Earlier trains

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Strewth, how much is that early-morning cab?

Around £120, according to Melksham Taxis.  When you think an early morning single from Chippenham to Paddington is £80, and then the Hex on top, it doesn't sound bad value at all.

Especially when the cab price is good for 2 or 3 people, and gets them and their luggage hotel door to correct terminal door.

[TaplowGreen]

Strewth, how much is that early-morning cab?

Around £120, according to Melksham Taxis.  When you think an early morning single from Chippenham to Paddington is £80, and then the Hex on top, it doesn't sound bad value at all.

You could stay in a hotel near Heathrow and get a bus/cab to the airport for far, far less than that, with the additional peace of mind of not having to get up at the crack of dawn, worry about traffic etc........and also, having spent £120 to get TO the airport, how do you get home when you come back?

As for earlier trains, there is a definite need for an earlier train to the Westcountry which gets to Plymouth from London before 0900 to allow a full day's business (and the sleeper doesn't count!)- the railways, and the region will lose out until this happens.............as for Sunday trains, well we haven't had those at Taplow for as long as I can remember, and for as long as drivers are allowed to pick and choose whether they work on Sundays, I can't see that, or the bigger picture of earlier/more Sunday trains improving.

[Surrey 455]

You could stay in a hotel near Heathrow and get a bus/cab to the airport for far, far less than that, with the additional peace of mind of not having to get up at the crack of dawn, worry about traffic etc........

Shhh... That would be depriving Grahame of his B&B / hotel room income

[TaplowGreen]

You could stay in a hotel near Heathrow and get a bus/cab to the airport for far, far less than that, with the additional peace of mind of not having to get up at the crack of dawn, worry about traffic etc........

Shhh... That would be depriving Grahame of his B&B / hotel room income

........and his 10% from the taxi firm! 

[John R]

Strewth, how much is that early-morning cab?

Around £120, according to Melksham Taxis.  When you think an early morning single from Chippenham to Paddington is £80, and then the Hex on top, it doesn't sound bad value at all.

You could stay in a hotel near Heathrow and get a bus/cab to the airport for far, far less than that, with the additional peace of mind of not having to get up at the crack of dawn, worry about traffic etc........and also, having spent £120 to get TO the airport, how do you get home when you come back?

As for earlier trains, there is a definite need for an earlier train to the Westcountry which gets to Plymouth from London before 0900 to allow a full day's business (and the sleeper doesn't count!)- the railways, and the region will lose out until this happens.............as for Sunday trains, well we haven't had those at Taplow for as long as I can remember, and for as long as drivers are allowed to pick and choose whether they work on Sundays, I can't see that, or the bigger picture of earlier/more Sunday trains improving.

I suspect Grahame's guests are going home, so the return journey isn't a problem. Also, you haven't factored in the cost of getting from MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) to wherever the hotel near Heathrow is the previous night, nor the relative cost of a hotel near LHR to one in MKM. And you've also got the inconvience of having multiple journeys by public transport and taxi against one taxi ride and the inconvenience of staying in a different hotel for one night.  I doubt it would be much cheaper, if at all.

[TaplowGreen]

Strewth, how much is that early-morning cab?

Around £120, according to Melksham Taxis.  When you think an early morning single from Chippenham to Paddington is £80, and then the Hex on top, it doesn't sound bad value at all.

You could stay in a hotel near Heathrow and get a bus/cab to the airport for far, far less than that, with the additional peace of mind of not having to get up at the crack of dawn, worry about traffic etc........and also, having spent £120 to get TO the airport, how do you get home when you come back?

As for earlier trains, there is a definite need for an earlier train to the Westcountry which gets to Plymouth from London before 0900 to allow a full day's business (and the sleeper doesn't count!)- the railways, and the region will lose out until this happens.............as for Sunday trains, well we haven't had those at Taplow for as long as I can remember, and for as long as drivers are allowed to pick and choose whether they work on Sundays, I can't see that, or the bigger picture of earlier/more Sunday trains improving.

I suspect Grahame's guests are going home, so the return journey isn't a problem. Also, you haven't factored in the cost of getting from MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) to wherever the hotel near Heathrow is the previous night, nor the relative cost of a hotel near LHR to one in MKM. And you've also got the inconvience of having multiple journeys by public transport and taxi against one taxi ride and the inconvenience of staying in a different hotel for one night.  I doubt it would be much cheaper, if at all.

Drive to hotel at/nr airport, leave car in hotel car park where you're staying overnight, fly, return, collect car, drive home. Simples. You can pick up hotel + parking deals v cheaply at/near LHR.

[JayMac]

I think grahame was using the example of foreign visitors returning home.

[grahame]

I think grahame was using the example of foreign visitors returning home.

Yes.

For 'self', for a day of two and short haul, I agree drive is a good option.   For long haul and long trip, we use either the daily direct coach, direct coach from Chippenham, to Taxi.

[bobm]

Drive is a good option if you can drive.

For me taxi is the last resort. Much prefer train or bus/coach.

As a former driver a taxi reminds me of the past.