Scotland to France by rail
 

Hi all
I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
What London station would be best to avoid.
Tam

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:55:13 GMT, "tam" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi all
>I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
>the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
>in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>What London station would be best to avoid.

All of them


Rosyth to Zeebrugge by overnight ferry and a train the rest of the way?
http://www.superfast.ferries.org/?gc...FRGCGgod1BBCmQ
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

tam <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi all
> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
> What London station would be best to avoid.

If you don't want tunnels, then does that mean the tube is out?

The biggest problem IME around London is rush hour crush, so if you can
avoid that, you'll be OK. I'm not sure if any London station for Dover
would be better than another. Fastest way is probably Edinburgh to Kings
Cross, taxi to Waterloo East, and train to Dover from there.

I can come up with some interesting routes all by train, but it will
take longer and involve more changes!

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:02:56 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:

>tam <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hi all
>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>
>If you don't want tunnels, then does that mean the tube is out?

and the Metro.

>
>The biggest problem IME around London is rush hour crush, so if you can
>avoid that, you'll be OK. I'm not sure if any London station for Dover
>would be better than another. Fastest way is probably Edinburgh to Kings
>Cross, taxi to Waterloo East, and train to Dover from there.
>
>I can come up with some interesting routes all by train, but it will
>take longer and involve more changes!

I thought you would offer a route involving Newcastle, DFDS, Bergen ...

Edinburgh to Newcastle by train, Newcastle-IJmuiden with DFDS ferry, high speed
ferry along the North Sea Canal to A'dam and Thalys the rest of the way is a
cheap possibility in October.
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

Martin <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:02:56 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
[]
> >I can come up with some interesting routes all by train, but it will
> >take longer and involve more changes!
>
> I thought you would offer a route involving Newcastle, DFDS, Bergen ...

I hadn't thought of alternative ferry routes, I admit! :)

I've travelled to London Bridge for a meeting from Manchester without
using the underground- it was good fun, even if as a result of
engineering works! :)

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:14:06 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:

>Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:02:56 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
>[]
>> >I can come up with some interesting routes all by train, but it will
>> >take longer and involve more changes!
>>
>> I thought you would offer a route involving Newcastle, DFDS, Bergen ...
>
>I hadn't thought of alternative ferry routes, I admit! :)
>
>I've travelled to London Bridge for a meeting from Manchester without
>using the underground- it was good fun, even if as a result of
>engineering works! :)

I don't see how they are going to get from Edinburgh to France without using
tunnels even via the flat rail route from A'dam
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

Martin <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:14:06 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
[]
> >I've travelled to London Bridge for a meeting from Manchester without
> >using the underground- it was good fun, even if as a result of
> >engineering works! :)
>
> I don't see how they are going to get from Edinburgh to France without using
> tunnels even via the flat rail route from A'dam

Someone who knows more about this might be able to think of one on the
UK end, but I doubt it even here. I think the fear here is the 30 minute
or so tunnel journey on the eurostar. On many of the UK tunnels, at high
speed the time in the tunnel won't be more than a minute.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:24:24 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:

>Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:14:06 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
>[]
>> >I've travelled to London Bridge for a meeting from Manchester without
>> >using the underground- it was good fun, even if as a result of
>> >engineering works! :)
>>
>> I don't see how they are going to get from Edinburgh to France without using
>> tunnels even via the flat rail route from A'dam
>
>Someone who knows more about this might be able to think of one on the
>UK end, but I doubt it even here. I think the fear here is the 30 minute
>or so tunnel journey on the eurostar. On many of the UK tunnels, at high
>speed the time in the tunnel won't be more than a minute.

The risk of an accident is probably higher in a normal rail tunnel.
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

Martin <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:24:24 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
[]
> >Someone who knows more about this might be able to think of one on the
> >UK end, but I doubt it even here. I think the fear here is the 30 minute
> >or so tunnel journey on the eurostar. On many of the UK tunnels, at high
> >speed the time in the tunnel won't be more than a minute.
>
> The risk of an accident is probably higher in a normal rail tunnel.

A vanishingly small risk in any event!

In happier train news, I see that Manchester Piccadilly (deservedly IMO)
gets high marks:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6927406.stm

I wonder how Birmingham New Street did... :(

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] k...
> Hi all
> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
> What London station would be best to avoid.

Don't go to London.

Train Hull.

Overnight ferry to Europort.

Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam

Train to Paris, just over 4 hours

You could get a ferry from Newcastle but I'm not sure how easy it is to get
to Amsterdam from the quayside in Holland.

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:49:56 GMT, "William Black" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]. uk...
>> Hi all
>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to catch
>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I stayed
>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>
>Don't go to London.
>
>Train Hull.
>
>Overnight ferry to Europort.
>
>Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam

To Rotterdam!

Thalys fares are
EUR 88,50 or EUR 66,50 each way.

>
>Train to Paris, just over 4 hours

3 hours and 8 minutes from R'dam

>
>You could get a ferry from Newcastle but I'm not sure how easy it is to get
>to Amsterdam from the quayside in Holland.

There is a frequent service hydrofoil connecting IJmuiden with A'dam
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:49:56 GMT, "William Black"
> <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected] .uk...
>>> Hi all
>>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to
>>> catch
>>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I
>>> stayed
>>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>>
>>Don't go to London.
>>
>>Train Hull.
>>
>>Overnight ferry to Europort.
>>
>>Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam
>
> To Rotterdam!
>
> Thalys fares are
> EUR 88,50 or EUR 66,50 each way.
>

I bow to your greater knowledge, although the R/dam ships aren't as
comfortable as the Europort ships...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:38:00 GMT, "William Black" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:49:56 GMT, "William Black"
>> <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected] o.uk...
>>>> Hi all
>>>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>>>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>>>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to
>>>> catch
>>>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>>>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I
>>>> stayed
>>>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>>>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>>>
>>>Don't go to London.
>>>
>>>Train Hull.
>>>
>>>Overnight ferry to Europort.
>>>
>>>Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam
>>
>> To Rotterdam!
>>
>> Thalys fares are
>> EUR 88,50 or EUR 66,50 each way.
>>
>
>I bow to your greater knowledge, although the R/dam ships aren't as
>comfortable as the Europort ships...

Which R'dam ships? I don't know of any.

I'm talking about the same ships as you. There is a connecting bus to R'dam as
well as A'dam.

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/con..._rotterdam.htm
By bus/coach:
From Rotterdam Central Railway Station to Europoort: departure is at 17:00 hours
at the "Eurolines" bus stop at Kruisplein. Prices: £3.50 / €4.50 per person each
way.

From Amsterdam Central Railway Station to Europoort: departure is at 17:00 hours
at bus stop H3. Prices: £6.25 / €9.00 per person each way.

From Europoort to Rotterdam Central Railway Station: departure is after the
arrival of the ship.

Bus tickets need to be pre-booked at our Reservations department."

There doesn't appear to be a bus to Amsterdam. I assume they have a mistake on
their website.
--

Martin

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:38:00 GMT, "William Black"
> <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]. ..
>>> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:49:56 GMT, "William Black"
>>> <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>news:[email protected]. co.uk...
>>>>> Hi all
>>>>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>>>>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>>>>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to
>>>>> catch
>>>>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>>>>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I
>>>>> stayed
>>>>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>>>>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>>>>
>>>>Don't go to London.
>>>>
>>>>Train Hull.
>>>>
>>>>Overnight ferry to Europort.
>>>>
>>>>Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam
>>>
>>> To Rotterdam!
>>>
>>> Thalys fares are
>>> EUR 88,50 or EUR 66,50 each way.
>>>
>>
>>I bow to your greater knowledge, although the R/dam ships aren't as
>>comfortable as the Europort ships...
>
> Which R'dam ships? I don't know of any.

Sorry, brain fart.

I meant Zeebrugge...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

Re: Scotland to France by rail
 

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:35:09 GMT, "William Black" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected].. .
>> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:38:00 GMT, "William Black"
>> <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected] ...
>>>> On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:49:56 GMT, "William Black"
>>>> <[email protected]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>>news:[email protected] .co.uk...
>>>>>> Hi all
>>>>>> I need to travel by rail and ferry to France in October as my wife is
>>>>>> terrified of flying-and-tunnels.
>>>>>> I thought overnight from Edinburgh to London and then on to Dover to
>>>>>> catch
>>>>>> the ferry to Calais-but-now doubts creep in.
>>>>>> I remember last year endless delays on the train into London when I
>>>>>> stayed
>>>>>> in Tumbridge Wells for a fortnight.
>>>>>> What London station would be best to avoid.
>>>>>
>>>>>Don't go to London.
>>>>>
>>>>>Train Hull.
>>>>>
>>>>>Overnight ferry to Europort.
>>>>>
>>>>>Catch the shuttle bus to Amsterdam
>>>>
>>>> To Rotterdam!
>>>>
>>>> Thalys fares are
>>>> EUR 88,50 or EUR 66,50 each way.
>>>>
>>>
>>>I bow to your greater knowledge, although the R/dam ships aren't as
>>>comfortable as the Europort ships...
>>
>> Which R'dam ships? I don't know of any.
>
>Sorry, brain fart.
>
>I meant Zeebrugge...

Better food though?

So how does the Thalys take an hour to get from A'dam to R'dam?
--

Martin