Cranbrook to Northampton: which route to take?

[Class800]

via London or via Birmingham? What do you think? Bit short of time, but hopefully clear - looking for which route is best

 

[JonathanH]

via London or via Birmingham? What do you think? Bit short of time, but hopefully clear - looking for which route is best

Going via Birmingham is likely to be a whole lot more expensive than going via London. The cheapest through fares are via Kensington Olympia avoiding both.

 

[Class800]

OK thanks - and timewise I'd expect it's sort of similar. Via Kensington, what would be the routing there, have to go via Clapham and the west London line?

 

[JonathanH]

OK thanks - and timewise I'd expect it's sort of similar. Via Kensington, what would be the routing there, have to go via Clapham and the west London line?

Yes, the routeing of the ticket is via Clapham Junction but not via London which means the West London Line.

However, connections at Clapham Junction between the hourly Exeter to Waterloo and East Croydon to Watford Junction trains aren't very good.

 

[Hadders]

I'd go via London just to avoid the awful overcrowded CrossCountry trains.

 

[Haywain]

looking for which route is best

Could you define "best" for us?

 

[Class800]

OK thanks London looks like the winner, and if I spilt tickets there can use my network railcard

 

[Hadders]

If you use SWR from Cranbrook into Waterloo then you can use your Network Railcard throughout.

 

[dciuk]

If you use SWR from Cranbrook into Waterloo then you can use your Network Railcard throughout.

possibly depending on what time the departure is from Cranbrook if on a weekday. I think for stations before Honiton (but not including Honiton) it was valid on the 08:2x from Exeter St Davids, but I cannot recall if Cranbrook was added to the list of easements when it opened

 

[jfollows]

possibly depending on what time the departure is from Cranbrook if on a weekday. I think for stations before Honiton (but not including Honiton) it was valid on the 08:2x from Exeter St Davids, but I cannot recall if Cranbrook was added to the list of easements when it opened

Follow the link from https://www.network-railcard.co.uk/about-the-railcard/using-your-railcard/:

Cranbrook 08:37 09:40 South Western Railway service to London Waterloo
To all destinations

Does not include 1L32 08:23 Exeter to Waterloo, 08:37 from Cranbrook.
The 08:37 is included.