Southampton Central to the port

[bengolding]

We will shortly be travelling by cruise from Southampton. Cunard have offered us complimentary First Class rail tickets as we are travelling by Queens Grill Grand Duplex.

Firstly, we will be changing at Reading onto a CrossCountry service. Is an at-seat service provided in First Class during weekdays?

Finally, how far is the port from Southampton Central rail station?

 

[Greenback]

Not sure about SC south of Readingm but having cruised twice from Southampton I can tell you it's not far, but we hve always taken a taxi because of the amount of heavy luggage we had. The fare was about £5, including 'keep the change mate'! One of the reasons we like to cruise from theUK is that you don;t have to worry about airline luggage restrictions, which means we can take what we like, If you travel light I should think it would be an easy walk.

 

[Oracle]

From experience there are usually a myriad of taxis waiting to take you from the southern side of the Central Station to the Cunard terminal in the Eastern Docks. It's about a mile or so by meandering road..less by crow! That said because of the buses that are required to take passengers to Parkway, you might have to get a cab from the northern side. That is a bit longer/more costly.

 

[Drsatan]

Firstly, we will be changing at Reading onto a CrossCountry service. Is an at-seat service provided in First Class during weekdays?

Finally, how far is the port from Southampton Central rail station?

As far as I am aware there is no at-seat service on XC; there isn't even a trolley south of Reading.

As you're travelling by Cunard Lines you'll need to go to the Eastern Docks, which are a good 20-25 minutes walk with luggage. Given you're going on a cruise I'd recommend getting a taxi. But beware, some of the Southampton cabbies don't speak English very well and are suicidal drivers...

 

[SquirrelJunction]

and if you leave thestation via Platform 4 it will cost youabout a £1 less because the taxi does not have to circumnavigate the station.

 

[LondonLarry]

Cross Country will come in on Platform 4 at Southampton and the taxi rank is just outside station entrance.

 

[Oracle]

You will probably find like-destined travellers, and you may therefore be able to share a cab, especially a Peugeot Partner or LTI TXII. All Soton City taxis are white or predominently so!

 

[bengolding]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will be making the trip soon, so will ensure we leave the station from plat 4.

We have been given First Anytime Returns from Birmingham to Southampton Central *route not London*. The obvious journey is direct on the xx:03 with CrossCountry, but can we get the xx:10 Virgin Train to Watford Junction and change there onto the Southern service for Clapham Junction? We were looking to stop in the Watford area briefly. If this isn't valid, then we'll exces the tickets to *route London*.

 

[thefab444]

As far as I am aware there is no at-seat service on XC; there isn't even a trolley south of Reading.

There's a trolley south of Reading on weekdays (from experience), is this not the case on Saturdays? (Poor show if so)