London - Glasgow; is Avanti reliable?

[grond]

In about 2 weeks time, I need to get up to Glasgow from London for an important event that I can't be late for. I'll travel up the day before, but am aware Avanti are having some problems at the minute. Is this a poor choice of TOC, or route? Would flying or driving be a better choice, bearing in mind a limited budget? Thank you!

 

[Wallsendmag]

Go via LNER and Edinburgh much more reliable.

 

[plugwash]

Wherabouts are you statring from?
Edit: I see you mentioned London in the thread title but not in the post body.

The rail network in general is less reliable than usual at the moment, but LNER seem less badly affected than Avanti.

 

[Watershed]

In about 2 weeks time, I need to get up to Glasgow from London for an important event that I can't be late for. I'll travel up the day before, but am aware Avanti are having some problems at the minute. Is this a poor choice of TOC, or route? Would flying or driving be a better choice, bearing in mind a limited budget? Thank you!

If you're travelling up the day before then Avanti will get you there, it just might not be on the train you hoped to catch!

To be fair to Avanti, the number of cancellations on the Glasgow services has reduced and so it does now bear some resemblance of a normal service (albeit still with the extended journey times due to Crewe stops being added to compensate for other cutbacks)

The most reliable rail option would likely be to take LNER (and optionally ScotRail) via Edinburgh, and perhaps surprisingly this can be competitive on both price and journey time.

Whether flying is a viable option depends on whether the timings and prices suit. Without knowing the exact dates and your requirements it's difficult to comment.

As for driving, how much that will cost you depends on what kind of vehicle you'll be using. But I would imagine that it would, at best, be comparable to the cost of the train - and it's rather a long way to drive, even if you allow most of a day.

 

[grond]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, it's really appreciated! I'll definitely check out LNER via Edinburgh, I hadn't thought of that - the only other route I'd thought was XC via Edinburgh and New Street, but I'd rather not sit on a Voyager that long!

 

[richardderby]

LNER have a direct Glasgow train at 1530 arriving shortly after 2100. There are ofter seatfrog upgrades if you cannot get first class better than Avanti..

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, it's really appreciated! I'll definitely check out LNER via Edinburgh, I hadn't thought of that - the only other route I'd thought was XC via Edinburgh and New Street, but I'd rather not sit on a Voyager that long!

There are many people who would rather sit in the thickly padded seats offered on Voyagers than the thinner ones on LNER Azuma.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are many people who would rather sit in the thickly padded seats offered on Voyagers than the thinner ones on LNER Azuma.

And many more who simply want to be reasonably confident of arriving at or near to the time on the timetable. Avanti do not presently provide this.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And many more who simply want to be reasonably confident of arriving at or near to the time on the timetable. Avanti do not presently provide this.

I never disputed that, did I? Nor was I responding to a comment about Avanti, rather one about CrossCountry.
Also, to the denial of some that push the trolleys, LNER have been shoddy in terms of reliability recently.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I never disputed that, did I? Nor was I responding to a comment about Avanti, rather one about CrossCountry.
Also, to the denial of some that push the trolleys, LNER have been shoddy in terms of reliability recently.

If you're talking XC I wouldn't worry about the seats - you likely won't get to sit in one.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The OP is travelling up the day before.
Unless the wires come down or something, he will be there in time no matter what route he takes (Sleeper excluded)

Avanti will not simply cease to run all Glasgow services because of the unofficial action or whatever you want to call it.
If the OP is worried about services being busy due to the reduced timetable, he can book via CrossCountry or LNER, sure.
But either way will be fine.

Just book a seat reservation as all three routes are regularly very busy.
Seatfrog is easily won on CrossCountry by the way as not many bid, on weekdays, for as little as a fiver to upgrade to first class. LNER will cost you £12-ish and you're likely to be outbid, but it's still an option. Avanti don't really work with Seatfrog anymore, as they've got the cheek to make out that standard premium for £20 is an acceptable substitute for the £12 London Glasgow First Class I used to use regularly on Virgin Trains.

 

[Butts]

There are many people who would rather sit in the thickly padded seats offered on Voyagers than the thinner ones on LNER Azuma.

Personally I'd rather sit on a comfortable Embraer E-190 seat as it hammers up to Glasgow or Edinburgh in under an hour from City Airport.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Personally I'd rather sit on a comfortable Embraer E-190 seat as it hammers up to Glasgow or Edinburgh in under an hour from City Airport.

I'm surprised you can find an Embraer comfortable with all the shaking those little things do

 

[Butts]

I'm surprised you can find an Embraer comfortable with all the shaking those little things do

That's only in the lavatory !!