long journey different options

[oilman]

hi all

received news of a job interview next friday, i am not able to claim travel costs so it either plane car or train / boat,

plane is easy but not cheap

car hard journey and could affect the interview due to driving hours.

train dont know never been on one so probably just sleep.

infomation

interview next friday 28th
orkney hotel
40 Victoria Street
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands KW15 1
12.00 start probably there most of the day but hopefully not more than two hours could stay at hotel if rail / boat option taken
the train goes via london i think but can i go across london on the tube train or are they different.
been reading about split fares and open access barriers but feeling sleeply now and getting confused.

does anyone the best fare possible

thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
forgot to put where i am, i know but you dont,
live in helston but wife could drop me at railway station in falmouth or that one in penryn if its open.

thanks in advance.

 

[yorkie]

Welcome to the forum bus there any chance that this post can be made a bit clearer please?

I can just about figure out most of it, but I can't see where your origin is.

I'll have a go at making it clearer, perhaps you can fill in the gaps...

Hi all,

I received news of a job interview on Friday, 28 May. I am not able to claim travel costs so will be travelling by plane, car or train / boat,

Plane travel is easy, but not cheap. The rough price to beat is £xxx

Car travel is a hard journey and could affect the interview due to driving hours.

I am interested in going by train, but I have never been on a train before.

Information
I would like a return ticket.
Date: Friday 28th May
Arrival time (outward): In good time for a 12:00 start
Origin: Helston, Cornwall. Most convenient station is Falmouth
Destination: Orkney hotel, 40 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands KW15 1
Departure time (return): After 16:00 as I expect the interview to only last 2 hours.
I could stay at hotel if required.

Would I get a through train via London, or get a tube?

I have read about split fares and but I find ticketing confusing.

Does anyone the best fare possible?

thanks

Edit: added the origin, thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, my overall initial reaction is: are you sure you want to go by rail + boat for this journey? It will take a very long time. The cheapest way to do it would probably be via Ireland. Yes that is bonkers, but that's the UK rail industry for you.

Assuming you are aged 25-59, have no "disability" (including epilepsy & similar) and can't bring a child with you, then the non-railcard discounted price is £226.80 avoiding London, which I do not recommend at all. The more sensible route, allowing the use of sleeper trains via London, costs £222.80 for a flexible return from Falmouth to Thurso. I'm not sure what the add-on to Orkney is. Advance tickets may be able to reduce the price. Add-ons are available for a berth on a sleeper train. Sleepers are available between Cornwall and London and also between London and Inverness. I would recommend the sleeper between London and Inverness.

 

[oilman]

hi

yes starting location is helston so falmouth is the nearest railstation

not sure about newquay to ireland, if i am going to newquay i may aswell go to glasgow for journey to orkney.

Welcome to the forum bus there any chance that this post can be made a bit clearer please?

I can just about figure out most of it, but I can't see where your origin is.

I'll have a go at making it clearer, perhaps you can fill in the gaps...



Edit: added the origin, thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, my overall initial reaction is: are you sure you want to go by rail + boat for this journey? It will take a very long time. The cheapest way to do it would probably be via Ireland. Yes that is bonkers, but that's the UK rail industry for you.

Assuming you are aged 25-59, have no "disability" (including epilepsy & similar) and can't bring a child with you, then the non-railcard discounted price is £226.80 avoiding London, which I do not recommend at all. The more sensible route, allowing the use of sleeper trains via London, costs £222.80 for a flexible return from Falmouth to Thurso. I'm not sure what the add-on to Orkney is. Advance tickets may be able to reduce the price. Add-ons are available for a berth on a sleeper train. Sleepers are available between Cornwall and London and also between London and Inverness. I would recommend the sleeper between London and Inverness.

 

[yorkie]

I can't find a suitable ferry from Thurso to Orkney, despite it being shown on my map as existing...

Transport Direct can't find any suitable outward journey (I've not played around with it) but did find this for the return...

2250 (28 May) - depart Kirkwall. Stagecoach X10 bus to Stromness
2310 - arrive Hatson passenger terminal
2315 - depart Hatson on overnight Northlink Ferries NL2 towards Aberdeen
0700 (29 May) - arrive Aberdeen

At this point it gets silly, so I will suggest the 0820 Aberdeen to Camborne, this is direct and arrives at 2117.

However a more comfortable alternative with better catering facilities and a break to stretch your legs, is the 0752 Aberdeen to King's Cross. Then take the Hammersmith & City line (not actually a 'tube' but it is London Underground, it's a full size train that goes just under street level) to Paddington and get the 1606 Paddington to Camborne arriving 2100.

 

[ainsworth74]

It looks like there isn't a ferry from Thurso to Orkney that I can find, despite it being shown on my map as existing...

There is but it leaves from Scrabster which is a couple of miles from Thurso, costs about £30 for a return between Scrabster and Stromness.

 

[oilman]

do you have to pay if you go across london on the hammmersmith line or is that extra.
anything cheaper than £600 will beat the plane via air southwest and logan

scrabster boat is about £30 return i have an ex work manager who used the bus. but if not a taxi cant be much.

if i go in car may leave car on mainland as its £70 extra for car, surely car crime in scrabster not as bad as helston.

 

[yorkie]

I've had a look for the outward journey now, and recommend the following:

2207 (26 May) - depart Camborne. FGW Sleeper.
0543 (27 May) - arrive Paddington

0700 - depart King's Cross. East Coast.
1132 - arrive Edinburgh

1230 - depart Edinburgh. First Scotrail
1453 - arrive Aberdeen

1630 - depart Aberdeen Ferry terminal. Northlink Ferries/NL2
2300 - Arrive Hatson, Orkney ferry terminal

2310 - depart Hatson on Stagecoach X10.
2320 - arrive Kirkwall

Stay overnight.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Camborne to Aberdeen is £104 each way for an Advance ticket on the 2207 changing into the 0700 and returning on the 0752 onto the 1606.

 

[CarterUSM]

Wouldn't take too long to get to kirkwall by bus, i rember doing it on the old post bus in about forty minutes. May i also take this opportunity on belhalf of everyone to wish you all the best for your interview! You should be awarded it for the journey alone! Best of British.

 

[oilman]

hi so the sleper does not go to from falmouth so have to pop down to cambourne wednesday evening and go via london.

aberdeen does seem easier route ferry bit higher but more direct to kirkwall

 

[yorkie]

hi so the sleper does not go to from falmouth so have to pop down to cambourne wednesday evening and go via london.

aberdeen does seem easier route ferry bit higher but more direct to kirkwall

But Edinburgh-Aberdeen is a lot faster and more frequent and quicker than Edinburgh-Inverness-Thurso, so that probably cancels it out. Less need for changes and buses means it is, in many ways, more direct via Aberdeen, just not by mileage.

You can go from Falmouth departing 2130, arrive Truro 2158. The sleeper departs Truro 2227.

Camborne may be more convenient departing 2207 but I realise the road isn't as good. But you have the choice. The fare should be the same.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Wouldn't take too long to get to kirkwall by bus, i rember doing it on the old post bus in about forty minutes. May i also take this opportunity on belhalf of everyone to wish you all the best for your interview! You should be awarded it for the journey alone! Best of British.

Yes, I'd agree with that!

The only thing I've done that compares with this is Seaford to Skye in a single journey (via the sleeper Euston-Aberdeen), but this is a fair bit longer. A few other forum members would remember that trip!

 

[oilman]

Camborne to Aberdeen is £104 each way for an Advance ticket on the 2207 changing into the 0700 and returning on the 0752 onto the 1606.

so approx 208 plus 40 boat 10 wife to cambourne 260 plus travel of the hammersmith line

not bad cheaper than plane £600

car to scrabster is £137.50 for fuel probably another £20 in wear and tear + value plus £30 for ferry approx £190

was thinking of car on thursday morning early to north inverness stay night in b+b and drive up to scrabster but if its possible aberdeen will save 260 miles in fuel approx £22 and be there earlier.

so if train is wednesday if would be longer.


thanks carter i will try my best.

 

[jopsuk]

If you're on Jobseeker's Allowance you CAN claim for travel and overnight accommodation (as long as you don't go five-star, 1st class etc)

 

[OwlMan]

An alternative to the train - fly from Exeter to Aberdeen and then catch the ferry. A s

There is no suitable flight on Thursday so you would have to fly on Wedneday and stay overnight.

Wed 26 Exeter dep 1450
Aberdeen arr 1735
Cost £78.29

Return Sat 29th Aberdeen dep 1015
Exeter arr 1300
Cost £107-94.

Plus ferry cost £40

I would get the train to Aberdeen using the sleeper and fly back on Saturday morning. A single from Exeter to Falmouth is £15-90

Peter