Cardiff to Bristol Commute

[LivingUpNorth]

Hi all,

Interested to hear from people who have done the Cardiff to Bristol commute for a contract. Would like to hear about your experiences, good or bad.

Cheers,

[psychocandy]

Hi all,

Interested to hear from people who have done the Cardiff to Bristol commute for a contract. Would like to hear about your experiences, good or bad.

Cheers,

30 mins or so on train. Temple Meads train gets packed though.
Expensive to park at Cardiff mind.

Driving. Depends on what part of Bristol. M32 aint great and city centre parking not cheap.
And of course, bridge £6.50 coming home.

[FatLazyContractor]

Really?

[LivingUpNorth]

30 mins or so on train. Temple Meads train gets packed though.
Expensive to park at Cardiff mind.

Driving. Depends on what part of Bristol. M32 aint great and city centre parking not cheap.
And of course, bridge £6.50 coming home.

Cheers for the reply.

The train line tells me the journey takes 40 mins Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads. But wondering how it pans out in reality on a daily basis..?

[malvolio]

Cheers for the reply.

The train line tells me the journey takes 40 mins Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads. But wondering how it pans out in reality on a daily basis..?

Did it going the other way for a year or so. Apart from the odd major hiccup - cows on the line and the odd signalling problem that will happen anyway - the service was pretty solid and rarely off time. It does get very crowded and the Sprinter trains they use aren't the most comfortable.

Also depends where you're working. TM is a sensible walk from many central areas, but if you're outside the centre, in Aztec, for example, you will have a problem. Abbeywood has its own station.

That said Bristol City Council hates cars - not that it does anything to encourage alternatives - so don't drive unless you have to.

[psychocandy]

Cheers for the reply.

The train line tells me the journey takes 40 mins Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads. Just wondered what peoples experience of this train journey. Is the service reliable to do this on a daily basis?

Plenty of trains so pretty easy. Mostly packed mind. And scruffy and dirty.
Can be bit of trek in city centre depends how far from temple meads.

[psychocandy]

Did it going the other way for a year or so. Apart from the odd major hiccup - cows on the line and the odd signalling problem that will happen anyway - the service was pretty solid and rarely off time. It does get very crowded and the Sprinter trains they use aren't the most comfortable.

Also depends where you're working. TM is a sensible walk from many central areas, but if you're outside the centre, in Aztec, for example, you will have a problem. Abbeywood has its own station.

That said Bristol City Council hates cars - not that it does anything to encourage alternatives - so don't drive unless you have to.

And of course, north bristol you've got bristol parkway mainline. Not near anything really. Apart from hp, abbey wood.
As malvy says theres filton abbey wood station too which trains from cardiff stop at.

If you're in aztec west then theres patchway but not manys top there and its a fair trek to aztec. probably best drive there. Its close to motorway (albeit very busy).

BTW- trains long term do your head in. Seems nice not having to sit in traffic/kip on train but you lose flexibility and it usually takes longer.

Someone coming to talk you at your desk for 5 mins - if your driving its 5 mins, if your train it could be an hour if you miss the train.

[AMH]

Newport is sticky if driving during rush hour. Traffic is usually moving, but around 30-50mph up until you can pass Celtic Manor Jct, then its a decent run up to Bristol Turn off at Jct32.

Ive never really had major problems getting in our out at both Abbeywood & Aztec West. Its down the lights & traffic control.

No experience in using the trains sorry - but its worth checking trains from Newport as well as Cardiff - as quite a few terminate at Newport.

[psychocandy]

Newport is sticky if driving during rush hour. Traffic is usually moving, but around 30-50mph up until you can pass Celtic Manor Jct, then its a decent run up to Bristol Turn off at Jct32.

Ive never really had major problems getting in our out at both Abbeywood & Aztec West. Its down the lights & traffic control.

No experience in using the trains sorry - but its worth checking trains from Newport as well as Cardiff - as quite a few terminate at Newport.

and you can park around the streets at newport train - if you're early enough.

Im too tight to pay £7 in the car park. more than that at cardiff and of course no free street parking that close.

[AMH]

and you can park around the streets at newport train - if you're early enough.

Im too tight to pay £7 in the car park. more than that at cardiff and of course no free street parking that close.

Used to be lots of Free parking around Taffs Mead/embankment - or has that changed?
I used to park there a lot on matchdays going to the Millenium Stadium.