Long trips to get your head down ( overnight )

[Oscar46016]

Back in the day ( 20 odd years ago ) - in addition to the sleeper services there were a number of "over-night" trains that you could get your head down own - running from either London to Scotland or on the NE-SW passage.

These days on a all-line - if you want to do an over-night ( and avoid a B&B bill ) the only option appear to be one of the two sleeper trains.

But does anyone have any ideas of any trains that perhaps you could get some sleep on during the 5-6 hours in the night?

 

[Kite159]

Overnight TPE services ( ie 0138 York to Manchester Airport)?
Especially if you upgrade to 1st class.

Maybe the overnight Thameslink trains but those will likely be busier and noiser.

 

[3RDGEN]

Overnight TPE services ( ie 0138 York to Manchester Airport)?
Especially if you upgrade to 1st class.

Maybe the overnight Thameslink trains but those will likely be busier and noiser.

The 01:38 is a good one as it appears to work straight back to Scarborough dep 04:07, arr 07:08 with only 15 mins or so in the Airport so your unlikely to have to leave the train there. It connects with the first Edinburgh service at York too.

The Night Riviera London to Plymouth allows a change straight back to London or XC north.

 

[JonathanH]

But does anyone have any ideas of any trains that perhaps you could get some sleep on during the 5-6 hours in the night?

The lights on any train using 'day' coaches are not conducive to sleep, and the best you are going to get in one go is about 2.5 hours, and then in most cases, you will be sitting outside the arrival station for a while until the service starts up again.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

The 01:38 is a good one as it appears to work straight back to Scarborough dep 04:07, arr 07:08 with only 15 mins or so in the Airport so your unlikely to have to leave the train there. It connects with the first Edinburgh service at York too.

The Night Riviera London to Plymouth allows a change straight back to London or XC north.

The 04:07 from the Airport also connects at Piccadilly with the 05:11 Cross Country service to Bournemouth, which itself connects at points from Leamington to Reading to the London service of your choice which is not time limited on an ALR.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The 04:07 from the Airport also connects at Piccadilly with the 05:11 Cross Country service to Bournemouth, which itself connects at points from Leamington to Reading to the London service of your choice which is not time limited on an ALR.

I think he's looking for long runs on the same train so he can get some sleep, though?

 

[Oscar46016]

I think he's looking for long runs on the same train so he can get some sleep, though?

Yes, but if I don't get kicked off and can stay in the warm that will do!

 

[Iskra]

How about just using the seated sections of the sleepers, these are decent value and dedicated sleepers are going to be a safer place to be due to higher staffing levels and supervision.

 

[Oscar46016]

How about just using the seated sections of the sleepers, these are decent value and dedicated sleepers are going to be a safer place to be due to higher staffing levels and supervision.

Yes, thats definitely a good option ( although I think you still have to reserve a seat ).

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, thats definitely a good option ( although I think you still have to reserve a seat ).

Equally, paying £10-£15 for an overnight coach is also a way of having sleep on the move at a cheaper rate than a hotel stay, with softer lighting and a longer period of travel.

 

[MrJeeves]

although I think you still have to reserve a seat

for free!

 

[Turbo004]

Overnight TPE services ( ie 0138 York to Manchester Airport)?
Especially if you upgrade to 1st class.

Maybe the overnight Thameslink trains but those will likely be busier and noiser.

Thanks for mentioning this service. I need to travel on the line from Sheffield to Rotherham via Tinsley. There is a late Cross Country train from Plymouth to Leeds which uses this. Potentially I could then catch a Transpennine to York and then 01.38 to Manchester Airport, back on same train to Manchester Piccadilly. Finally home to Chester from there. Whilst exhausting and I will need a sleep when I get home it will be get another line done without long waits at stations.

Apologies for hijacking thread but wanted to give others ideas and thank Kite.

 

[Iskra]

The overnight TP services also tend to divert, so you may gain some bonus route coverage from those too

 

[Kite159]

Thanks for mentioning this service. I need to travel on the line from Sheffield to Rotherham via Tinsley. There is a late Cross Country train from Plymouth to Leeds which uses this. Potentially I could then catch a Transpennine to York and then 01.38 to Manchester Airport, back on same train to Manchester Piccadilly. Finally home to Chester from there. Whilst exhausting and I will need a sleep when I get home it will be get another line done without long waits at stations.

Apologies for hijacking thread but wanted to give others ideas and thank Kite.

Although it's always a warning that the train might go the usual route if running late to recover time. Pretty sure from memory that XC service also is meant to use the section of line between Coleshill Parkway & Tamworth as well. I randomly did it (from Sheffield) for the slight novelty of a voyager from Doncaster to Wakefield.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Yes, thats definitely a good option ( although I think you still have to reserve a seat ).

You only have to reserve a seat on the Scottish overnights. The Western one is turn up and go in the seats.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You only have to reserve a seat on the Scottish overnights. The Western one is turn up and go in the seats.

It's presently set to fake compulsory reservations but in reality there's tons of room.