sue - I looked at the link, but can't purchase tickets for any dates after June 7. I will try again in a couple weeks, as our travel date is later in the month. Thanks for the great info!

I took this trip last month with a roller suitcase (checkin size) and a rolling laptop bag. I put them both on the floor space of the seat next to me. It did not seem to be a problem. It's a very easy (and frequently run) trip. I didn't bother with first class. The advice to avoid the commute time is good.

>>I didn't mention that we will be traveling to Southampton on a Saturday morning - not sure if that makes it less or more crowded on the train. <<

From Waterloo to Southampon generally it will be quieter than normal (less true in the opposite direction). You also have the option to upgrade to Weekend First on Southwest Trains - for just an extra fiver on top of the 2nd class ticket price, you can sit in a 1st class carriage:-

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/on-...ur-trains.aspx

We do this often at w/ends and it gets you away from the noisy teenagers talking on their phones. Generally you'd have additional space here to stow your large bags on a spare seat next to you.

the only problem with first-class on these trains that IME typically have just a few first-class seats is that those noisy teens with standard class tickets often come into first class - enforcement of that seems endemically lax on such London area trains. And they don't pay a fiver for any upgrade either!

Palenq - not my experience, the train guard will pass through the entire length of the train checking tickets and will certainly not tolerate someone sitting in first class without the right ticket (or cash for a weekend upgrade). My local paper regularly runs stories of people fined for not having the correct train tickets.

BTW, it was you who recommedned the OP use first class: "<i>If at all worried about easily stowing your luggage pay a bit extra for first-class and you'll IME on those trains have a compartment or row of seats to yourself.</i>"

"enforcement of that seems endemically lax on such London area trains"

Almost certainly, the first time in history the Revenue Protection division of Southwest Trains has been accused of laxity.

Has PalQ ever actually been on an SWT train? He can't even claim to have been on the B&Q gloss (you can see the B&Q head office from this train) again: the SWT RevProt boys - rumoured to get their training from the KGB - don't like that either.

>>I rather doubt anybody is going to steal some huge bag off that train. Do they actually have thieves in Britain, Flanner?<<

Mostly lazy and incompetent ones, and mostly more interested in cash than a cruise-worth's supply of clean knickers, I would guess.

(There can often be space between the backs of some seats and underneath the seats as well. Depends on the size and shape of the luggage).

If a taxi/limo is indeed just 112 pounds that to me is a no brainer.

Has PalQ ever actually been on an SWT train>

Yes several times -have you, in first class? Last time was from Portsmouth to Waterloo and the handful of first class seats were soon occupied by people who in standard class were standing due to a full 2nd class carriage - when they saw the conductor they got up.

Scdreamer - here's another vote for the Kindle. Gave up on real books after toting 30+ books in my suitcase for a month trip. After dragging that suitcase up and down over every bridge in Venice, I swore 'never more.'

I agree that E-readers are a real boon to the avid reader who travels.

I would suggest however that Kindle is not the only one and not necessarily the best one to have. When I was researching them all a couple of years ago, I ended up buying a Kobo.

We can argue all the little feature differences and how someone prefers one over another, but to me it all came down to ONE difference. Kindle is limited to Amazon in terms of Amazon's .mobi files and that is a big, big negative. While most books are available in .mobi, ALL e-books are available in .epub files which you can't use on Kindle.

Amazon's .mobi is owned by Amazon and .epub is owned by no one, it is a 'open standard' available to anyone to use. Amazon does have a way to convert .epub to .mobi but it's awkward. More telling though is that no one looks to convert .mobi to .epub. There is no need to do so.

So, just a thought for when it comes time to replace your existing Kindle. Do not automatically go buy another Kindle. Do some research for what is the best at that time. Who knows it may be something entirely different again.

As for a traveller and e-books today, although they are not as user friendly for reading, the iPad may be the way to go with your e-books simply because it eliminates one more thing you have to carry.

My e-reader is free of charge.
It's the size of a credit card and ultra portable.
It never loses its charge or breaks down.
If lost, it's freely replaced.
I have free access to all the books I could possibly read in my lifetime.

It's a library ticket.

Huh, the old credit card sized library card sofarsogood. You should ask your library when they are going to get with the 21st century.

My libracard is on my keychain. One of those little plastic cards with a bar code on the back and the institutions logo on the front. Same as my video rental card and supermarket points cards.

Credit card sized is so last year.

video rental - wow cool…

I did this train a couple of years ago to get on a cruise at Southampton. We had plenty of luggage and it was not a problem. We werent in first class. As others have explained you have to bring the luggage with you
I got my tickets on Megatrain. I think I paid 1 pound per ticket!

sofarsogood: >>video rental - wow cool…<<

Yeah - <i>way</i> cool! ;)

(so 20th century)

sofarsogood, much as I love my library I find your response rather strange. The point was about reading and travelling.

As most books in my local library are hardback, they are much heavier to transport, and more expensive to replace if lost or damaged (not unusual when travelling)

I also frequently borrow electronic books from the library, so apart from the convenience of not having to physically go to the building, there is not a great deal of difference in my behaviour pre and post Ebook.

Willit, my library as I am sure most do, has e-books. So a traveller can in fact 'take them with them' on their travels. You can order and 'pick them up' online as you travel as well, all you need is a wifi connection.

So in fairness, sofarsogood did give what is in fact a viable alternative to buying paper books, but not to having an e-reader which of course the library does not provide.

If you have an eyesight problem though my local library will loan you an audio book player free of charge. That could be a free alternative to an e-reader if you wanted to stretch the point.

Of course that in no way is meant to suggest that I think sofarsogood or janisj have a clue about what makes the most sense if you want to watch movies.

>>Of course that in no way is meant to suggest that I think sofarsogood or janisj have a clue about what makes the most sense if you want to watch movies.<<

Huh? There is no reason AT ALL to call people out in every single post. I know it makes you feel better about yourself but that is what your therapist is for - not Fodors forums.

(BTW - I take an iPad mini on every thrip -- for reading/watching movies - you name it)

. . . trip . . .