Stafford to Gatwick Airport

[Masboroughlad]

Need to be at Gatwick Airport for a flight at 1420 on Monday 27th November.

Stafford to Gatwick Airport
Avoiding London
Minimum changes

When will advance tix be available?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kite159]

Well the easiest way will probably be Stafford to Reading on XC and then Reading to Gatwick on GWR, only one change at Reading which avoids London, maybe changing at New Street as well depending on timings

However that way is most likely a single 4-car voyager, then onto a 3-car Turbo so won't be the most comfortable (or fastest) way.

 

[adrock1976]

I would lean towards as what Kite159 suggested above.

As a general rule of thumb, Advance fares are normally available up to 84 days of future travel date. As it is a Monday you would be travelling, you should not be thwarted by engineering works.

An alternative route would be London Midland to Milton Keynes Central, then switching to Govia Thameslink Railway to East Croydon via Kensington Olympia (not classed as a London Terminal), then onwards to Gatwick Airport. I am not sure if the connections are friendly at Milton Keynes or not. This would be 2 changes.

 

[Romilly]

To answer the OP's other question, Advances for 27 November are likely to go on sale this coming Friday (8 September), except for those routes where they are already on sale because they go on sale 24 weeks ahead.

 

[AlterEgo]

Are you looking to avoid London altogether or just avoid changing there? If you get to Bedford or Luton there are direct trains to Gatwick through the Thameslink core, though the trains are not well set up for an airport service.

 

[gordonthemoron]

You could do Stafford-MKC on LM, coach to Luton (or Bedford) and then Thameslink to Gatwick

 

[Hadders]

Are you looking to avoid London altogether or just avoid changing there? If you get to Bedford or Luton there are direct trains to Gatwick through the Thameslink core, though the trains are not well set up for an airport service.

In what respect are the trains not set up to serve the airport? Plenty of space for luggage on the 700s. I recommend the declassified 1st class area at the rear of the train.

 

[Ianno87]

What is the reason for wanting to avoid London? The tube?

If so, consider (if yoy don't mind walking with luggage)
Stafford to Euston (VT or LM)
Walk to St Pancras (10 minutes)
Thameslink to Gatwick.