Travelling London- Cambridge, mustn't be late

[stayok]

DS has a Cambridge interview at 10am. We live in London.

he could have stayed in college accommodation for free the night before but he turned it down as he doesn't sleep well away from home and is now panicking about being late, given how unreliable trains are these days.

Would you 1) get a very early train eg 7.30am, and have breakfast in Cambridge before the interview if the train gets in on time; 2) drive to Cambridge; or 3) stay the night before in a Travelodge or similar?

Go night before.
It is december. Rain mudslide trees on line

I would go the night before. I have done that journey many times and twice I’ve missed something important because of transport issues — a big family event in Cambridge after trains were cancelled and another one in London after the M11 was closed and traffic was literally turned around and sent back the way it came.

Normally everything works well and either train or an early drive and park and ride would be ok but I wouldn’t risk it for this one.

Speaking from local experience here - the trains on the Kings Cross/St Pancras line have been very unreliable of late, sudden cancellations, replacement buses etc.

Whereabouts in London are you? If your journey to Cambridge would involve either the M25 or the A1 Black Cat roundabout junction with the A421 to Bedford, don't drive either.

Staying over the night before would be the best bet, I reckon.