h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Travelling from any of Birmingham, Coventry, Oxford, Didcot, Reading, Slough or connected places by rail on the day of the meet? Why not travel together with other Researchers?

Travelling across Saturday late morning and lunchtime, it is possible for people's routes to converge quite nicely, winding up at London Paddington. The further away from London you are, the less logical a journey this might become, but if there are other Researchers around, does it matter?

I'm going to list the starting points along with travel plans put together through battering the National Rail site.

BIRMINGHAM
Depart Birmingham 1103, for Oxford 1218.
Then follow OXFORD below.
Adult Return fare £28.20

COVENTRY
As for Birmingham, joining at 1124 bound for Oxford 1218. Then follow OXFORD below.
Adult Return fare £28.50

OXFORD
Depart Oxford 1227, on Thames Trains for London Paddington.
Change at Didcot Parkway 1245 for First Great Western express train, 1252, arriving London Paddington 1340. Follow DIDCOT PARKWAY below.
Adult Return fare £14.30

DIDCOT PARKWAY
Depart on First Great Western express train, 1252, arriving London Paddington 1340.
Adult Return fare £14.20

READING
Join train from DIDCOT PARKWAY train at 1310.
Adult Return fare £10.90

SLOUGH
Join DIDCOT PARKWAY train at 1322.
Adult Return fare £5.70

FURTHER INFORMATION
I got fed up of checking National Rail Enquiries after that, so that's all I've checked. Fares are the cheapest return fare for one adult quoted on the National Rail Enquiries site, payable on the day at the station of departure.


Me, I'll be joining shortly after Oxford station, but not at Oxford itself. Please reply below if you may/will be using the trains and these routes on Saturday, I'd love to see a few of us meet up on the way there - isn't travelling alone miserable?

There's a direct bus from the station to Hyde Park Corner, a stone's throw from the meet. There'll be plenty of time to grab something for lunch, too. The fare is £1 each way.

So, what do you think?

Whoami?

I forgot to mention a couple of things. Firstly, the change from a direct train at Didcot Parkway actually gets to London more quickly than remaining on the same train. Secondly, in order to help people to find each other, I propose that we find seats as close to the rear of the Standard Class areas of the trains as possible. After Oxford, I'll be around and will be wearing an h2g2 T-shirt.



Whoami?

Oh and LIVERPOOL to EUSTON £80. God knows why.

-- DoctorMO --

That's not the fare I'm quoted.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ quotes from Liverpool:

Virgin Trains only: Saturday Day Out £19 return, book by 18:00 previous day.
A Saver Return, valid on any sensible route for purchase the same day is £50, discount for railcard holders.

I'd book the Saturday Day Out and travel Virgin. That way, your travel to London from Liverpool will cost only a few pounds more than mine from near Oxford.

Whoami?

The last train out for which that would be valid is Liverpool Lime St. 1032 for London Euston 1358.

As far as return journeys go, the last direct train is 2025 for 2345 - it's also the last-but one train back without a night trapped at Sheffield or Birmingham New Street. The other one's not from Euston.

Still, for £19 you can't fault it!

Whoami?

A note to people; if you can travel Virgin and book in advance, go for it. I'm Birmimgham to Euston for £8 each way; however the fare will now be more expensive as you can only get the three day ticket as opposed to the seven.

www.virgin.com/trains could help.

I would be with you, if only Virgin would take me on that route! See you there!

pull the other Whoami! I got a return for £22, and only because I booked 2 months in advance, I sujest people go to the train station and double bloody check, because if seats are taken on the day it'll cost you an arm and a leg, I know I did it once. £80 and that was from Runcorn.

-- DoctorMO --

Fare's changed for you, DoctorMO. However, booking three days in advance National Rail say Vigin will take you for £21.00 each way according to these terms and conditions:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/Time_Table/display_ticket_terms.asp?ticket_type=V3S

The same site told me about that £19 one yesterday. I didn't believe it but I checked and double-checked.

Anyway, this is getting rather off topic!

Anyone who hasn't already made plans and might be travelling through Oxford?

Whoami?

Do I take it that I'll be all on my own travelling into Paddington on Saturday, then?

Probably, although I'll be checking with the rail station about the prices.

-- DocotorMO --

Please note that travelling from Coventry by train is unlikely to be easy on Saturday - see http://217.205.154.28/html/engineering/engineering_ext.htm#28-04 for details...

Whoami?