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Is it possible to get to Llandrindod cheaply?

fractionMan said:
Yeah, the turret was an extra tenner or something and well, well worth it. Also breakfast in bed was a fiver iirc, and also excellent - they bring it covered in those massive silver domes :cool:

I've just checked and we paid 119 quid a night, for two, in the turret and including a 5 course dinner each with a glass of wine. On valentines weekend. Which was amazing value compared to anywhere else I looked.
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fractionMan said:
After dinner we went out and found the local nightclub. It was more like a youth club but we showed em how to dance :D
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That is indeed goof value with the meals thrown in :cool:

Luckily neither of us dance :oops::D

Hope to find some decent pubs other than drinking in the Metropole though
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
I'm keeping an eye on this to give me an idea what platforms we may arrive on. I already see a Virgin trains from London Euston that's 10 minutes late :(

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/birmingham-new-street-station/departures-arrivals/

So, if we missed our connection, we'd have to probably go and buy another ticket for the next (and only) train to Shrewsbury that would get us there in time for Shrewsbury to Llandrindod connection.

It looks like all the London trains arrive in Birmingham on platforms between 1 and 7 (and 4A). An Aberystywth train is showing as departing from 5B (although whether it always departs from there, I have no idea). Any idea of the distances between these platforms please?

Also, I've seen a map where it shows platform As on one side of something (I imagine a concourse) and platform Bs on the other. I assume you go up by lift or escalator to go from the A platforms to the Bs? Where are the platforms that are neither A or B?

Sorry if I'm sounding really stupid, but I won't have time to figure it out when I get there so need to know beforehand
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I'll draw you something later tonight :)

Don't worry about A/B, this is why I mentioned - there are two sets of escalators/lifts, one takes you down to the A part of the platform, one to the B part, but you can just walk along the platform to go from A to B, so it doesn't matter whch set of escalators/lifts you go down.
if a trin just has a platform number without a letter then I think it means that the train is long enough to be using both e the A and B parts of the platform. Sometimes you get one train on platform 4A andone on platform 4B.
The platforms are in pairs so you might be lcky and find you don't have to go up the escalators/lifts if you are going from 4A to 5B, just corss accross to the other side of the platform.

There are sandwich shops on the concourse area,.

apologies for typos etc. tapatalk isn't lettting me see what I type so hopefully its not too bad!
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
I'm keeping an eye on this to give me an idea what platforms we may arrive on. I already see a Virgin trains from London Euston that's 10 minutes late :(

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/birmingham-new-street-station/departures-arrivals/

So, if we missed our connection, we'd have to probably go and buy another ticket for the next (and only) train to Shrewsbury that would get us there in time for Shrewsbury to Llandrindod connection.

It looks like all the London trains arrive in Birmingham on platforms between 1 and 7 (and 4A). An Aberystywth train is showing as departing from 5B (although whether it always departs from there, I have no idea). Any idea of the distances between these platforms please?

Also, I've seen a map where it shows platform As on one side of something (I imagine a concourse) and platform Bs on the other. I assume you go up by lift or escalator to go from the A platforms to the Bs? Where are the platforms that are neither A or B?

Sorry if I'm sounding really stupid, but I won't have time to figure it out when I get there so need to know beforehand
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Behold the majesty of my drawing skills :D

qPf24HM.jpg


Hopefully this will help, not hinder. The top bit is the actual station, the bottom bit is the platforms.
Physically, the A and B platforms are the same platform.
The lifts are opposite the escalators in the concourse area, I can't remember if there are lifts on both sides or not, being a creature of habit I always go on one side (can't remember if it's the A or B side). The blue arrows are the escalators (however many there are). There's definitely two sets of escalators. I can't remember if platform 1 is on its own or if it's 1+2 then 3+4, I'm doing this from memory, similarly I can't remember if there's one set of lifts, if they take you to the A or B end.

So what you need to do when you get off the train is - if you have consecutive platform numbers (like 4 and 5) check to see if it's the neighbouring platform, if it is you just need to check which end of the platform you need to be on. If it's not or you don't have consecutive numbers, go up the escalator/lift onto the concourse, then turn left or right to head towards your platform number and go back down, then check to see if you're at the A or B end of the platform and move accordingly.

Hopefully that makes sense... when are you going? If I'm using New St before then I can make a video for you if you'd like :)
 
BigTom said:
Behold the majesty of my drawing skills :D

qPf24HM.jpg


Hopefully this will help, not hinder. The top bit is the actual station, the bottom bit is the platforms.
Physically, the A and B platforms are the same platform.
The lifts are opposite the escalators in the concourse area, I can't remember if there are lifts on both sides or not, being a creature of habit I always go on one side (can't remember if it's the A or B side). The blue arrows are the escalators (however many there are). There's definitely two sets of escalators. I can't remember if platform 1 is on its own or if it's 1+2 then 3+4, I'm doing this from memory, similarly I can't remember if there's one set of lifts, if they take you to the A or B end.

So what you need to do when you get off the train is - if you have consecutive platform numbers (like 4 and 5) check to see if it's the neighbouring platform, if it is you just need to check which end of the platform you need to be on. If it's not or you don't have consecutive numbers, go up the escalator/lift onto the concourse, then turn left or right to head towards your platform number and go back down, then check to see if you're at the A or B end of the platform and move accordingly.

Hopefully that makes sense... when are you going? If I'm using New St before then I can make a video for you if you'd like :)
Click to expand...

That's a lovely drawing :D

Will PM my dates in case local burglars are watching ;)
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
ah, that explains the platforms a bit better. Many thanks

oh, I've just found this as well

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_BHM/plan.html?rtnloc=BHM

on top of this one which I was looking at before (station facilities map pdf)

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/birmingham-new-street-station/facilities/
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cool - the top link is what I've tried to do :) so lifts only on one side, there's sandwich/coffee shops in the seating area of the concourse. 4 and 5 are next to each other so with a bit of luck your trains will be on those platforms and you'll just need to cross across.
 
BigTom said:
cool - the top link is what I've tried to do :) so lifts only on one side, there's sandwich/coffee shops in the seating area of the concourse. 4 and 5 are next to each other so with a bit of luck your trains will be on those platforms and you'll just need to cross across.
Click to expand...

So I take it with those barriers, I'm going to have to put my ticket through a machine to change platforms if I'm on an A platform and need a B one, or do I just walk to end of platform at ground level and then go up? :hmm: Does that make sense?
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
So I take it with those barriers, I'm going to have to put my ticket through a machine to change platforms if I'm on an A platform and need a B one, or do I just walk to end of platform at ground level and then go up? :hmm: Does that make sense?
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The barriers are staffed, not machines (too many people go through New St for machines to work), you just flash your ticket at them.

In any case you don't need to go through the ticket hall to get from an A platform to a B one, because you can walk along the platform. Best way is to get to the right platform number first, and then when you're on the platform itself, get to the A or B end.

If you'll be using the lifts, you'll only be able to get to the platforms to/from the B end anyway.
 
BigTom said:
The barriers are staffed, not machines (too many people go through New St for machines to work), you just flash your ticket at them.

In any case you don't need to go through the ticket hall to get from an A platform to a B one, because you can walk along the platform. Best way is to get to the right platform number first, and then when you're on the platform itself, get to the A or B end.

If you'll be using the lifts, you'll only be able to get to the platforms to/from the B end anyway.
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Well London never used to have ticket barriers, you'd just flash your card, so there's still time :D
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
Well London never used to have ticket barriers, you'd just flash your card, so there's still time :D
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iirc new st is the busiest station in the country in terms of passenger numbers, pretty saw I saw on the New St twitter feed that they had 2.5million people through in August! I reckon they'd automate it if they could.
 
BigTom said:
iirc new st is the busiest station in the country in terms of passenger numbers, pretty saw I saw on the New St twitter feed that they had 2.5million people through in August! I reckon they'd automate it if they could.
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That's very busy! Compare it to Dolau - 1,500 or thereabouts :D
 
Another question.

I was about to book the 16.54 London Midland train from Birmingham to Euston. On National Rail Enquiries, there's nothing about changing trains, but when I'm going to book it on the Virgin website, it seems to suggest you have to change at Rugby, or else it sits at Rugby for half hour for some reason :confused:
 
I travel to Birmingham from London fairly often but I use the Virgin pendolino as I prefer the quicker (though more expensive) journey. I wouldn't have thought you could book a London Midland train on the Virgin site as they are different companies, maybe that's why it's showing a change at Rugby?

I use www.thetrainline.com if I want to book in advance - have a look and see what that says on there.
 
You can book any train company's train from anyone's website.
I've never needed to change when going to London but I don't think I've used LM to euston before, it's either virgin/cross country to euston or LM/chiltern to marylebone.
 
blossie33 said:
I travel to Birmingham from London fairly often but I use the Virgin pendolino as I prefer the quicker (though more expensive) journey. I wouldn't have thought you could book a London Midland train on the Virgin site as they are different companies, maybe that's why it's showing a change at Rugby?

I use www.thetrainline.com if I want to book in advance - have a look and see what that says on there.
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BigTom said:
You can book any train company's train from anyone's website.
I've never needed to change when going to London but I don't think I've used LM to euston before, it's either virgin/cross country to euston or LM/chiltern to marylebone.
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Sorry, missed these responses. Turned out it was listing two trains (but the same one) with the option to change at Rugby and was offering me the choice. However, it hadn't actually been showing up originally for some reason. Maybe just a glitch.

Used the Virgin website because I'd registered there and couldn't be arsed registering with a load more sites, preferring to just use the one.

Went and picked up train tickets from the station yesterday. I got issued with 25 frigging tickets (receipts etc included!)
 
davesgcr said:
Can we have a trip report on your journey - I love the Heart of Wales line ....? :)
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erm, what exactly do I report on (the train service, the stations, the scenery)? :hmm:

Not being very good at writing, it may just consist of lots of blurred photos through a window :D
 
So do I! :)

Update us soon and often, Minnie_the_Minx

Llandrindod is great in very many ways (festivaldeb has infrequent but regular dealings there and I've sometimes tagged along :D )

Walk around a lot! Architecture and old-style Victorian buidings really work ... :)

But I must emphasise that if any of your group are into proper, quality ale, only the Grand passes muster (and there only a bit) - most other pubs crap ... ;) :(
 
editor said:
I hope we get regular updates from the journey.
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Not sure if that's a pisstake or not? :hmm::oops:

William of Walworth said:
So do I! :)

Update us soon and often, Minnie_the_Minx

Llandrindod is great in very many ways (festivaldeb has infrequent but regular dealings there and I've sometimes tagged along :D )

Walk around a lot! Architecture and old-style Victorian buidings really work ... :)

But I must emphasise that if any of your group are into proper, quality ale, only the Grand passes muster (and there only a bit) - most other pubs crap ... ;) :(
Click to expand...

We won't be doing any quality ale or much walking. We may go to Aberaeron or Aberdovey beach for a couple of hours and a visit to erm... an abbey or a hall or... I'll have to get back to you as I've forgotten

eta: This place

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...ey_Cwm_Hir-Llandrindod_Wells_Powys_Wales.html
 
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