St. Neots to Stafford.

[NSE]

Evening all.
This Thurday (18th November) I'm doing the above route (only just confirmed so sorry for the late notice) and I've plenty of time on my hands, so I was wondering if anyone could recommened two good routes. I'm returning the following day so would be good to get different routes.
I'm looking out for anything interesting wether its depots, junctions or changes at busy stations.
I'm definatly trying to get a Pendolino in there somewhere as not done them yet .

Many thanks!

 

[MCR247]

St Neots - London - Stafford
Stafford - Birmingham - Peterborough - St Neots
or
Stafford - Birmingham - Cambridge - Hitchin - St Neots

Just ideas for routes, no idea about fares and valid routes

 

[Aictos]

St Neots - London - Stafford
Stafford - Birmingham - Peterborough - St Neots
or
Stafford - Birmingham - Cambridge - Hitchin - St Neots

Just ideas for routes, no idea about fares and valid routes

May I ask if you've gone north of St Neots before to Peterborough if so, then the return via Cambridge although long might be interesting otherwise a direct service from Peterborough would be better as the FCCs only take about 25 minutes between Peterborough and St Neots.

For ideas on 390s and what routes they do, have a look on Virgin Trains website as it shows all the routes they operate plus what rolling stock is normally diagrammed for that route.

I've used 390s before and they certainly are a experience to these not used to them, I do like the step which folds down by the doors, wasn't that a design from the APT?

 

[MCR247]

He was just asking for alternative routes so I thought I'd give him a 'weird route'

 

[NSE]

Thanks guys, MCR those are brilliant cheers, I think that will be my out going route.
Ajax, I live in the local area so I'm frequently travelling from Cambridge/St. Neots to Kings Cross, and up to Ely etcc. so not to bothered about the Hitchin section.
I may decide to take a prolonged lunch break at P'borough though, plenty to see

Another thought, would my return ticket (bought as I travel no advance) be valid up to Manchester Piccadilly, and then the Norwich train through to P'borough, and then St. Neots?

 

[yorkie]

Perhaps the most straightforward route is to change at Nuneaton & Peterborough, but I guess you don't want that! If you were asking for fares advice I'd consider splitting at those places, as there are usually dirt cheap XC advances between NUN & PBO.

I doubt Manchester is valid but you can check....

The Routeing Guide is here:

http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-settlement-plan/routeing-guide

Stafford Group to Peterborough are valid on the following map combinations:
BP+LC
CN+EM
EM+NL

If you get stuck, let us know

 

[NSE]

Thanks Yorkie, I'm visiting a mate at Uni so no doubt it'll be a regular journey so that will prove helpful, cheers
Sorry for sounding ignorant, but what do those codes mean (bp+lc) Couldn't work them out!