Portsmouth to Liverpool - how can I avoid London?

[_toommm_]

Dear all
Thanks for all the advice.
One of my chums in the Midlands says that New Street's long history of short-notice platform changes – which dates back at least to the 1970s-80s when I used it every day – is now consigned to, er, the history books. He's not a rail insider, just a frequent traveller through BHM, and says:

I’ve had a few recently that haven’t been announced officially - they’ve just been shouted by the dispatcher, along with a garbled tannoy that I could not understand.

 

[Willie Bee]

We're both seniors but don't have senior railcards.

Still probably worth getting a Two Together card .. you just need one

At only £30 for a year, it could well provide a saving of more than the £30 cost.

My wife and I got one last year and saved much more than the £20 we paid for the card (in a sale) on a return trip to London in November, will be going to Edinburgh in a few weeks and Glasgow in a few months. We just wish we had heard about railcards earlier.

Just did a quick search .. seems the early train shown here is not as cheap as a later one .. consider the 11:08 train ..

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ve had a few recently that haven’t been announced officially - they’ve just been shouted by the dispatcher, along with a garbled tannoy that I could not understand.

You also can't hear them if the pulsejet fans have to spin up in the event of a filthy, stinking Voyager having been sat down there for too long. Bonus points if (as I've seen it do) it results in people missing last trains.

 

[Birmingham]

Dear all
Thanks for all the advice.
One of my chums in the Midlands says that New Street's long history of short-notice platform changes – which dates back at least to the 1970s-80s when I used it every day – is now consigned to, er, the history books. He's not a rail insider, just a frequent traveller through BHM, and says:

I would say in the 5-10 minutes I'm walking through New Street off my arrival to get a coffee and exit the station, I hear a platform alteration announcement at least half the time.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

The platform alterations at New Street do at least tend to be to the adjacent platform, in my recent experience, eg from 5b to 4b.

 

[High Dyke]

Using National Express does come with some luggage restrictions. However, from Portsmouth to London Victoria coach station does give a convenient interchange with the onward coach journey to Liverpool.

Further info here: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en