1. Journey there-04.12.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 76. Trip to Frome-04.-07.12.21 > 1. Journey there-04.12.21
As usual, we travelled from Northampton to Frome courtesy of three TOCs, London Northwestern CrossCountry and Great Western Railway. All went well apart from a tight change at Gloucester caused by our inbound XC service being delayed leaving Birmingham New Street. This leg of the journey also marked my first time at a new station since its opening last year, namely Worcestershire Parkway.
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All the return tickets I always try to use split ticketing where possible as it does offer some impressive savings. However, this photograph illustrates the problem that can result, the number of tickets required. Having just printed the tickets at Northampton station, a process that in itself took some time to complete, the number required for the split journey is a little silly! Admittedly, some of these tickets are for the reservations but why these cannot be on the actual travel ticket I have never understood?
350369, LN 10.37 Northampton-Birmingham New Street (2Y53, 5L), Northapton station The first train of our journey from Northampton to Frome waits in the crisp winter sunshine prior to its departure. My wife and I travelled on 350369 working the 10.37 service to Birmingham arriving just five minutes late. Despite the delayed arrival, we had a generous connection so we still managed a coffee at New Street. Keywords: 350369 10.37 Northampton-Birmingham New Street 2Y53 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro
221128, XC 07.07 Edinburgh Waverley-Plymouth (1V52, 1L), Birmingham New Street station Whilst waiting for our Crosscountry service from Birmingham to Gloucester the 07.07 Edinburgh to Plymouth service arrived then promptly sat in platform eleven for some ten minutes thus delaying the arrival of our train. 221128 waits to depart held, according to staff, because of signalling fault in the University area. Our train worked by a somewhat inadequate two-car Class 170 was even more delayed meaning that our connection at Gloucester was very touch-and-go. There was not even time for me to take a photograph of our train either on its arrival at Birmingham or after arrival at Gloucester thus breaking my unwritten rule of taking a photograph of every train travelled on! Keywords: 221128 07.07 Edinburgh Waverley-Plymouth 1V52 Birmingham New Street station Crosscountry Voyager
166214, GW 12.43 Great Malvern-Weymouth (2O78, 1E), Bristol Temple Meads station The third and final train of our journey from Northampton to Frome stands at Bristol Temple Meads' platform eleven. The 12.43 Great Malvern to Weymouth service changes direction at Bristol giving me a few minutes to alight and take this photograph at my leisure even if it is rather dark shadows! Whilst the Turbo units were refurbished a few years ago they are a little dated inside and the wi-fi on this particular example was not working making it a little tiresome for a long journey as this unit was undertaking. Keywords: 166214 12.43 Great Malvern-Weymouth 2O78 Bristol Temple Meads station GWR Great Western Railway Turbo
800023, GW 13.02 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C15, RT), Bristol Temple Meads station 800023 arrives at Bristol Temple Meads working the 1C15 13.02 from Paddington. The comparison with a very similar view taken back almost seven years to the day back in 2014 is interesting with Bristol having been extensively remodelled since then, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30022032865/x43285-06-06-edinburgh-waverley-plymouth Keywords: 800023 13.02 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C15 Bristol Temple Meads station GWR Great Western Railway
Tickets, Northampton-Frome The tickets for our journey from Northampton to Frome are split three ways and I have calculated the relative costs per mile of each leg. The results are interesting, see... Northampton to Birmingham stations - advanced single - 7pence/mile Birmingham stations to Worcestershire Parkway - off-peak return - 43pence/mile Worcestershire Parkway to Frome - off-peak return - 6pence/mile Please note that the above costs include our two together discounts loaded at about thirty-three per cent. Keywords: Tickets Northampton-Frome

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.