For our trip to London we took the train. In the past we travelled by
rail but then switched to flying when budget airlines
started to offer cheaper and quicker journeys.
But I'm not a fan of flying and we found out that the train
is a good option these days. Firstly the journey time for the 400 mile route is
four and a half hours. This is pretty amazing given that it made six stops en
route. The plane takes an hour but once you add on get to and coming from airports,
security, etc there's not much difference. Also the train is just a lot more civilised.
The Pendolino trains travel at 125 mph. A thing to remember
is that, unlike many other European countries, the track is not a modern high
speed line but one constructed in the 19th century. The Pendolino train can
bank over like a motorcycle to provide comfort when cornering at high speed.
By booking well in advance the return journey was quite good
value at £60. Flights can be cheaper but you have to add on a taxi or parking
at Glasgow airport and a train journey from Stansted airport 30 miles north of
London where the budget airlines fly to.
The trains aren't as bad as their reputation. PersonallyI like the TGV most. I used to travel to Paris a lot, and there was no better option.
ReplyDeleteNice. Wish we had something like that here. We have Amtrak trains to get to Seattle or California, but they aren't that fast.
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