Leeds to balloch central

[badger1badger]

Hi on the 22nd November we are heading to Balloch, is there any benefit of travelling first class on the Edinburgh to Glasgow portion ?

Cheers

Paul

 

[yorkie]

A wider seat, and likely a cup of tea/coffee. Possibly more chance of a seat at busy times.

 

[eastend43]

If you didn't mind a journey that is 8 minutes longer then going on the Edinburgh to Milngavie train (that goes via Airdrie) gives you a same platform connection onto the Balloch train at almost any station between Airdrie and Partick. That might be easier for some people than switching from Glasgow Queen Street high level to low level (although the lifts on Platform 7 make it pretty easy). No first class on the train via Airdrie. I wouldn't have thought it was worth getting first class on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen St mainline service. First class on the cross country service into Glasgow Central might be better and if you haven't bought a ticket yet, and buying the different legs separately then you often get cheap advance tickets on that slightly slower route.

 

[John @ home]

If I needed to travel from Leeds to Balloch Central on Friday 22 November, I would not choose to travel via Edinburgh. Travel via Appleby offers wonderful views and competitive prices.

Valid via Edinburgh (or Appleby or Penrith ...)
Leeds - Balloch Central route Any Permitted Off-Peak Single £102.20 (valid any train)
Leeds - Balloch Central route Any Permitted Off-Peak Return £103.20 (valid any train)

Valid via Appleby
Leeds - Bowling via Appleby Anytime Day Single £44.80
Bowling - Balloch Central Anytime Day Single £3.10
Total Single fare £47.90

Leeds - Bowling via Appleby Anytime Return £56.00
2 x Bowling - Balloch Central Anytime Day Single @ £3.10 = £6.20
Total Return fare £62.20

 

[Deerfold]

If I needed to travel from Leeds to Balloch Central on Friday 22 November, I would not choose to travel via Edinburgh. Travel via Appleby offers wonderful views and competitive prices.

It is about half an hour slower though.

On a weekend it does have the advantage of letting you travel First Class with Virgin between Carlisle and Glasgow on a standard ticket though.

 

[badger1badger]

We had wanted to go first class on the 7.10 from Leeds but open to offers on the return it is a Friday

Where is bowling ?

 

[yorkie]

We had wanted to go first class on the 7.10 from Leeds but open to offers on the return it is a Friday

the return is also a Friday? 22nd is a Friday but I think Deerfold was mentioning the First Class offer on the basis that you could have been going away for the weekend so could make use of it on the return journey if that was a Sunday (or Saturday).

Where is bowling ?

Near Bat & Ball No, only joking, it's between Kilpatrick and Dumbarton East.

 

[reb0118]

Where is Bowling ?

Near Bat & Ball

Damn, beat me to it!

This reminds me of an anecdotal story from Edinburgh's senior driver. Back in the day before free boxes for staff travel you got so many free trips per year but you had to specify the actual journey. This driver would specifically ask for Bowling to Bat & Ball every year - however the clerk would always refuse to issue them as in her opinion he was clearly not making that journey. I will have to ask if he ever got his free tickets.

Back on topic: If possible the OP could travel out via the East Coast & back on the S&C via Appleby. This would of course depend on cost & timing factors.