Aberdeen to Penzance

[cmarie]

Hi
This is random but we are doing the Aberdeen to penance 13hr direct train my random question Is does the train stop for. Length of time at any of the stations where we can leave the train or is it just a few minutes then the train is off again
Also is there a buffet care or anything? I want sure if trains still had this
Thanks for by info!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If that's the 0820 weekdays service from Aberdeen direct to Penzance, if the train is running bang on time, looks like you get 14 minutes at Edinburgh Waverley, 8 minutes at Birmingham New Street and 14 minutes at Bristol Temple Meads. Most of the other station calls along the route are just a minute or two. Not all that long to leave the train to make use of any station facilities, IMHO.

 

[cmarie]

Thank you! You really know the trains! I knew someone here would know

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anyone able to advise what the onboard catering provision is likely to be like on an Aberdeen to Penzance journey with XC, and whether it will be available for all, or just part of the 13+ hour trip?

 

[Willie Bee]

There are quite a few YouTube videos showing this journey (well, highlights really) which may be useful to watch

 

[cmarie]

Thank you I’ll look on you tube too

 

[swt_passenger]

@cmarie Another thing you might find useful is to query a site called realtimetrains.co.uk in its detailed mode, and look up the specific service on the day you’re planned to be travelling. Note catering is stated Aberdeen to Plymouth.

The link here is for tomorrow’s service, you can see all the planned timings right across the country, in quite a lot more detail than the public timetable:

Realtime Trains | 1V60 0820 Aberdeen to Penzance | 24/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 1V60 0820 departure from Aberdeen to Penzance on 24/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Oxfordblues]

I would advise against leaving the train at any point, especially if your luggage remains on-board, as there's a risk in the event of overcrowding of not being able to get back on.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I'd advise taking adequate provisions (there should be a refreshment trolley though) and use the on board toilets rather than risking leaving the train.

 

[cjw714]

If that's the 0820 weekdays service from Aberdeen direct to Penzance, if the train is running bang on time, looks like you get 14 minutes at Edinburgh Waverley, 8 minutes at Birmingham New Street and 14 minutes at Bristol Temple Meads. Most of the other station calls along the route are just a minute or two. Not all that long to leave the train to make use of any station facilities, IMHO.

In theory you have time to use the facilities at Temple Meads but unfortunately XC trains have a habit of stopping at the far end of the platform which makes it quite a trek to the shops in the subway.

 

[Grecian 1998]

I would advise against leaving the train at any point, especially if your luggage remains on-board, as there's a risk in the event of overcrowding of not being able to get back on.

That may depend on the day of the week. If a Friday, probably good advice as far as Exeter, although the train will rapidly get quieter by then. Any other weekday, you're probably fine getting off at Edinburgh for supplies. Might start to get busy around Birmingham and definitely don't get off at Bristol - it's peak commuter / day tripper going home time.

I've travelled on this train south of Bristol multiple times over the years on Tuesdays (August - May), Thursdays and Fridays (the latter mainly during the summer). I've never known it leave people behind, but it can be very cosy with standing throughout, particularly if the 1711 from Bristol to Paignton is cancelled as it seemed to be for the entire autumn 2024. There should be seats free from Exeter, and it'll be virtually empty after Plymouth.

 

[Rhinojerry]

The word is that this service MAY be cancelled from middle of May.Anyone know if true please.

 

[Mainline421]

The word is that this service MAY be cancelled from middle of May.Anyone know if true please.

It's true last day of operation is 16 May https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/ra...deen-train-journey-set-to-be-axed/ar-AA1ylMc8

 

[43096]

I would advise against leaving the train at any point, especially if your luggage remains on-board, as there's a risk in the event of overcrowding of not being able to get back on.

I would advise against travelling at all! What an utterly rancid way to travel.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I would advise against travelling at all! What an utterly rancid way to travel.

Be lengthy, but all right if in First Class, I would have thought?!

 

[Mainliner]

Be lengthy, but all right if in First Class, I would have thought?!

I’ll be doing it in First Class in April, for slightly more comfort (or less discomfort!), but I’m not holding my breath re the food/drink service, and will come prepared with extra supplies, including maybe a fresh Aberdeen buttery!

On my return journey, I’ll be sampling the GWR Pullman Dining menu between Plymouth and Paddington, to hopefully compensate, to an extent, and to complete two things I’ve wanted to do for years!

 

[185143]

Be lengthy, but all right if in First Class, I would have thought?!

It's ok. Especially when a colleague brings a beer delivery half way through!

The pizza twists that they offer are alright actually, but do get repetitive when you've had a few of them.

 

[kkong]

I’ll be doing it in First Class in April, for slightly more comfort (or less discomfort!), but I’m not holding my breath re the food/drink service, and will come prepared with extra supplies, including maybe a fresh Aberdeen buttery!

Microwaved bacon rolls available in first class after departure from Aberdeen - at least they were two weeks ago when I was on board.

 

[swt_passenger]

The word is that this service MAY be cancelled from middle of May.Anyone know if true please.

Journey planners and sites such as realtimetrains for dates after the timetable change do show it has been removed, it’s been mentioned a few times in the May 2025 timetable thread, I think it was first known about towards the end of January.

May 2025 Timetable Change - Confirmed Changes Only

I notice two new rush-hour services into Cannon Street from Gravesend via Abbey Wood and Greenwich. Haven’t had time to investigate further but I wouldn’t expect too many more additional services to appear

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[voyagerdude220]

Journey planners and sites such as realtimetrains for dates after the timetable change do show it has been removed, it’s been mentioned a few times in the May 2025 timetable thread, I think it was first known about towards the end of January.

May 2025 Timetable Change - Confirmed Changes Only

I notice two new rush-hour services into Cannon Street from Gravesend via Abbey Wood and Greenwich. Haven’t had time to investigate further but I wouldn’t expect too many more additional services to appear

www.railforums.co.uk

Yes you're correct.
I'm wondering if the changing of what times of day Cross Country will run trains to/from Penzance is a way of saving them money, as from when the changes take place in the May timetable change, they will no longer have to stable Voyagers at Long Rock depot overnight.

 

[Zerothebrake!]

Yes you're correct.
I'm wondering if the changing of what times of day Cross Country will run trains to/from Penzance is a way of saving them money, as from when the changes take place in the May timetable change, they will no longer have to stable Voyagers at Long Rock depot overnight.

It will save 4 x taxi rides from Plymouth to Penzance and vice versa for the train crews 363 days of the year for a start.

 

[MrJeeves]

Microwaved bacon rolls available in first class after departure from Aberdeen - at least they were two weeks ago when I was on board.

I've managed at least 4 bacon rolls doing Dundee - Penzance a year or so ago... Plan to break that when I do Dundee - Aberdeen - Penzance just before the service ends though

You seem to have to know they exist rather than being offered them proactively in my experience.

 

[styles]

Not really surprised it's being axed - I can't imagine the demand for journeys running even half the length of Aberdeen to Penzance is that high. Logistically it's just not 'worth' it from CrossCountry's point of view (subjective of course).

 

[hexagon789]

People keep saying 'being axed' or 'cancelled' or 'withdrawn', but in reality there will still be an 0820 CrossCountry service from Aberdeen, it'll just terminate at Plymouth instead of Penzance from May.

 

[bleeder4]

I did the direct Aberdeen to Penzance last year. You will definitely need to take plenty of provisions with you. I stocked up from the various food outlets in Union Square before I boarded the train. I didn't leave the train all day, but I did get up and wander around several times, plus a few toilet breaks of course. The busiest part of the journey was between Leeds and Sheffield - standing room only for that entire hour or so. Make sure you have a toilet break before getting to Leeds, or you may be stuck until after Sheffield. The seat next to me was unoccupied from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and from Bristol to Penzance. Between Edinburgh and Bristol various people occupied it at one time or another, but it is definitely the first part and the last part of the journey that were the quietest.

 

[styles]

I did the direct Aberdeen to Penzance last year. You will definitely need to take plenty of provisions with you. I stocked up from the various food outlets in Union Square before I boarded the train. I didn't leave the train all day, but I did get up and wander around several times, plus a few toilet breaks of course. The busiest part of the journey was between Leeds and Sheffield - standing room only for that entire hour or so. Make sure you have a toilet break before getting to Leeds, or you may be stuck until after Sheffield. The seat next to me was unoccupied from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and from Bristol to Penzance. Between Edinburgh and Bristol various people occupied it at one time or another, but it is definitely the first part and the last part of the journey that were the quietest.

You could have an odd conversation with people near the end of the day (if they seem receptive, not everybody wants to speak to strangers) - "Oh you're on til Bristol? Pfft, that's nothing - the last lass was on for 213 miles! You're companion number 8 today."

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

You can of course do the journey 11 minutes quicker via Preston, on 4 different trains, though this probably spoils the fun and security of the through trip.
0820 Aberdeen-Haymarket (XC Voyager) 1047
1058 Haymarket-Wolverhampton (Avanti Pendolino) 1441
1515 Wolverhampton-Taunton (XC Voyager) 1742
1749 Taunton-Penzance (GWR 80x) arr 2120

Should be time at Wolverhampton to restock, and decent on-board services on Avanti and GWR.
It can be an hour quicker to use the WCML between Edinburgh and Birmingham rather than the XC long way round via York.
Yesterday all the connections worked, although trains on both routes ended up late in Cornwall.
The 0820 from Aberdeen was a 5-car Voyager throughout, the Wolverhampton-Taunton was a 4-car (Avanti 11-car, GWR 9-car).

 

[trainophile]

Do it in 1st Class if you can stretch to it. We were plied with food and drinks almost the entire way.

 

[irish_rail]

You can of course do the journey 11 minutes quicker via Preston, on 4 different trains, though this probably spoils the fun and security of the through trip.
0820 Aberdeen-Haymarket (XC Voyager) 1047
1058 Haymarket-Wolverhampton (Avanti Pendolino) 1441
1515 Wolverhampton-Taunton (XC Voyager) 1742
1749 Taunton-Penzance (GWR 80x) arr 2120

Should be time at Wolverhampton to restock, and decent on-board services on Avanti and GWR.
It can be an hour quicker to use the WCML between Edinburgh and Birmingham rather than the XC long way round via York.
Yesterday all the connections worked, although trains on both routes ended up late in Cornwall.
The 0820 from Aberdeen was a 5-car Voyager throughout, the Wolverhampton-Taunton was a 4-car (Avanti 11-car, GWR 9-car).

At risk of going off topic, but this again begs the question why, especially on a soon to be nationalised railway we cannot have some Scotland to South west trains via the WCML which would surely be the natural choice geographically for this journey.

 

[WrexhamRob]

good morning, thank you for some very useful comments re ABD to PNZ, ive booked for Wednesday 23rd in first class. All hints on provisions , toilets, seating etc all welcome. Thank you re using loo before Leeds, qualifying for snr card this is important . Im currently looking for late closing or early opening shops near ABD station for provisions, . Suggestions welcome. Similarly for prior to 0840 departure PNZ to Chester (viaBham ) next day - though i like a bacon roll, a few alternatives may be welcome. thanks