Re:Train Travel in the UK: A Foreigner’s Perspective
by matt-p on Monday September 26, 2022 @06:17AM
(#32981300)
I suppose it depends on what your definition of express is, what you're used to and so on. I think most people in that part of the country equate express to 125mph trains, that are either direct or 'more or less' direct.. which places like Milton Keynes and Peterborough do have.
I think the reasons are mix of the two above you mention. No ecml which for what can only be described as a decent economic hub is a missed opportunity. Train station a bit of a pain to get to which extends real life journey times, although they are clearly trying to improve that and Cambridge North isn't bad.
Re:Train Travel in the UK: A Foreigner’s Perspective
by blibble on Monday September 26, 2022 @09:11AM
(#32982665)
it takes the fast 125mph lines on the ECML for 75% of the journey (at 100mph), then on 100mph branch for the rest of the journey
it's also 46 minutes[1], which is essentially the same as the peterborough expresses[2]
[1] https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W78063/2022-0...
[2] https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L77638/2022-0...
Why is this?
I know the story about the University insisting that the station be far from the center of town to make it inconvenient for students, and that Peterborough is on the ECML, but I don't see good reasons for Cambridge being hard to get to. There are direct express trains! It's not the North where everyone's trundling around in Pacers.