Why does it take 7hrs cambridge to salisbury wiltshire by train?

Question

yet you can get to another country in quarter of the time

Answer 1

Because it could involve lots of different transfers and and there could be a 2 hour wait until the next one comes along. Don't worry some train stations have a coffee shop and a newsagents type where they sell f**s, sweets, magazines, newspapers and drinks.

Answer 2

It doesn't normally, are you travelling on a weekend with lots of engineering work taking place?

National Rail Enquiries shows journeys via London taking 3h 33m.

If you catch the xx15 departures from Cambridge it takes less than 1 hour to Kings Cross, Underground to Waterloo, xx20 departure to Salisbury tales 1h 22m.

The NRE site will also give you fare details

http://ojp2.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/jp#

Answer 3

Are you using the cross country route? It may well be quicker to go via London, but that would probably take 6 hours at least. It would probably be quicker by car. I've driven from Ipswich to Cornwall in 7 hours. A train to London from Cambridge, 2 Hours? 2 hours to Bristol, then go from there?

Answer 4

Here is an example of a train from Cambridge to Salisbury running Monday 30th April 2007, as you can see it only takes 3 hours 33 minutes, less than half the  seven hours you have been quoted.    Hope the weather keeps nice for you, both towns are lovely.

Depart: 08:45  Cambridge (CBG)  

Arrive: 09:42  London Kings Cross (KGX)  

Travel By: Train  

Train Company: First Capital Connect to London Kings Cross (KGX)

Cycle Policy





Duration: 0:57

Depart: 09:42  London Kings Cross (KGX)  

Arrive: 10:35  London Waterloo (WAT)  

Travel By: Underground #  

Duration: 0:53

Depart: 10:50  London Waterloo (WAT)  

Arrive: 12:18  Salisbury (SAL)  

Travel By: Train  

Train Company: South West Trains to Salisbury (SAL)

Cycle Policy





Duration: 1:28

Total Journey Duration: 3:33