Best way to commute London (well Berkhamsted) to Bristol?

[Nickleby]

First post here. Will be having to commute from Berkhamsted, NW of London outside the M25 to Bristol city centre on a regular basis (two or so days per week). I'd be arriving during the Bristol rush hour, and leaving during the Bristol rush hour.

Looking at the options on Google, they seem to be:

Car: 2h 13min via M25-M4-M32, assuming no traffic. I'd be leaving Berkhamsted around 6.30am
Train: 3h 30min

So a clear win for the car on the face of it.

However I've heard the traffic around Bristol is terrible - like 45 mins to traverse the M32. (I've also heard that the traffic planners are doing this deliberately to stop people driving, but leave that for another post!!)

I thought about driving into Bristol Parkway then train to city centre but have heard the rush hour squeeze there is even worse. No other park+rides are suitable from the M4 afaik

So would people recommend getting the train instead, or should I drive it? Or any other options
(I'm not interested in cost so much, as the company pays for the car/fuel or the train.)

Edited by Nickleby on Thursday 20th August 12:08

[Yertis]

As it happens I work in central Bristol and have a client in Berkhamsted that I often have to visit, so I'm very familiar with this journey. The long and the short of it is that if you want to get here (Bristol) for 09.00 you'll have to leave Berkhamsted very early – I'd be aiming to leave at 06.00 latest. Assuming no big delays on the M25 due to accidents, and depending on your observance of speed limits, you'll probably hit Bristol about 08.30 or thereabouts which will allow you some margin to get in and park. When I've had an 09.00 meeting at Berkhamsted I've set off at 05.30, just to be sure. Where is your destination in Bristol? That can make a difference to where you leave the M32 and therefore to your journey time.

[GlenMH]

Crikey - not a journey I would fancy on a regular basis.

If you are coming right in to the centre (as Bertie Red Trousers is trying to prevent you doing...) then how about driving to Swindon and train from there?

[jkh112]

GlenMH said:

Crikey - not a journey I would fancy on a regular basis.

If you are coming right in to the centre (as Bertie Red Trousers is trying to prevent you doing...) then how about driving to Swindon and train from there?

I agree, I would try the train from Reading or any station along the Paddington/Temple Meads line. This assumes you want to get right into the centre of Bristol.

[GlenMH]

jkh112 said:

I agree, I would try the train from Reading or any station along the Paddington/Temple Meads line. This assumes you want to get right into the centre of Bristol.

I thought about Reading but you get utterly bent over for the parking there.

[gothatway]

Didcot Parkway ?

[Nickleby]

Thanks all

Yes, I agree that a drive to Reading then train Reading-Bristol (as the destination is the city centre) is the least worst option!

[ewenm]

Nickleby said:

Thanks all

Yes, I agree that a drive to Reading then train Reading-Bristol (as the destination is the city centre) is the least worst option!

Bear in mind the Paddington-Reading-Bristol line is being electrified at the moment so services are reduced. Check the times carefully!

[DKL]

GlenMH said:

Crikey - not a journey I would fancy on a regular basis.

If you are coming right in to the centre (as Bertie Red Trousers is trying to prevent you doing...) then how about driving to Swindon and train from there?

Or Chippenham even. Whichever is easiest to park.