcastle to Liverpool.

What do you guys think of that, looking at 2 weeks+ off work to do it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Doubt I'll do that, but once I'm allowed to do so I will be doing a number of long rail journeys of various types.

 

[Iskra]

I've lost a few trips due to the virus including one to Italy.

So I would like to go to Italy and also do one of the sleepers probably the Cornish one as it is better value, I haven't done it for a while and I need to clear some of the branches down there. Hopefully I can get an EMR HST down to London too and a Castle set in

I'd like to visit a preserved railway too to help them at this time. Possibly the Great Central Railway or Peak Rail.

 

[High Dyke]

Doubt I'll do that, but once I'm allowed to do so I will be doing a number of long rail journeys of various types.

Probably likewise for me. I'll also be able to continue walking the London LOOP, amongst others. It takes an hour by train for me to reach London, never mind travelling out to the suburbs, as needed.

 

[Huntergreed]

I was going to be going a weeklong bashing trip to London, I imagine this will be off the cards for at least the remainder of 2020 now though.

If restrictions are lifted by 2021, I’ll want to re-arrange this to try and cover as many mainlines into and stations around the London area as possible.

 

[DarloRich]

i would be happy with going to see my mum and my girlfriend.

 

[Segedunum]

I think as a first rail trip again I'll be happy with literally anything...!

Next year ideally I'll do a damn long Interrail taking in Central/Eastern Europe and the Baltics.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I've been looking at 14 day Interrail for the old East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic...

 

[FQ]

i would be happy with going to see my mum and my girlfriend.

Similar to me then, I want to be able to see people so will do a few trips away to where friends/family are.

 

[scotrail158713]

After reading numerous posts on the Most Impressive Stretch of Line thread I really want to do the rural Scottish lines. I’ve been meaning to do it for years, so when the restrictions are lifted that’ll be my aim. (I might wait until next summer if they’re lifted in winter time though)

 

[Oscar46016]

Similar - I think I'll do an all-line

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Once all this over, I'm thinking of doing a round robin trip round the UK.

Liverpool to Cardiff stay 2 days
Cardiff to Bristol 2 days
Bristol to Penzance 3 days
Penzance to Paddington Night Riviera 2-3 days stay
London - Edinburgh or Aberdeen Caldonian Sleeper stay possibly 3 days
Scotland to Newcastle explore Tyne and Wear metro. 3 days
Newcastle to Liverpool.

What do you guys think of that, looking at 2 weeks+ off work to do it.

Sounds like an excellent adventure - bit of advice though, if you do Bristol to Penzance, get one of the 4-coach GWR Castle HST or Class 158 trains rather than a Voyager later in the day. Here's why...

1.Yes it takes a bit longer on the GWR train but no seat reservations are required plus there's about 2 more of the GWR services than in previous years. You should easily find a table seat.

2. If the weather in Dawlish is wet and windy, you should have no problem.

3. Unlikely to be overcrowded compared to the Voyagers (more seats on the Caslte HST and 4-coach Class 158's) - I don't think you'll want to hear arguments over seat reservations at peak times. The Voyagers are still great trains but the GWR service will be a hundred times easier.

On weekdays, taking like 4 and a half hours to 4 hours 45 minutes, the GWR services leave Bristol Temple Meads at 05:26, 06:44, 08:55, 13:55 and 18:55. The 06:44 takes 4 hours 30, the rest around 4 hours 45.

Saturdays from Bristol Temple Meads at 05:27, 06:42, 07:42 (IET with First Class and seat reservations and catering if it operates), 08:56 and 13:56.

Sundays from Bristol Temple Meads at 07:26 and 08:26. There's a XC service at 10:58 which should be fine.

Note the IET and XC services take almost 4 hours as they run faster to Taunton.

On Saturdays in the summer timetable, I believe the 11:45ish XC service from Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance will still be booked for a 7-coach HST. Note that this can be replaced by a Voyager if the HST fails or isn't available - not a great situation admittedly.

The GWR Castle HST and 158's which aren't bracketed don't have catering services so you'll need to buy food and drink before boarding definitely - the rest maybe.

Sorry for the rather long list of tips but I hope this all helps!

 

[Vespa]

Thanks for the tips, I'll certainly will incorporate them, is there a Pullman dining car from Bristol to Penzance ?

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Thanks for the tips, I'll certainly will incorporate them, is there a Pullman dining car from Bristol to Penzance ?

I don't believe so. I've used GWR services not every day but since August 2003 (I'm 27) back in First Great Western days but there's still many things I need to learn !

 

[notabasher]

I was going to be going a weeklong bashing trip to London, I imagine this will be off the cards for at least the remainder of 2020 now though.

If restrictions are lifted by 2021, I’ll want to re-arrange this to try and cover as many mainlines into and stations around the London area as possible.

I think you are being unduly pessimistic. I'm hoping for an early-Autumn bash combining regional rovers. A 4 in 8 Northwest and 4 in 8 Scottish looking the most interesting.

 

[pieguyrob]

I will be happy with a day out on the train. Not really fussed where, possibly a Lancashire day rover ticket.

 

[NorthWestRover]

See you out there, Rob.

 

[PeterY]

It must be about 10 weeks since I last got on a train....................getting withdrawal symptoms

I had great visions for this year railway wise and I have decided to basically scrap any plans I had in 2020 until 2021.

The only trip/trips I'll do, to to see my daughter in Prestatyn.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

All Line Railrover or its modern day equivalent

 

[route101]

Hoping to get somewhere in the summer , i think once the lockdown is lifted, still will be non essential travel only . Hopefully get something out the summer , though weather is not as good from late July onwards in Scotland at least.

 

[NorthWestRover]

If 4th July sees permission for leisure travel, I'll probably do something like a GM Wayfarer on a Saturday to go to Alderley Edge - cafe if there is one open and a walk up to the sandstone escarpment. Take the direct train there and maybe a circuitous route back. We'll see...

 

[nlogax]

I'll make usual my way to Scotland but the long way.. taking full advantage of Any Permitted Route and deciding on the day how I'll get there.

 

[Wolvercoter]

My post lockdown plans are to do Bedford to Bletchley (visit all stations by train), Birmingham (to photo my last 170/5, 170/6, 323, 350/2), Brighton (photo my last 313s), London (photo and mileage on 455s, 458s, 321s, 379s) and IoW to ride on a class 483. Also, gain mileage on Class 153s in Wales. Not sure when, or if, I'll get to do this stuff but that's the plan... currently on hold.