Midland Strainline *UPDATE*

Advantages: Frequent trains, free tea and coffee
Disadvantages: Frequent delays, high ticket prices, uncomfortable Turbostars

...* NOTE: This route has been taken over by Stagecoach as East Midlands Trains. * I have been travelling on Midland Mainline almost every working day for over five years from my home in Leicestershire to work in London. I have seen it all. When the service works well, and you are aboard one of their High Speed Trains (HSTs) as opposed to their Turbostars, it is a good way of getting about. For the occasional journey to the Midlands, and now to Manchester, I would recommend it. But sadly, a lot of the time it is a complete shambles. Trains are routinely late (and that means more than 10 minutes late in railway terms) or cancelled. It has been getting worse. This is not just my impression. All rail companies must publish performance statistics, including reliability (percentage of trains cancelled) and on-time performance...

Quakerman 22.11.2003 (05.10.2008) · Read review
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Review of Midland Main Line

PRIDE OF THE MIDLANDS!

Advantages: Get to see animals close up. Don't have to walk!
Disadvantages: Costly day out. If it's a hot day can be too hot in the car.

...animals! Once we'd finished the safari drive (you can go around again if you want to) we parked the car on one of the large free car park s and headed for the rest of the attractions. There is also a disabled car park situated right by the entrance. To keep the cost down we took a packed lunch, this seemed to be a popular choice and there were many picnic benches to sit on. However if you prefer a take away/hot meal, there is a pizza place, a chip shop, a burger bar and a cafe that serves main meals at a reasonable price. With these food outlets are the souvenier/gift shops, sweet shops and ice cream parlours. Once we'd finished our lunch we viewed the rest of the animals on foot, these were the creepy crawlies (spiders) the reptile house (crocodiles) seaquarium (tropical fish) and the twilight cave (bats). We then queued to watch...

minxy106 09.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of West Midlands Safari Park

THE WILD WILD WEST Midlands.......

Advantages: Price of entrance, the driver can also see the animals, lots of different attractions
Disadvantages: Disabled Parking, price of food

...The exciting park is set in the heart of the west midlands and is expanded over 200 acres which includes a four mile drive through Safari. If this doesn’t tickle your fancy as you don’t want Rhinos charging at your new car, don’t threat there is also a very impressive theme park which includes some very scary rides (which are animal free!) ☺☺Travelling and Parking☺☺ The park itself is very well signposted from the M6 and takes you through Kidderminster. Depending on what time you leave in the morning your drive will either be clear or you may have to be prepared to wait, especially on a Saturday as many people will be travelling in the same direction as you to get to the park. We arrived at around 11 am and were greeted with a massive sign with the name of the park splayed across it...

Honey_Bee 07.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of West Midlands Safari Park

West Midlands Safari Park

Advantages: Fun day out, Lots to see
Disadvantages: Not everythings included in the entrance price

...West Midlands Safari Park A large safari park between Kidderminster and Bewdly. It's easy to get to from main motorways. It is also signed from most main roads which are easy to follow and take you straight to where you want to be. You can choose to either drive around the safari park first or go into the main area which has a petting zoo, displays, shops and much more. Once you get there, there is plentiful parking for both cars and coaches, it's free to park and disabled parking is available nearer to the entrance. As you enter there is a row of shops in a covered area with a gift shop that you can visit either then or on your way out, there is a shop to purchase foods such as ice cream and fudge and various drinks, which can be enjoyed on your way around the attraction. There are displays going on all day including sea...

Hsaxo 21.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of West Midlands Safari Park

Go wild in the west midlands

Advantages: Fantastic day out for all the family
Disadvantages: Maybe prices but it is no more expensive than other days out

...~West midlands safari park~ I have visited the safari park quite a few times. It is a fun day out and you won?t get bored as there is loads to see and do. Don?t be put off if you have a nice car because there are not monkeys or animals that will destroy your window wipes or aerials. I would also recommend that you take a snack in the car for the drive around the park as sometimes it can take up to 2 hrs depending on how busy it is. I live in Leicestershire so it is a bit of a drive to get there but well worth a visit especially if you have children. West midlands safari park is located in Bewdley there are directions on the website and GPS co-ordinates. West Midland Safari and Leisure Park Spring Grove Bewdley Worcestershire DY12 1LF Tel: 01299 402114 Fax: 01299 404519 www.wmsp.co.uk **Prices** Admission...

superstar1212 22.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of West Midlands Safari Park

Steam in the Midlands

Advantages: The interview
Disadvantages: Not as good as it should be

...Oh, dear. This is going to have to be a rather negative review, I am afraid. When the extremely blocky titles came up (not like something you'd see on a Spectrum computer, more like something you see on a ZX81 computer!) I realised that perhaps this video would not be one of the most professionally produced ones I had ever seen. The introduction (in a rich and warm West Midland accent (I felt quite at home!) starts well, but unfortunately when the first scene of footage is shown, the voice vanishes, being replaced by the noise of a powerful diesel locomotive idling at a station. It was then with irritation that I realised that the narrator's voice was still there, but so feint and indistinct that it could not be heard above the noise of the train and general platform chatter. This was a pity, because I gathered from the few...

Martinscholes 05.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Railway Heritage - Steam In The Midlands (DVD)

EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT

Advantages: Close to where I live
Disadvantages: Catering and that long wet walk.

...I will talk about East Midlands Airport from a Nottingham point of view as that is where I live. Getting to EMA (East Midlands Airport) options. 1) Drive your self, about 14 miles down the A453 which can get very Congested during the Evening Rush Hour so allow lots of time. Also as this is a narrow two lane road subject to holdups when accidents occurr. As long as you prebook your Car Parking space charges not too bad but just turn up and you will have a hefty Bill. 2) Use the Airport link bus from Friar/Lane Nottingham. £9 for a 28 day return, but good value Group ticket at £15 (up to 4 adults and 2 children ) Runs every 30 mins (5 past and 35 past the hour) but in the early hours hourly. If traffic light approx 40 mins. But uses same A453 as above. 3) Taxi from Home with local taxi firm in Radcliffe on Trent approx £45...

poshtroika 20.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of East Midlands Airport (EMA)

Travel the Midlands with Mainline

Advantages: Fast, complimentary tea/coffee, efficient, good booking system,
Disadvantages: More leg space on class 170

...Like me I was bored travelling to the Midlands by car or coach. When travelling to the midlands I usually travel to Leicester because we have many relatives and friends there. Since we live in London we do not go there on a regular basis. We did go there last week because my Grandma was coming. We also went there yesterday (Sunday 16/7/2001). So for a change we decided to travel via train. Travelling via rail meant that we would get there quicker and would travel there in a reasonable price. Yes we travelled by MIDLAND MAINLINE. A rail service which travels from London St.Pancras to Sheffield etc. The midland mainline trains call at stations to: London St.Pancras, Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Long Eaton, Beeston, Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield, Sheffield...

fromthedarkside 16.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Midland Main Line

Midland main line

Advantages: Cheap and relaxing
Disadvantages: comfort of the new rolling stock

...but anywhere) well in advance can save you lots of money. Links www.midlandmainline.com Overall account. Overall I find midland mainline to be a very reliable and pleasant experience, I however am not found of the new ?production line esc? meridian trains and prefer the more relaxing and combatable HST?s. I would advise travellers to buy any food or drinkable good prior to departure as this will save you money if you were intending to eat or drink using the on board facilities. Although this route is not as fast as the east or west coast main lines it does offer excellant value for money and if your are ok for the train to take an extra hour to london compaired to the the other routes this line can and will save you money!!...

MRW6 22.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Midland Main Line

West Midlands Safari Park - Fantastic day out!!

Advantages: A Fantastic day out for all the family
Disadvantages: Can make quite an expensive day

...I am lucky enough to live only a couple of miles away from the West Midlands Safari Park which is situated between Kidderminster and Bewdley (post code DY12 1LF for those with sat navs). I never get bored with visiting the park. They have a wide range of animals which you drive around in your car to visit i.e Llamas, camels, elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes, wild dogs, hippos and the other usual suspects. After a drive round the animals you can stop off for a picnic or visit the cafe for a well earned tea break (i would recommend bringing your own food and having a picnic as to buy food here certainly isn't cheap. The park is also home to an amusement arcade and fairground as well as the standard gift and sweet shop. Food is available to buy from the kiosk as you enter the park to feed the animals (though beware as a Llama once...

bexx0907 25.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of West Midlands Safari Park