Train Stansted to Birmingham Int

[lankeela]

Got a friend coming over for Crufts from Finland. I have looked at the trains from Stansted to Birmingham International and it looks like you have to make two changes, at Tottenham Hale and Euston. Anyone done this journey recently and know how easy/difficult it would be? Think she is going to get a culture shock after the trains in Finland, which are clean, quiet, run on time and not expensive!

[dzug]

There's a slightly slower route, with one change at Birmingham New Street.

Either of them is an easy enough journey - via London would be more frequent and more reliable with (at least Euston - International) better trains.

Stansted - New Street on the through trains can be very cheap with advance tickets.

[Panic Button]

Well there certainly used to be direct trains from Stansted to Birmingham, with a company called Central Trains, but I think they lost the franchise.

However all searches seem to take you via London now. That's a pain.

[VHG]

Yo can get a coach

http://www.nationalex.../Airport/stansted.cfm

[VHG]

Cross Country Trains seem to go from Stanstead to Birmingham

http://www.buytickets...spx?Command=TimeTable

[dzug]

The direct trains from Stansted go to New Street, not International

[VHG]

>The direct trains from Stansted go to New Street, not International

Yes but New Street to Birmingham International is easy, one stop

[dzug]

<Yes but New Street to Birmingham International is easy, one stop >

Agreed it's easy - but from Stansted it's slower than via London and therefore won't generally show up in rail journey planners most of which which show the fastest route as a default

[New Judge]

The route suggested by the National Rail journey planner suggests changing at Liverpool Street and travelling by tube to Euston Square. This is not a good idea as Euston Square is a good ten minute walk from Euston. Much better to change at Tottenham Hale as you suggest and get the Victoria Line to Euston. Neither of the changes (at Tottenham Hale or Euston) is onerous and the journey should present no problems.