Good place in Midlands to get train to London

[AvantiAreShit]

I live in Manchester and am planning a few days in London doing the sights. Previously I'd always used the train and it was mostly alright, but as per my username, Avanti are shit. The London-Manchester train is completely appalling now. Don't fancy relying on them to go anywhere with DC, but also don't want to drive all the way down south. Would rather split the journey up a bit.

I've had the impression that the train services aren't as bad further south. Is there a good station in the Midlands that still has an actually functioning, regular and quick train service to London, that's no more than an hour and a half or so drive from South Manchester? On brief inspection I thought maybe Birmingham International, but let me know if that's a really stupid idea.

I would say bham new street

New St or the airport are both fine.

Thanks. Is the parking ok at both?

I use East Midlands Parkway. On the M1. You can always park. 1hr 27mins to London.

Rugby. Two operators run trains through it and plenty of parking.

You could go just a little further and go to Solihull Station. Trains to Marylebone. Some stop all along the way, others are the fast trains.

Lichfield Trent valley! My go to in the midlands.

The trains to Marylebone on the Chiltern line are proper nice too.

This is all really helpful, cheers everyone!

Lichfield Trent Valley is good but the car park is being redone at the moment so you’d have to check if there are spaces. A safer bet is Birmingham International which has a massive car park and more regular trains.

Newark on Trent or
Grantham

Lichfield Trent valley is amazing. Very cheap too. I live in derby but go from there instead.

Leeds (or such) is another option and pick up the LNER.

Don't drive to New Street Station.

Busy checking fares and times for all these stations!

Avanti go from NS and B Ham international. You could go on the stopper London Northwestern equally as rubbish and unreliable but takes even longer. Used to work at the station. Good luck

Is the Leeds to London service still functioning ok then?

Yes chiltern are better Warwick parkway to marleyborne

Someone else may answer better. But the Chiltern line is pretty reliable, but obviously would be a shorter car journey to Leeds than going to Solihull/ Warwick.

That was just my thought process. 🙂

@AvantiAreShit - I actual think your best bet is Stafford, quicker and easier to get to than Brum for you. There are super quick trains from Stafford direct to London.

East Midlands Parkway, Derby (not sure re parking at Derby) or Lichfield Trent Valley would all probably work. I live in London and have a colleague who commutes almost daily from Derby.

Oh I hadn't thought of that cos of Stafford being one of the stops on the Euston to Manchester Piccadilly line.

Quickest train from Staffs to London is about 1hr15 mins I think. If I remember rightly it also has a multi storey car park at the station.

Newark or Grantham are the cheapest and fastest options
Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway might be nearer and have lots of parking
or longer drive option but with a shorter and much cheaper train element is Luton Airport Parkway

Second using the Chiltern Line through Solihull or Dorridge to London Marylebone - nicer than BHam New St/ Intl toEuston - both near motorway

That is so true about the Chiltern line. It is much better. And it goes into Marylebone which is so lovely, its much smaller than the other London main stations and somehow calmer.
I did read that German state railways operate that service. In effect the German government. Bit ironic that they are allowed to run the trains but thanks to the tories our government isn't!