janisj

This isn't about the strikes -- they are working on the lines that weekend. At least so far they haven't announced any strikes after September.

VANAARLE

God I do know that. I was updating the information I linked to before. And in case you do not understand I was also giving that information because the op said.

P_Texas

Thank you for info. ended up booking a day earlier

stokebailey

Reporting back from my comfortable, on-time Avanti West back to Euston. There was an immense queue at Glasgow Central, partly due to the 0830 train being canceled, but we all quickly got on board.

Aisles are wider on this train than on my Kings Cross to Leuchars run. Can't remember the line name, but this train is easier to walk about. Phone charger works first try. I chose 1st Class on ScotRail Leuchars to Glasgow, just because, and got coffee and a biscuit from trolly, no additional charge.

So I've been fortunate and have nothing to complain about. Safe and swift travels to us all.

flanneruk

The problem is neither strikes nor working on lines.
Oxford's city-centre station is closed at weekends for the next four weeks as preparatory work starts to begin sorting out its western roads before planning the station's complete reconstruction can even be begun.

To get to Edinburgh, you need to do one of the following:
- move the journey to a day other than Sep 10/11, 17/18, 24/25 and Oct 1/2
- start from Oxford Parkway (on the Oxford city bus system) and travel via Banbury and Birmingham
- get a longer-distance bus to Hanborough or Charlbury (slightly more than hourly on Saturdays, but almost non-existent on Sundays) and take a train via Worcestershire Parkway and Birmingham
- drive either to Birmingham city-centre(horrid) or to Birmingham International (much less painful)
- take a bus to Heathrow and fly

The blunt truth is that Britain has to increase trains going through Oxford, the current city-centre station is grossly overcrowded, it has to be rebuilt, planning for that can't start till the roads immediately round the station start being improved and closing the station over September weekends does the city's and its hinterland's economy less damage than any other option.

Sorry - but Britain desperately needs a growing economy in our most economically vibrant region. And since that's currently churning out vaccines to cure Covid and malaria, so does the world.

P_Texas

with the current situation, should one cancel train tickets from london to edinburgh oct 1st returning on Oct 7th? the news looks grim for train travel so i'm curious as to what locals recommend

bilboburgler

Just follow latest announcements https://inews.co.uk/news/train-strik...fected-1867941 1st and 5th look bad

stokebailey

Can you switch the 1st? Grim on 1st and 5th, but otherwise I'd hate for you to cancel Scotland. (No local, me. Sipping latte at LHR after breezing through security enroute home to US.)

P_Texas

thanks for info. we are not canceling Scotland but changed to flights to be safe. we were really looking forward to the train ride thru northern england and scotland but maybe next time

janisj

Not to worry -- the train is fine but the only scenic bits are at the very northern end of the route between Newcastle and Edinburgh (plus a quick glimpse of Yorkminster and a bit of Durham). But mostly the scenery is underwhelming. You'll see more and better scenery after you are actually in Scotland.

P_Texas

Thanks Janisj