Burton to Brighton

daska

Can anyone suggest a route from Burton on Trent to Brighton that avoids changing at major stations (e.g. Reading, Birmingham New Street) and the Tube?

It's for a funeral next Friday, need to be in Brighton by 2pm

dzug1

daska wrote: »

Can anyone suggest a route from Burton on Trent to Brighton that avoids changing at major stations (e.g. Reading, Birmingham New Street) and the Tube?

It's for a funeral next Friday, need to be in Brighton by 2pm

Change at Derby and then Bedford (or Luton) for through trains to Brighton.

The journey planner haves you changing at St Pancras which isn't too bad.

Or change at Tamworth for Euston and get the bus rather than the tube across London

wealdroam

I cannot see how it is possible not to use a busy station for this route.

But maybe consider...
Burton on Trent to Milton Keynes, changing at Tamworth.
Then Milton Keynes to Clapham Junction or East Croydon (your choice). Direct train.
Then from there to Brighton. Direct Train.

Or perhaps...
Burton on Trent to London St Pancras via Derby.
Then St. Pancras to Brighton direct on First capital Connect.

Both these avoid london Underground.

daska

Yep, it's awkward but DS1 is only just 14 and while he's used to travelling on his own he's still a bit unsure of the really massive stations where you can't see everything at once - he doesn't like the underground for the same reason. So it's a toss up of more changes or St Pancras. I know he's ok with changing from coach to train at Victoria and I remember St Pancras being smaller so that seems like a plan

Thank you.

daska

Sorry, I'm back again, I'm now struggling with the return journey at the weekend! The 'opposite' of the above doesn't seem to apply. Any help gratefully received.

dzug1

daska wrote: »

Sorry, I'm back again, I'm now struggling with the return journey at the weekend! The 'opposite' of the above doesn't seem to apply. Any help gratefully received.

At the weekend there will be no through trains from Brighton to Bedford - they normally stop at London Bridge with a replacement bus or tube transfer on to St Pancras

There could be other engineering work as well on different lines though I can't spot anything disastrous

Mrs_Ryan

You could also try changing at Leicester (or get the bus) for stations to London St Pancras..

yorkie2

daska wrote: »

Yep, it's awkward but DS1 is only just 14 and while he's used to travelling on his own he's still a bit unsure of the really massive stations where you can't see everything at once - he doesn't like the underground for the same reason. So it's a toss up of more changes or St Pancras. I know he's ok with changing from coach to train at Victoria and I remember St Pancras being smaller so that seems like a plan

Thank you.

Yes St Pancras has less platforms than Victoria but it is arguably far more complex and is also on multiple levels. However the connection from East Midlands Trains to FCC Thameslink trains is fairly straightforward, down a couple of escalators and is signposted. The connection can be made at Bedford, Luton or Luton Airport Parkway if you wish to avoid changing at St Pancras. There is always the possibility of a cross-platform change at Bedford, while at Luton or the Airport you will have to cross by the footbridge.

Bedford to Brighton will then be direct.

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

You could also try changing at Leicester (or get the bus) for stations to London St Pancras..

Why Leicester? Once the OP has changed at Derby they will be on a train to St Pancras!

daska wrote: »

Sorry, I'm back again, I'm now struggling with the return journey at the weekend! The 'opposite' of the above doesn't seem to apply. Any help gratefully received.

The Thameslink route is closed most weekends for major engineering works at present. If you wish to avoid taking a bus or tube through London, then a possible route is to change trains at East Croydon or Clapham Junction onto a train direct to Watford Junction and changing again there for a train to Tamworth, and then to Burton. However that will take a long time! And these are major stations too.

If the problem with the tube is the small enclosed spaces then you could take the Circle Line from Victoria to Euston Square, this isn't actually a tube line (although often referred to as such) and is a full-size train. If the concern is getting lost then a taxi from Victoria to Euston may be a solution (though costly). Another alternative is to get the number 73 bus from Victoria to Euston.

daska

Wow, that's a lot of options, thank you.

Circle Line is a good point, but I don't think I'll get DS1 happy to jump on the tube just yet. He may be over 6' but he's only just 14 and he hasn't used it regularly since he was 6.

I've booked the tickets now, or rather his dad has, so we'll see how it goes.

Fingers crossed