Southampton to Harwich

I am sure someone could help us. We disembark from the Royal Princess near the end of May. We have pre purchased our train travel but are not sure if there is a direct line or do we have to go to London and change to a different station to catch the line up to Essex(Harwich). We are in the senior age group and want to know ahead of time where and how. Would be nice to know before we leave NZ next week.

I think you will need to change in London and it may also involve a tube across London.

The best way to check is through our national rail service as it will give all trains available

http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/pj/home#

I've just checked and your journey is three trains plus a tube ride (underground) son quite long and complicated.

I don't know how fit you are or your luggage but the underground is usually quite a long walk and will involve lifts or escalators.

Others on the board may be able to tell you a better alternative

A short taxi hop (about £7) from your cruise terminal to Southampton central station.

Frequent (2 to 3 per hour) direct trains from Southampton Central to London (Waterloo), journey time about 90 minutes.

That's the easy bit :).

From London (Waterloo) you have to cross central London to London (Liverpool Street), a distance of about 2.5 miles.

If you've bought a through ticket the fare for the tube (metro) from Waterloo to Liverpool Street is included, but there's no direct tube line between stations so you have to make at least one change. The tube isn't luggage-friendly, so make life easier by taking a taxi between stations. A very ball-park figure for the taxi fare is about £12.

There's an hourly train service from Liverpool Street to Harwich International, journey time about 90 minutes.

On days when a large cruise ship turns round there's one direct "cruise special" from Liverpool Street to Harwich International, at about 12.30pm. It's simple & easy, but rather over-priced at £30+.

The other trains involve a change at Manningtree. Manningtree is a small hick station & it's a very simple change, but it does mean going down steps, under the tracks, and up steps to the platform for Harwich International - there's no elevator. Lots of people do this, the fare is about half that of the cruise-special. The Harwich trains are timed to connect with the trains from London Liverpool Street, if the incoming train is a few minutes late the Harwich train waits for it.

Harwich International station is right alongside your ship, very very easy. :)

Your total journey time ship-to-ship will be somewhere around 4 to 5 hours.

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There's no sensible bus route between Southampton & Harwich unless you've got about 3 days in hand. OK, that's an exaggeration, but it is ridiculously complicated & time-consuming.

A private transfer will take 3 hours plus, and cost toward £200.

Plenty more info (and contributors) on the Great Britain forum, search that forum using the word "Manningtree".

JB :)

Thank you. That's a great help.