Routing/Tickets from Fort William to Westbury

[LiftFan]

I'm trying to plan a route to get from Fort William to Westbury on Sunday 15th May, however the journey planners aren't showing any same-day travel or decently priced advance fares. I'll be travelling on a 16-25 railcard, the other passenger doesn't have a railcard so will have to be full price for them. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Possibly the issue is that Sunday 15th May 2022 is the first day of the new Summer timetable, which for certain operators, such as Avanti on the WCML, hasn't been finalised yet, I believe, hence no advances possible yet.

 

[Sleepy]

The first service from Fort W. on a Sunday offered (1140) doesn't arrive in London in time for last Westbury departure perhaps ? Have you considered using the Sleeper Sunday evening ?

 

[Hadders]

Given the price it’s likely to be, a Two Together Railcard will probably more than pay for itself on this one trip alone.

 

[Mainline421]

The problem is it's bus replacement from Glasgow to Carlisle that day. Only way I can see of doing it is via Edinburgh and LNER, but this would give you only 20 minutes to transfer Euston to Paddington.

You can however reach Chippenham easily though and make your own arrangements from there. Personally if I was doing this journey I'd just get the sleeper.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Google Maps says you can get the following:
0910 Fort William Bus - Glasgow Buchanan 1221
1300 Glasgow Queen - Edinburgh via Falkirk High 1350
1430 Edinburgh - London Kings Cross 1849
1900 Kings Cross Underground - Paddington Underground via Hammersmith & City 1910
2003 London Paddington - Westbury 2120.

I would note the following:
The first train of the day south from Fort William on a Sunday isn't until 1140.
The West Coast Mainline between Glasgow and Carlisle appears to be closed for maintenance on May the 15th.

I haven't looked up prices for this as there are so many possible combinations you could check.


Images show itinerary as reported by Google Maps.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes the issue here is that late start from Fort William, first train of the day at 1140 means you don't get to Glasgow Queen street until 1526. Looking ahead to June (to get an idea of how a non-engineering effected timetable would work) it just isn't possible to get to Westbury in a day. Going down the West Coast means not getting to London until after 2100 which is well after the last train from Paddington to Westbury. Going over to Edinburgh doesn't help as you you either end up on an LNER that gets to London even later than if you'd gone down the West Coast or on a CrossCountry that can get you to Bristol at 2330 far after any possible connections to Westbury. So even if the West Coast wasn't shut this wouldn't be possible on a Sunday!

I think the only real option here is to either travel using a few different modes (such as that suggested by @computerSaysNo) or by doing the sleeper from Fort William on Sunday night but that doesn't help massively as it doesn't get to Euston until 0904 (as the West Coast is closed it's diverted via the East Coast) meaning the earliest departure from Paddington to Westbury you'd (on a valid connection) get is the 1035 arriving into Westbury at 1155. You could probably make the 0937 (arriving 1054) but that wouldn't be a valid connection so in the event of delays you wouldn't be able to claim delay repay and, if you held an fixed train ticket for the 0937, you'd need to buy a new ticket. I haven't checked if the Sleeper has any availability (nor the price!).

 

[Mainline421]

Going down the West Coast means not getting to London until after 2100 which is well after the last train from Paddington to Westbury. Going over to Edinburgh doesn't help as you you either end up on an LNER that gets to London even later than if you'd gone down the West Coast or on a CrossCountry that can get you to Bristol at 2330 far after any possible connections to Westbury. So even if the West Coast wasn't shut this wouldn't be possible on a Sunday!

You can leave Paddington 22:00 and change at Bath so it is possible.

 

[ainsworth74]

You can leave Paddington 22:00 and change at Bath so it is possible.

Aha, well, still no help to our OP travelling May 15 but good to know that if the WCML wasn't shut between Carlisle and Glasgow it would be possible with a change at Bath. Thanks

 

[Merseysider]

Personally, and I normally hate the concept of domestic flights, I would fly Glasgow - Southampton as there is a significant time saving to be had.

British Airways / Loganair have flights at several times, eg 1400, 1750, for a tad over £100 which take 1 hour. Currently there are rail sale advances for £6 Southampton - Westbury (before railcard) and you’d just need to sort a ticket from the airport to Central.

 

[Towers]

Personally, and I normally hate the concept of domestic flights, I would fly Glasgow - Southampton as there is a significant time saving to be had.

British Airways / Loganair have flights at several times, eg 1400, 1750, for a tad over £100 which take 1 hour. Currently there are rail sale advances for £6 Southampton - Westbury (before railcard) and you’d just need to sort a ticket from the airport to Central.

Given the added potential issue of unpredictable sunday services in some areas, I'd be inclined to agree!

 

[paul1609]

If you can afford it fly. If not the 19.10 Citylink bus to Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and then an overnight Megabus will get you in to London Victoria easily by 0700 Monday. Then get a London Terminals to Westbury via Salisbury single. Will cost around £75 all in.

 

[Class800]

If you can afford it fly. If not the 19.10 Citylink bus to Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and then an overnight Megabus will get you in to London Victoria easily by 0700 Monday. Then get a London Terminals to Westbury via Salisbury single. Will cost around £75 all in.

Via Salisbury is not the obvious or faster route - is it a lot cheaper?

 

[ainsworth74]

Via Salisbury is not the obvious or faster route - is it a lot cheaper?

Usually. For instance the Off-Peak Return from London to Bath routed Any Permitted is £90.10 whilst that routed Warminster-Salisbury is £68.50. You can find savings in terms of APs as well usually.

 

[sonic2009]

Flights are available between Inverness and Bristol for £42 currently on the 15th May

 

[LiftFan]

Thanks for your help everyone, in the end I bit the bullet and went for a flight from Glasgow to Bristol as we have work on Monday! Shame really, can't avoid engineering works however the Sunday service really does seem dreadful! You'd think they would want to run an earlier train from FTW at the very least as people need to get home on Sundays and the sleeper doesn't even run on Saturday nights so all in all it screws us over.