Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 January 2010
16:1738838#1
After decades of travelling on trains, I had my first trip this morning on the new high speed one to St Pancras, and very impressive it was too. Haven`t been on the Eurostar yet so it was an experience going faster than normal. The biggest pleasure for me was cutting out all those intermediate stations out, with all that stop/start. I had practically the whole coach to myself coming back. The sad part of the railway, all those empty seats unused. Anyway, try and give it a go, and there are some off peak bargains about I believe.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
26 January 2010
16:3738839#2
I klnow Colin I sell them,after 09.00 4 for the price of 2,thats just over £15 each on High Speed any time on Sat and Sun all day returns,on the Heritage trains under £10 on a group 4,and we have got some vouchers for 2 for 1 on many intresting things in London and all around Kent
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 January 2010
16:4738840#3
That`s excellent value there John, and it would be good to see the offers taken up, and the trains utilised alot more. Although I have free travel, I seldom use half the boxes, purely because the journey on the ordinary route, seems endless sometimes, and I`m not one of the most patient people about. However, I will be using this high speed one more now, and of course, the other end as you`ll know, you`re right next door to Kings Cross and routes to the north.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
26 January 2010
18:1238847#4
For information Colin can we use our rail facilities on the High Speed Off peak .?
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
26 January 2010
18:3038851#5
I took the HS1 last Friday to London and then on to Slough in Berkshire and returned yesterday on the HS1 to Dover, it cost just over £40 return off peak inclusive, so very good value for money
The Toilets were working this time but still no heat both ways on the HS1
It's a great fast service but why does it have to include the two stops for Folkestone, surely Folkestone Central would suffice!
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 January 2010
18:4838852#6
Sue, yes you can use your facilities, so long as you don`t arrive in London before 10 in the morning, and I`m told, you can`t use the 16.10(?) to come home on, but JHG maybe of more help there. I got the 08.56 Charing Cross this morning, which got me to Ashford at 09.25 for changing to the 09.43 HS1 to St Pancras which arrives there at 10.21, so that`s the earliest you can use your ticket. Colette, I also wondered why the 2 Folkestone stops, they`re not always busy at anytime. We sat at Folkestone West on the return today for 4 mins, which makes a mockery of fast running. The heaters were working thank goodness, and glad you found it all value for money.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
26 January 2010
20:1038859#7
As this is another railway thread I cant resist mentioning the wonderful programme currently being shown on BBC2 every night at 6.30 called Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo. With guide book in hand he has travelled to some of the most attractive places in Britain and I have certainly enjoyed it and am currently enjoying it. The programme has been showing for several weeks so I dont know how much left there is to run. But I would like to see more programmes like this, feel good programmes, but programmes that we could all actually partake in the pleasures shown ourselves. ..given a few bob, a rucksack, a camera, and perhaps a sandwich or two. The pleasures are all out there...waiting!
Michael Portillo former leading Conservative politician is great company on the journey and I particularly liked the programme they did from Bristol and Bath. Reminded me of the short time I spent in Bristol but filled me with regret that I have never been to Bath.
Train travel is still a fine way to travel, and these fab new trains as mentioned in the posts above add to the overall delight.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
26 January 2010
22:0138865#8
i have enjoyed that programme, surprising to see portillo so comfortable with normal people.
bath is fantastic but incredibly expensive.
how the romans could afford a hotel there is beyond me.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
26 January 2010
22:0438866#9
"4 for the price of 2" John ? why are offers so biased towards families and not couples, or why can't I get a good price on my own
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
26 January 2010
22:0638867#10
Have not got round to using the HSI as yet but look forward to trying it, train travel was always regarded as a very relaxed way to travel both way back and now, so hopefull I will not leave it to long.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
26 January 2010
22:1538871#11
Marketing Dept .......well I think we have one....still day return to London for just over £18 after 10.00 mon-fri and anytime Sat and Sun ain't bad but you have to go heritage rail,not high speed thats £31
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
26 January 2010
22:5138874#12
The high speed trains are great but for us daily commuters not so cheap, it costs me over £5,200 (inc tube) for my annual season ticket; having said that the 80 minute saving over the journey time per day over the old Canon St service is frankly worth the money.
Paul, you do not need to be a family to benefit from the "4 for 2" offer it is equally applicable to any 4 people travelling as a group.
Colin, you are right about some of the delays on the journey and the ongoing debate about whether Folkestone needs 2 stations; I suspect from bits a bobs gleaned from my various railway sources that over the next year:
a) the high speed service along the North Kent coast will be withdrawn as the take up is very poor.
b) one of the Folkestone stations, probably Central, will be removed from the High Speed timetable as there is little to justify 2 stations there
c) the services will be retimed to take account of the experience gained over the first 6 months of full service and the removal of one of the Folkestone stops leading to a reduction in journey time from Dover down to 60 minutes (an 8 minute reduction)
It is worth noting that the Javelin trains are rated at 140mph but currently only run at 125mph on the line from Ashford to St Pancras, so there is also scope to further reduce journey times.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
27 January 2010
12:0738893#13
Colin, I also stopped for exactly 4 minutes at Folkestone West on my return on Monday
PaulB, a great way to travel to Bath is on the Orient Express from Waterloo. From memory, I think it departs for Bath on the last wednesday of the month. Would make for a great day out - hint, hint
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
27 January 2010
12:4838895#14
I did enjoy my first experience of HS1 a couple of weeks ago when I had to go to the smoke for a couple of days. The journey there was 10 mins late but at least the journey was comfortable and while full not overly crowded. The return journey was spot on-time, fairly empty but there was probably enough people to justify it. I thought the signage at St Pancras for the platforms could have been a bit better though.