Originally Posted by
Stanmore Bluebird
This is why I have given up the trains - too many delays and overcrowding! Am now travelling up and down to Cardiff from London by National Express bus. It takes longer but the trip home one is very comfortable as there are only about 10 passengers on the 17:45 out of Sophia Gardens back to London Victoria, meaning you can really stretch out. Also, the bus toilet is way cleaner than the train’s.
The fare varies just like the train. I pay about £22 return versus the approximately £55 over 60s return journey by train.
Going down to the game, I arrive at 13:10, later than I used to when taking the train but this doesn’t matter to me as I have fallen out with someone I used to drink with before the game because of an unwarranted verbal tirade and insults. Possibly I contributed to this, although probably not. I now walk straight to the ground where there is plenty going on and a wide choice of places to eat and drink in.
Plus, going home there is wasted time taking the train after the match as the first one back to Paddington doesn’t leave until 18:22. So the coach departing 17:45 saves this wasted time given the journey starts earlier than the train.