Cruise train to Harwich not running July 17th?

[LindaAndBillTravel]

I just read (at http://www.harwich.co.uk/cruise_trains.asp) that the cruise train to Harwich will not be running the day of our cruise due to engineering works. Does this mean that no trains will be running between Liverpool Street and Harwich that day?

 

There is mention of coach service in place of the train. If it leaves at the same time the train was supposed to, will that be cutting things close as travel by road takes longer? Has this ever happened to anyone before?

 

We may choose to take a private hire car in place of the train rather than go by coach. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[waggie]

Having looked at the site you shouldn't worry as they will have dedicated coaches for your date, but not for the dates below.As I live nearby would you like me to check with them locally in case you need to adjust your plans? When do you arrive in UK? Do you want ideas for a hotel near Harwich? Just ask.

Please Note: There will be engineering works which will affect passengers travelling on the following dates,

which will not be covered by cruise dedicated rail replacement coaches.

Sunday 29 May - Costa Magica

All lines blocked between: London Liverpool St and Shenfield

Sunday 27 August – Costa Magica

All lines blocked between: London Liverpool St and Ingatestone.

Sunday 11 September – Discovery

All lines blocked between: Shenfield and Colchester.

[LindaAndBillTravel]

Hi Waggie - My big concern is timing. I've read that it can take up to 3.5 hours to drive from London to Harwich. If the coach leaves at 12:26 on the day of departure, then it could arrive at 16:00. Don't all passengers need to be onboard 90 minutes prior to departure? For our cruise, that would be 15:30.

[DorneyBoy]

You need not worry.

The rail engineering works that are the reason for the coaches only happen when travel volumes are relatively low. In this case Sindays and a Holiday Monday.

 

The area around Liverpool Street will be like a ghost town as its in the middle of the financial district. On such days a vehicle shouldn't take much longer than the train.

[stanjj111]

It was not clear that only the 12:26 pm train would be available. Clearly a bus holds less people than a train. Will they have enough buses?

 

Any other way of getting from London to Harwich?

[John Bull]

It was not clear that only the 12:26 pm train would be available. Clearly a bus holds less people than a train. Will they have enough buses?

 

Any other way of getting from London to Harwich?

 

Certainly there will be enough buses for pre-booked passengers, that's what pre-booking is all about.

In fact there's likely to be stax of empty seats because cruise passengers take a lot of luggage, & whereas there are (very reasonable) luggage restrictions on regular bus services, those limitations don't apply to rail-repacement buses so the rail company knows to lay on more buses to be sure that they can handle all the luggage.

And if you're on one of those cruise-special buses you will make your sailing.

 

There are other trains that day, but they follow a different route to a place called Manningtree where you switch to a dedicated rail-replacement bus to complete your journey. Again, there'll be plenty of buses, the rail companies do tend to over-kill on the number of buses.

But it's quite a time-consuming journey.

Details on http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/

Important that you enter your specific date, start is London Liverpool Street, destination is Harwich International.

 

Alternatively, a private road transfer from Heathrow direct to your ship. Possible sharers on

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=29348359&posted=1#

 

Or, in the circumstances, the cruiseline's own transfer bus service Heathrow to quayside.

 

John Bull :)