KnobbyGB
Member
I'm doing another 8-day Interrail in the UK later in the year and I'm keen to see if it's possible to do like we did in the old-days - I mean spending a full week out on the rails on an "all liner" without any overnight accommodation. OK, I probably won't do that for the WHOLE 8 days, but I'd like to try it for a few nights, at least, just for old-times sake.
So, ignoring the sleepers (I'll do them once each, maybe), where else can I travel without having to sit on a station for more than an hour or so overnight? So far I've found these:
Thameslink "overnight" services between Brighton and Bedford. Leaving Brighton at 00:02 - Bedford 02:59 then returning on the same train, Bedford 03:15 - Brighton 06:10. NOT fun. No doss for sure. I'll be on a First Class ticket but Thameslink First leaves a lot to be desired. And would it even be SAFE to fall asleep on that?
Manchester Airport. There are several overnight TPE services such as: Manchester Airport 22:44 - York 01:17 then York 01:38 - Manchester Airport 04:19. After a coffee in the terminal, the first service out of the airport is then the 05:25 to Llandudno. The same can be done in the opposite direction. At least TPE first class is quite nice.
Another is the last train out of London KX to Newcastle and then back. London KX 22:00 - Newcastle 01:53 then 04:23 to Liverpool or 04:45 back to that London. That's still over 2.5hrs in Newcastle though. I wouldn't have batted an eyelid back when I was 14! NICE first class on LNER though. It would work if there was maybe some 24hr cafe near the station. Are there any stations that have a 24hr McDonalds right next to them?
I'm sure there are other options. Any ideas or recommendations? Oh for the old days of Summer Friday night/Saturday loco hauled holiday trains with comfy de-classified Mk.1 compos!
So, ignoring the sleepers (I'll do them once each, maybe), where else can I travel without having to sit on a station for more than an hour or so overnight? So far I've found these:
Thameslink "overnight" services between Brighton and Bedford. Leaving Brighton at 00:02 - Bedford 02:59 then returning on the same train, Bedford 03:15 - Brighton 06:10. NOT fun. No doss for sure. I'll be on a First Class ticket but Thameslink First leaves a lot to be desired. And would it even be SAFE to fall asleep on that?
Manchester Airport. There are several overnight TPE services such as: Manchester Airport 22:44 - York 01:17 then York 01:38 - Manchester Airport 04:19. After a coffee in the terminal, the first service out of the airport is then the 05:25 to Llandudno. The same can be done in the opposite direction. At least TPE first class is quite nice.
Another is the last train out of London KX to Newcastle and then back. London KX 22:00 - Newcastle 01:53 then 04:23 to Liverpool or 04:45 back to that London. That's still over 2.5hrs in Newcastle though. I wouldn't have batted an eyelid back when I was 14! NICE first class on LNER though. It would work if there was maybe some 24hr cafe near the station. Are there any stations that have a 24hr McDonalds right next to them?
I'm sure there are other options. Any ideas or recommendations? Oh for the old days of Summer Friday night/Saturday loco hauled holiday trains with comfy de-classified Mk.1 compos!
Last edited: