Would you go to the airport by train? Reliable?

[sat1983]

...

I want to feel relaxed on my journey but concerned about reliability of trains....

Or would I be better off driving? Leeds to Stanstead by the way!

[RicksAlfas]

We did it - once.
Huddersfield to Manchester. A dedicated airport train. i.e. a train whose sole purpose is to go to Manchester Airport. It came as something as a surprise when we pulled in to Piccadilly and heard the announcement "Ladies and Gentlemen, we regret to inform you that this airport service will terminate here."....

[Jinx]

Definitely not if it is at the weekend. Even during the week many rail companies are running a reduced service as well (due to staff sickness/isolation rates). I live only 45 minutes from Stansted and I wouldn't use the train to get there until things improve.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Having spent three and half hours getting to London from York just before Christmas due to engineering works - a normally <2 hour journey - I wouldn't even get a train to catch a train.

[anonymous-user]

sat1983 said:

...

I want to feel relaxed on my journey but concerned about reliability of trains....

Or would I be better off driving? Leeds to Stanstead by the way!

For that journey, i'd go by car every time as i am fairly sure there won't be a direct route, you'll have to go into London, change, underground across the city, then back out by train*

* I might very well be wrong on that one

[hotchy]

I booked Scotland to Manchester by train for a flight to Mexico. It snowed and the train got cancelled so had to drive anyway.

[sat1983]

slopes said:

For that journey, i'd go by car every time as i am fairly sure there won't be a direct route, you'll have to go into London, change, underground across the city, then back out by train*

* I might very well be wrong on that one

We change at Peterborough

[MitchT]

Done this a few times...

Bingley > Leeds
Leeds > Manchester Airport

And this once...

Bingley > Leeds
Leeds > London Kings Cross
London Kings Cross > London Paddington
London Paddington > Heathrow Airport

Only thing delayed on any occasion was the flight! Maybe I was lucky.

[towser44]

I would, but only if I travelled the day before the flight :-)

[craigjm]

I do it often but Leeds to Stansted may be a challenge

[sat1983]

Seems like driving is the way forward.


So daft though- for £200 it would cost me you'd think the least they could do is arrive on time!

[x5tuu]

I would say this depends on other factors.

Travelling alone, with minimal baggage (i.e. nothing more than a small wheely case for the overhead locker) yes I would (and have) use the train to get to an airport.

With the family in tow and/or with more than just a little hand luggage - not a chance.

[Cotty]

I did train into Charring Cross, walked to Piccadilly Circus Station and got the tube to Heathrow. Once going to Germany and once Portugal, but they were only short trips so just a small backpack no case

[languagetimothy]

Just as a matter of interest. Where are you flying to? Is stanstead really the only option that you are looking to spend £100+ on a train ticket and a four hour journey?

[Zarco]

Yes. No more risk of delay than driving down M4/M25 for me.

[Sheepshanks]

One thing I'm conscious of is that your travel insurance for missed departure is quite limited if you drive in a private car. I'm about 45 mins from Manchester airport but it's a very uncertain journey and a couple of times I've only made it by being fortunate enough to be near a motorway exit and be able to use back roads.

If you use public transport then once you're on board you're covered.

[bitchstewie]

I've been half way around the world a couple of times and both times the most stressful part was the train to the airport.

Just leave enough time that if it all goes to st you have a plan B (taxi or whatever).

[MitchT]

bhstewie said:

I've been half way around the world a couple of times and both times the most stressful part was the train to the airport.

Quite an achievement finding something that's more stressful than the airport itself!

[PurpleTurtle]

Pre-pandemic I would have said stay overnight previously at the Radisson Blu hotel which includes parking, but a quick skim of TripAdvisor says it is currently being used as a quarantine hotel.

A shame, as I've enjoyed some relaxing pre-flight nights there.

[stevemcs]

If it helps i can post a picture of an Easyjet plane with its doors shut and being pushed back off the stand that I should have been on. I missed it because Cross country cancelled the train - It was already 45 minutes late and then they cancelled it at cambridge.

That was the Birmingham new street to stansted train (the one your looking at) its a rubbish train, often overcrowded and late or cancelled and dirty with no catering - i gets off at peterborough.

No I wouldn't trust it unless you are traveling the night before.