TT-ONR-NRN: Rail Days

[TheAdelante]

Which airline did you use? Ryanair?

Yes and it was perfectly fine.
Unless, I suppose we could bash some 377s and go to Bognor Regis for the weekend?

 

[DanNCL]

Unless, I suppose we could bash some 377s and go to Bognor Regis for the weekend?

I'm sure that will be a popular idea!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What's wrong with Ryanair? They get you from A to B; they might not be luxury but they are cheap and they get you there.

I've not yet booked it, but will do soon. I'm expecting to go for a day trip (I know, I'm mad!) at some point either at the end of January or the beginning of February. The price seems to be the same for most days around that period

The M&S food is well overpriced on BA, and often they don't stock enough to serve the whole plane, so if you're sat in the middle of the plane then there may not be anything left when the trolley gets to you. If you do use BA, you would be better off getting your food from M&S before getting to the airport, and then buying any drinks for on the plane from Boots (they seem the be the only store that don't increase their prices in airports).

I was unlucky enough to fly with them not long after a Virgin flight which was wonderful. They are horrid. The seats are made of some nasty plastic, they don’t recline, there are adverts splatted on the back of the seats for goodness sake, no seat back magazine holder thingy, overpriced disgusting food.

I agree with you on Boots though, they are very handy before flying.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm sure that will be a popular idea!

Hilarious, Dan. Just hilarious.

 

[DanNCL]

I was unlucky enough to fly with them not long after a Virgin flight which was wonderful. They are horrid. The seats are made of some nasty plastic, they don’t recline, there are adverts splatted on the back of the seats for goodness sake, no seat back magazine holder thingy, overpriced disgusting food.

None of that bothers me; to be completely honest I'm not fussed what the plane looks like as long as it is safe (and I get to have a proper window, rather than an opaque wall panel in its place ). As for food; i'll just buy something at the airport before travelling, that's what I did when I flew with Flybe a couple of years ago

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

None of that bothers me; to be completely honest I'm not fussed what the plane looks like as long as it is safe (and I get to have a proper window, rather than an opaque wall panel in its place ). As for food; i'll just buy something at the airport before travelling, that's what I did when I flew with Flybe a couple of years ago

Copenhagen there and back was also the hardest touchdown I’ve ever experienced out of my nineteen aeroplane returns (which have all been lovely except that one - about ten passengers screamed and loads banged their heads on the seat in front)

 

[DanNCL]

Copenhagen there and back was also the hardest touchdown I’ve ever experienced out of my nineteen aeroplane returns (which have all been lovely except that one - about ten passengers screamed and loads banged their heads on the seat in front)

That does sound like a pretty bad landing!

 

[TheAdelante]

That does sound like a pretty bad landing!

It was actually, if I’m honest. But also very funny as both of my brother and sister’s heads went WHACK into the seat in front simultaneously! But that could happen with any airline!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well - bad experiences with certain things put me off those things for good! In this case it was a stiff back from the seat with no recliner, and a lump on my forehead from having it slammed into an advert for €6 value meals on the plastic seat back! Awful plane.

 

[cactustwirly]

I think the BA sale has started with Jack all for short haul.
Do consider easyJet and Norwegian as well, they are very good and offer a similar level of service to BA.
Never been with Ryanair, since they don't fly anywhere useful from LGW

 

[185143]

My flight to Southend was cheap

£3 at each airport for a couple of drinks and a fiver to get my tablet back. Flights were on the house!

(And I went bashing 377s, ALMOST to Bognor Regis)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’ve managed to up the number of Pendolinos to 3 to my delight (regarding Glasgow next week). It does mean we possibly might not be able to get a 156 now but oh well. This extra pendolino trip will be first class, naturally. Afternoon tea menu.

 

[DanNCL]

I’ve managed to up the number of Pendolinos to 3 to my delight (regarding Glasgow next week). It does mean we possibly might not be able to get a 156 now but oh well. This extra pendolino trip will be first class, naturally. Afternoon tea menu.

You could always get a Scotrail 156 on your Newcastle trip . How have you managed to get another 390 in there?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

You could always get a Scotrail 156 on your Newcastle trip . How have you managed to get another 390 in there?

I don’t know if I’m doing that yet

I have crammed a small twenty minute journey in there between Motherwell and Glasgow. That is not the unit we will depart Glasgow on for London by the way.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It’s a shame as I’ve wanted to try a SR 156 but oh well Pendolinos come first for me. So does first class (especially when it costs only £3)

Then after a change at Central I’ll be heading for the Stranraer Harbour train which I will get to Paisley Gilmour Street.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It’s a shame as I’ve wanted to try a SR 156 but oh well...


....Then after a change at Central I’ll be heading for the Stranraer Harbour train which I will get to Paisley Gilmour Street.

That should be a 156 shouldn't it?

 

[DanNCL]

It’s a shame as I’ve wanted to try a SR 156 but oh well Pendolinos come first for me. So does first class (especially when it costs only £3)

Then after a change at Central I’ll be heading for the Stranraer Harbour train which I will get to Paisley Gilmour Street.

The Stranraer train will be a 156; but I'm surprised it's going via Paisley. I thought the Stranraer trains went via Kilmarnock instead?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Of course. How stupid of me - the Stranraer train will be a 156.

I don’t know what path they usually take but this will definitely stop at Gilmour Street otherwise I won’t be getting on it

 

[DanNCL]

Of course. How stupid of me - the Stranraer train will be a 156.

I don’t know what path they usually take but this will definitely stop at Gilmour Street otherwise I won’t be getting on it

I've just checked RTT; it doesn't look like any of the Stranraer trains go via Paisley. All the ones I've checked go via Barrhead instead

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

My mistake it goes to Adrossan Harbour to Stranraer Harbour

 

[DanNCL]

My mistake it goes to Adrossan Harbour to Stranraer Harbour

Ardrossan Harbour would most likely be a 380

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ardrossan Harbour would most likely be a 380

Oh. So yes I was right when I said I won’t be taking a 156

 

[fowler9]

Personally speaking I am not a massive Ryanair fan but it does what it says on the tin and if I use them it's because there was no cheaper option. Flown long haul with BA twice and both times the cabin crew were surly and the head rest was falling off on both flights! Short haul they were no better than easyJet. Enjoy the first class on the Pendolino, I've always enjoyed it and have had some bargains over the years.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Personally speaking I am not a massive Ryanair fan but it does what it says on the tin and if I use them it's because there was no cheaper option. Flown long haul with BA twice and both times the cabin crew were surly and the head rest was falling off on both flights! Short haul they were no better than easyJet. Enjoy the first class on the Pendolino, I've always enjoyed it and have had some bargains over the years.

I don’t like BA Long Haul either, we always opt for Virgin Atlantic if we’re going to the Caribbean or Emirates if we’re going to Mauritius. They’re quite nice for short haul flights though. easyJet are alright actually, they’re no where near as bad as Ryanair.

Thank you, I do love the Pendolino (although Ryan isn’t so keen) I’ve only done weekend trips with Virgin West Coast and I’ve enjoyed that so this weekday trip should be good!

 

[fowler9]

Easyjet are great, but I have to say that because my sister works for them. Ha ha. One I don't mind which some seen to hate is Wizzair. Never had a problem with them.

Hope you guys have a great trip anyway. Speaking of trips where are you looking at flying to? I have a number of recommendations for central Europe.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Easyjet are great, but I have to say that because my sister works for them. Ha ha. One I don't mind which some seen to hate is Wizzair. Never had a problem with them.

Hope you guys have a great trip anyway. Speaking of trips where are you looking at flying to? I have a number of recommendations for central Europe.

Well EasyJet are good if you’re on a budget, I’ll give you that. WizzAir goes to weird places with weird names that I’ve never heard of like Schzezin or Tsaktua or stuff like that I don’t think they go anywhere - well, useful, really!

With regards to the second paragraph: Thank you I like cities with vast tram networks that’s why I’m particularly interested in Germany. Plus Ryan and I are both fluent in German so that makes things easier.

 

[fowler9]

Being fluent in German must be useful. I know enough to get by. I've flown Wizzair to Budapest (Big tram network, decent metro and really interesting heavy rail, plus a stunning city), Gdansk (Interesting and beautiful city with a great public transport network and good places to visit nearby, Sopot and Gdynia, you can get a really cheap ticket that covers trams, trains, buses and trolleybuses in and between all three places), and Katowice (Handy for Krakow which is amazing, not as handy as just flying to Krakow though, ha ha. Also handy for Tychy where my friend Jacek is from, also Tyskie beer).

 

[TheAdelante]

Being fluent in German must be useful. I know enough to get by. I've flown Wizzair to Budapest (Big tram network, decent metro and really interesting heavy rail, plus a stunning city), Gdansk (Interesting and beautiful city with a great public transport network and good places to visit nearby, Sopot and Gdynia, you can get a really cheap ticket that covers trams, trains, buses and trolleybuses in and between all three places), and Katowice (Handy for Krakow which is amazing, not as handy as just flying to Krakow though, ha ha. Also handy for Tychy where my friend Jacek is from, also Tyskie beer).

We don’t drink beer mate, but thanks anyway

 

[fowler9]

We don’t drink beer mate, but thanks anyway

Ha ha. Good on you. Still really nice places to go. I would also recommend Tallinn in Estonia, Warsaw and Wroclaw in Poland, Prague in Czechia and Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia (Not so good for public transport). I love Torino and it has a great tram network. If you want trams Melbourne has (I believe) the biggest in the world, bit hard to get there.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ha ha. Good on you. Still really nice places to go. I would also recommend Tallinn in Estonia, Warsaw and Wroclaw in Poland, Prague in Czechia and Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia (Not so good for public transport). I love Torino and it has a great tram network. If you want trams Melbourne has (I believe) the biggest in the world, bit hard to get there.

Ah of course. Melbourne.
We have family spread all over Australia and some in New Zealand too so a trip there wouldn’t necessarily be impossible...

Not sure how I feel about such a long flight though - once the hours start creeping into double figures I want to end it all.