What Route Would You Take ????

[Hampshire Unit]

I am travelling to York from Portsmouth this week (Weekday) and am curious to know what route people here would take? Clearly the Fastest and most direct is Via London and then Kings Cross out to York. But as I am not limited to a route by a ticket I was wondering which would be the most scenic or have the best mix of traction to get me there? I was considering going via Manchester but I don’t know what stock I would get from Manchester to York ?

 

[TEW]

Manchester to York on TPE would be Class 185s.

 

[moonrakerz]

My wife's sister recently went from IoW to Chesterfield. The cheapest route I found was:
Portsmouth - Southampton
Southampton - Birmingham
Birmingham - Chesterfield

It may be worth trying that type of combination for your trip.

 

[MCR247]

Or to avoid changing at New St, change at Reading

 

[flymo]

The last time I did Newcastle to Portsmouth it was Newcastle - Bristol TM then TM - Portsmouth. A Voyager and a 150. Not bad all in all, thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[TEW]

Should be a three car Class 158 from Portsmouth-Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[moonrakerz]

Should be a three car Class 158 from Portsmouth-Bristol Temple Meads.

FGW do operate some 150s as 'local trains' slotted in between the regular hourly Cardiff - Portsmouth service

 

[Hampshire Unit]

Thanks all Via Manchester is looking good

 

[yorkie]

York to Manchester can be very busy, depending on when you travel. The worst bit is often Hudds-Leeds, this is to be avoided between approx 1600-1800!

Also Manchester-Brum-Reading can be a nightmare, especially the last bit!

 

[garnon]

There's a couple of cross country HSTs that work from the south, pass through Birmingham up through Sheffield and Leeds and onto York I think. Maybe another option to consider.

 

[Techniquest]

But the HSTs are on the NE - SW corridor and don't go too close to Reading. However the OP may wish to get the 0608 NCL > PLY as far as BRI and change for a 158/9 on a CDF > PMH run. Would be either that or one of these options:

NCL > SUN > KGX > Tube > WAT > PMH
NCL > SUN > KGX > Tube > VIC > PMH
NCL > KGX > Tube to either WAT or VIC then off to PMH
NCL > SHF > STP > GTW > PMH

 

[TEW]

FGW do operate some 150s as 'local trains' slotted in between the regular hourly Cardiff - Portsmouth service

They operate hourly between Westbury and Bristol and hourly between Bristol and Cardiff. The only trains from Portsmouth are the hourly Porstmouth-Cardiff trains which should be three car Class 158s.

 

[krus_aragon]

They operate hourly between Westbury and Bristol and hourly between Bristol and Cardiff. The only trains from Portsmouth are the hourly Porstmouth-Cardiff trains which should be three car Class 158s.

I saw a FGW 150 at Cardiff twice on Monday, arriving the first time, and later in the day a departure for Portsmouth.