I'm planning a trip to London. I need two adults tickets and two child tickets. I need the journey to be fast. I need first class. I need it to be cheep. What's my best option? Ecml or WCML? P.S: (no lumo)
I'm gonna say WCML as you are likely starting from Central WCML from GLC-EUS: 4 hours 42 minutes ECML from GLC-KGX: 5 hours 50 minutes Your answer...
True. Thinking do Avanti standard premium cause standard will probably be very busy. tft#6439 Haven't been on ethier XD
If you are going from Glasgow you probably are best off WCML but I am going to try and convince you other wise... First I will need some info: Have you got any railcards? Outbound and inbound dates. Where abouts in London are you going? How important is first class? Rough ages of the children (i.e 0-5,6-10, 11-15) Which station you desire to start from. Thoughts on changes. What are you're thoughts on split tickets. How against LUMO are you because if you are looking for cheap... If you would prefer you can send this to me privately so the whole world can't see and if I can't convince you on ECML, remember the First class meals and the excellent staff you will be missing out on. If that fails at least you may have an idea of the price!
I’d recommend the WCML (whilst I have been on the LNER between Newcastle & Edinburgh section, I haven’t been on the WCML) I make this suggestion as I find the seats really not the most comfortable for the 800, and a 5 hour journey is pushing that to the worse way. And what I’ve seen of first class, there ain’t much difference in that department on the seats with the 800. might have better luck for that with a 390 p.s. welcome back to the forums by the way, been a while since I’ve seen your username about the place
ECML no explanation needed. Ok I’ll give you one reason. Over the past year I have need to travel from London to Edinburgh 10 times. It has been arranged by the company I work for so on 4 of the trips I went on Avanti and 6 on LNER both first class. First of all I will just say LNER’s first class experience is much nicer and the seats are also very nice and I know why Matt said it but there staff are great too! The actual rolling stock on the ECML is far superior and feels more homely and less cramped than the 390s too. MoLNER is quicker but also much more punctual than Avanti. These trips have been spread around the year so random samples and out of the four Avanti trips all were late one by quite a lot, whereas on LNER, the latest I was were 5 minutes and I arrived early twice with the other four times being on the dot! Also the ECML scenery is much nicer!
I think I'll probably do ECML. But maybe WCML on the way back so I don't have to change trains when it's getting dark.
Lol. Thanks. Rough ages are 12-15. No rail cards. Honestly, it probably wouldn't hurt to try lumo but my first impressions of them from videos and real life looking at the trains are not good. First class isn't mandatory but I think we'd all like it for the 5 hour journey to London. don't mind split tickets. Preferably as little changes as possible. Doesn't really matter where In London I end up. As long as it's in the city. Technically I'd start from Kilwinning station but it would be more like Glasgow Central. Hopefully that's enough info. Thanks for the help everyone.
Lovely I have today off and have got through most of the list from the wife so this will give me something else to occupy myself with.
First of all I would just like to say that the Avanti website is really confusing. Also it seems that if you go from Glasgow to Edinburgh on a Scotrail service and then From Edinburgh to Kings cross on LNER in first class it's a few hundred quid cheaper. I don't know how you plan to buy the tickets but there is this great website called trainline which may even be able to get it cheaper for you. I don't know how much you are willing to spend but no matter whether you go first or standard, Scotrail from Glasgow to Edinburgh and the LNER Edinburgh to Kings Cross does seem to be much cheaper than the WCML. The WCML would be direct but the ECML option would obviously include the one change at Edinburgh. Hope this is of some help! It seems you have already swayed to ECML but this may well help you sway even further to the Eastern direction.
Thank you! Was thinking for the September weekend (Scottish dates). Looks like I'm going ECML thanks for the help!
No sweat mate, as I say it gave me something to fill a spare 10 minutes with. The days I checked were all in August though I would imagine it is still a fair bit cheaper on ECML, like I say that trainline is a great website. I am glad you have chosen the clearly superior way from Scotland to London, I hope you enjoy your trip!
WCML is far more interesting than the ECML in my opinion. The scenery is breathtaking on the WCML, it goes through more places, and the traction is more varied. The ECML is just a boring straight line with mediocre scenery, apart from the coastal section between Edinburgh and Newcastle. I'd also much rather a four hour journey on a Pendolino or Voyager than an 800. Not to mention they can tilt, which is fun. Flying through Rugby at 125mph is always a highlight.
If you are going from Waverley ECML. If you are going from central you can either do Glasgow - Edinburgh which is an hour and Edinburgh to King’s Cross can range from the 3hr 59 to 4hr 30 mark (with Lumo and LNER respectively) or you can do WCML which is anywhere from 4hr30 -4hr 50. Most LNER Glasgow services have more stops, but Glasgow avanti trains run non stop south of Warrington. I would recommend coming down on the WCML and going up on the ECML ?
from glasgow the wcml will be quicker however I believe LNER tickets are a bit cheaper than avanti west coast and less chance of cancellations/delays
My favourite section is between Newcastle and Darlington, though I also enjoy the section of track from Peterborough to Grantham, especially with the 225s. Actually the only section of the ECML I find boring is south of Peterborough because even though the racetrack isn't as much of a blast in an 80x as a 225, HST or Deltic, it is still a lovely section of line to cruise along.
I actually quite like Peterborough to King's Cross, I always like the last sections of mainlines into London, with four tracks and a mix of local and express trains (Milton Keynes to Euston, Didcot to Paddington etc.). I still think most of the ECML isn't that special though. Peterborough to York is ok, with a few points of interest like Stoke Bank, the flat crossing at Newark and Colton Junction. York is fantastic and one of my favourite stations in the country, but from there to Durham I'd rather read a book than look out of the window. Newcastle to Edinburgh is pretty great though, and the Royal Border bridge is iconic.
I find it incredibly dull and rather uninspiring especially when you do don't stop at Stevenage. The only thing I like about that section is overtaking the GTR commuter trains because it is weirdly satisfying seeing it over the horizon and get closer and closer until you start going past it. Apart from Welwyn there isn't anything of scenic interest, though it is the section which I would say has changed the most since I started. I don't venture north of Newcastle often, once a year as a passenger, but it is stunning, stunning scenery.
definitely agree here, especially around those kind of parts and looking out for the border post (I’ve never missed it yet each time)
