Ryanair

I think you've now convinced me to go cross-country, Gamla! Thanks for that excellent guide, I'll look into that. I love train journeys - ages since I've been on one. The best was back in the late 1950s when we (Mum, Dad, me) were living in Lusaka, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia). My dad's job with NR Govt. meant six months' leave every three years, so went by coal-fired chuffer the 2,500 miles from Lusaka to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to there catch one of the Union Castle Line ships back 'home' to Southampton (two weeks at sea). The journey took four days and we passed through some superb scenery and through fascinating villages. However, at the major South African station of De Aar, we had to get off the train while some sort of shunting dance took place. My mother looked round to see my father being shunted out of the station, on board, she thought, back to Lusaka! Cue bug-eyed frantic appeal to the guard to "Stop that train!" He laughed and said not to worry, he'd be back in a few minutes. (It was almost half an hour.) Apparently, the train went off onto a turntable in the distance, was spun round, and brought back onto the onward line. In the meantime, my dad inveigled himself onto the footplate and thoroughly enjoyed the trip back in. He adored anything with wheels - motorbikes, cars, huge trucks, trains.. !
 
Rail isn't perfect by any means, but God it's a thousand times nicer an experience than flying these days.
 
RYANAIR is considering banning check-in luggage as part of a new system where passengers would have to carry their bags all the way to the tarmac beside the aircraft.
Yesterday, chief executive Michael O'Leary detailed proposals where customers would pass all of their bags through security checks, currently used just for hand luggage, and then carry them through terminals to their flight.
The budget airline says the plans could save €20m, through not paying baggage handlers, which would be passed on to consumers.
However, there is no timeline on when the plans could be introduced, nor what airports the system could operate in.
It is envisaged that passengers would be allowed unlimited carry-on baggage for free, subject to airport regulations, said Mr O'Leary.
 
RYANAIR is considering banning pilots as part of a new system where passengers would have to fly their planes themselves.
Yesterday, chief executive Michael O'Leary detailed proposals where customers would take turns at the controls, preferably whilst pissed up on ridiculously expensive in-flight alcohol.
The budget airline says the plans could cause 20m deaths, through not employing anyone who actually knows where the button for the landing gear is.
However, there is no timeline on when the plans could be introduced, nor what airports would happily risk being destroyed in a fireball when this latest publicity stunt goes inevitably and horribly wrong.
It is envisaged that passengers would jump at the chance to be allowed to plunge to their deaths at terminal velocity, said Mr O'Leary.
 
granger said:
RYANAIR is considering banning check-in luggage as part of a new system where passengers would have to carry their bags all the way to the tarmac beside the aircraft.
Yesterday, chief executive Michael O'Leary detailed proposals where customers would pass all of their bags through security checks, currently used just for hand luggage, and then carry them through terminals to their flight.
The budget airline says the plans could save €20m, through not paying baggage handlers, which would be passed on to consumers.
However, there is no timeline on when the plans could be introduced, nor what airports the system could operate in.
It is envisaged that passengers would be allowed unlimited carry-on baggage for free, subject to airport regulations, said Mr O'Leary.
Click to expand...

I thought you made this up till I followed the link!
 
It would, my bad. Very used to whizzing up North from St Panc. Either way, Kings X is a 5 min walk from where the Brighton - Bedford trains stop.
 
Just remember which one you want when you move dahn sarf, Gamla - it could be an awfully long commute otherwise! Right, so that's Brightelmstone to King's Cross, then K/C to Edinbugs. If it's any different, please let me know!
 
Some of the National Rail internet sites are shockingly bad, I've just put Brighton - Edinburgh through it and it says go via London Victoria and take the tube, you could do that but it's a bit of a hassle.

Much better be getting the Bedford train from Brighton and getting off at St Pancras Domestic (fast train seems to leave Brighton 4 minutes and 34 minutes past the hour and takes 1 hour 10 mins) and then walking it to Kings Cross which is a 5 min walk. I'd book Brighton - St Pancras and Kings Cross - Edinburgh seperately and also book the latter directly with National Express East Coast on their excellent website as it'll be cheaper.
 
On fourth thoughts, I've decided to buy a gypsy caravan and start the journey now...

Actually, now that you mention National Express (which I've used from Gatwick to Brighton - very comfortable indeed), I'm wondering whether to try that for the whole trip? Wonder how many hours that might take? Thanks, Colin, Gamla, for the kind input. I'll definitely work something out - at least I've got a year to do that!
 
Should point out that National Express East Coast is the train company and not National Express the bus company (just the same parent company to make things confusing).

I personally would rather walk than get the coach all the way to Edinburgh! You get some mentalists on there and the staff are usually incredibly rude.
 
Bit OT but how can the various coach firms justify charging £100+ to get a coach from London Victoria to Cork taking 3 or so days when you can do the same journey for under £100 on a plane in less than 3 hours?
 
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