Gramps , I agree with all you say about the trains , these days its easily the quickest and easiest way to travel within the UK , overall a lot cheaper and less stressful than driving or flying.

Gramps we have also used the train recently and I agree its fantastic, very reasonably priced and fast.
We used the train from Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport when we travelled to Egypt in July - straight thru - no stops and no changes, we even upgraded to first class for £15 per person. Only took us 3.5 hours to get there. I think we will be using it a lot more.

I totally agree with how good the trains are. In previous years we used to get a taxi from home to the airport. The last time we used a taxi, it cost us £92.
Last season we used the train to the airport and back and including stopping at the Travelodge at the airport ( bargain at £9) the total for the trip was only £33!! Plus £10 for a taxi each way from the airport to the Travelodge.Total £44. A big saving and also it meant as we were staying near the airport we didn't have a really early start in the morning.

A big to train travel!

We used the train in May - Blackpool to Manchester when going to Maldives, great, £12 each return, time to relax and start the holiday!! was a little worrie in case we were late getting home if flight was delayed, but was told just to get note from flight company on return and that would be ok to allow us to use the ticket.

Hi ilovegoa, our train was also Blackpool to Manchester Airport!!!
On our last trip ,our plane's arrival was slightly delayed, so we missed the train we were booked on, but all we had to do was get our ticket stamped at the customer services desk at Manchester station and we were able to catch the next train 1 hour later! No problem.

Ilovegoa and Squigs............ where did you find that little gem about getting the ticket stamped ? Reading the train ticket web site doesn't indicate that you can do so. If this applies to all routes and carriers it's a major plus for the cheap pre booked ticket which I thought was totally inflexible.

Hi, we have used the train for the last two holidays, leeds to kingscross, then the tube to T4, for the kingfisher fligt, and on the way back we stay at the hilton hotel, also at T4, like Gramps says if you book 12 weeks in advance, got the hotel for £60 B/B both of us, so easy.

Mmmm, I will have to take another look at the trains from Glasgow to Manchester, I was going to use it last year going to Luxor however the return train journey was showing up as 16 hours

I wonder if I am the only person that shouts at their computer when thing like that happen?

Going by train would be much more civilised than that drive to and from Manchester

Does everybody use the Trainline to book it?

Hi ilovegoa, our train was also Blackpool to Manchester Airport!!!
On our last trip ,our plane's arrival was slightly delayed, so we missed the train we were booked on, but all we had to do was get our ticket stamped at the customer services desk at Manchester station and we were able to catch the next train 1 hour later! No problem.

Hi I wouldnt mind knowing where you found out re getting your ticket stamped if your delayed, Ive always used the train to travel from Newcastle to Manchester or Gatwick when we used charters to get out there and have lost count of the number of times we were delayed and had to buy new tickets. Nowdays we fly from Heathrow, going to fly down this time as its only 32 each from Newcastle but we will be getting the train back. Its a hell of lot cheaper buying a timed ticket rather than an open one.
Ive been on a train lots of times where people have been on a timed ticket and on the wrong train, I supose the train staff have heard every excuse going but there is generally not a lot of leeway given, they either make them get off the next station if they are on an earlier on or they have to pay for a full price ticket for that journey which can be pretty steep. Costs me over 100 for a on the day single from Kingscross to Newcastle same for a return. The tickets havnt been released yet for our return from Goa (mid Jan ) I was thinking about getting 2 tickets each if I could get the 12 pounds a few hours apart in case of a delay.

Mmmm, I will have to take another look at the trains from Glasgow to Manchester, I was going to use it last year going to Luxor however the return train journey was showing up as 16 hours

Kitman was it a late night train you were looking at? Sometimes these do show up with a very long journey time, they will put in the last train from say Manchester even if its only going to say Carlisle then the first train the next morning from Carlisle!! I use trains and the train line all the time for work even have the Iphone App its brilliant if I am running late for working out different ways to get there or back.

This is where I purchased my tickets, the terms and conditions only allow to change when the delay is due to the railway..not a plane connection.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html

The three hour window for missing a train due to a flight delay is granted by Transpennine Express, and the conditions are as posted by squigs. It's explained fully on Transpennine Expresses website. Wish I'd have known about this before I booke a later train yesterday, just to be on the safe side ! You live and learn.
Alan

Alan..... just shows what you can find out on here !
The link I have posted to Network Rail finds your local network, not all appear to have the same travel conditions it seems, and of course Transpennine would be little use to many readers. cheers Dave.

Kiltman was it a late night train you were looking at?

I seem to remember it was a late train, I remember that it was some crazy routing were were being taken with a couple of strange changes, going down was fine but coming back was just silly.

It has been good to find this information, we are going to Kenya next year form Manchester so all this info is handy, I thin we are going to try and book in to a Travelodge or similar the day before we fly and the night we return just to have a back up for any delays.

Cheers
Graham

Don't forget to watch out for the Travelodge £9 deals!!!

Don't forget to watch out for the Travelodge £9 deals!!!

Will do

We managed to get a Travelodge at T5 Heathrow for our return from Goa in March 2011
cost £19 we book the breakfast as its much cheaper than having just coffee and toast
at the airport while waiting for our National Express back home.
Heathrow Central Travelodge is also good for a stop over.
annx

Just another thought regarding Train Tickets especially if your flying from a London Airport. It may be cheaper to split your tickets and get a seperate one to London. A lot of the train companies have specials on to London and these prices are not always reflected when you do onward travelling from London. Depends on how quick you want to get there but a tube ticket to Heathrow is only about 4 quid, which I dont mind getting to/from Heathrow as it takes us straight into Kings Cross so no messing about crossing London from Paddington which we would have to do if we used the Heathrow Express.

Aarond we stayed at the Heathrow Central Travel Inn last year and it was ideal especailly for 19, we are staying at the Premier Inn just along the road from there this time cost a tenner more but the shuttle for this one leaves from Terminal 5 and 4 which we will be flying into/out of this year. We were toying with staying at the Hilton in Terminal 4 but prices for xmas eve were 95 so even with the cost of the shuttle to and from the hotel the money we will save will cover our meals etc at the hotel.

nejulie booked T5 Travelodge for March as this time we are flying BA to Mumbai must admit
they really are good value for a stopover.
annx

Hi the information bout getting your ticket stamped was given to me by the man at the tickt office at the station when I bought it to him !!