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Move over Flashy, there's a new biznizz travelling eggsekutive round here...
I have a meeting @52.4743425,-1.7243239,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4870b105e6b4d94b:0xf3431edcd2128e37!8m2!3d52.4711126!4d-1.7176781">here at 9am on Tuesday next week. And, indeed, Thursday next week. I'll be travelling up from Cirencester, options seem to be:
- 7:10 train from 'Nam Spa, change at Brum New Street and get to Brum International about 8:20, hop in a cab from there. Means I need to leave the house at about 6:15 to get to 'Nam and park at the station
- Drive there, either M5/M42 or A429/M40/M42. Google reckons between an hour and a half and two hours, so will need to leave about 6:30/7
I'm tempted by the train, WWSTWD?
Birmingham Business Park I believe. Personally, I'd get the train as there are a lot of motorway challenges in that route, the M42 around the NEC particularly is not pleasant. There are (or at least there were until very recently) shuttle buses from International to the business park so you should be able to get there very easily.
Blythe Valley?
Prebook a taxi from Doridge, walk 5mins from new street to Moor Street and get the London train down Goes through Solihull and the rest
Got a mate who is at Warwick parkway normally leave there bit after 8, and be at office easily before 9am
I'm just glad I could comment on the most boring thread on the internet today.
assuming your travel costs are covered whichever route you take, train every time. Particularly if you can be sure of getting a seat, then get an extra hour of sleep in.
If you're paying - the train will be about a million quid so car.
I'd be taking the car.
Trains have other people on them.
Ah my bad, didn't see the link in the here!! Still train all the way and book a seat, motorways have other people all over them all acting independently and never for the greater good.
When it comes to anything in or around Birmingham, the answer must always be 'helicopter'. Train almost invariably means Birmingham New Street, and car means... well... let's not go there.
M5, M6, M42 are roads from hell the lot of them.
Does the meeting have a clearly defined agenda with a specific role for each attendee to fulfil?
If yes - then it's a real meeting. I'd drive, I'd want to be on-time and master of my own destiny, I don't like having to rely on other people / services if it's really important, it makes me worry and stress and I'd be shit in the meeting.
If no - then it's a 'chat' or an 'presentation' unless I was the one presenting, I'd take the train. It's probably not going to be a very important gathering, more likely a bit of a ego booster for someone, bit of a chat. Might as well let the train take the strain. If it's a presentation they'll probably have the good sense to follow up with an e-mail because not many people can give 100% attention for more than about 15 mins at a go.
I've got a bit of a chip on my shoulder about 'meetings'.
Leave early, steady drive up and find a cafe / roadside wagon is my default.
If yes – then it’s a real meeting. I’d drive, I’d want to be on-time and master of my own destiny, I don’t like having to rely on other people / services if it’s really important, it makes me worry and stress and I’d be shit in the meeting.
You know the confluence of the worst bit of motorway screw ups well? Unless you give yourself a huge amount of extra time you are no more master of your own destiny as an ant in the colony around there. Yep trains get cancelled but very rare all of them do.
Does the meeting have a clearly defined agenda with a specific role for each attendee to fulfil?
Hah, now that's funny.
I'm there, I think, to try and prevent the other attendees from coming up with any particularly stupid ideas or, if they do, to persuade them that their idea is stupid and they shouldn't do it. They may choose to do it anyway though, I can't stop them.
I think I'll get the train, at least then I'll be being paid to read a book or watch a film.
Meeting in a business park in Solihull? Living the dream eh?
I would go car. That way when you are subject to a delay, you have your own space and don't need to mingle with the great unwashed.
I can't think of anything worse than travelling in a packed train.
Oh wait, I can - travelling in a packed train heading to Solihull. Or wearing a pair of underpants made entirely from large, angry wasps.
You know the confluence of the worst bit of motorway screw ups well? Unless you give yourself a huge amount of extra time you are no more master of your own destiny as an ant in the colony around there. Yep trains get cancelled but very rare all of them do.
It's a mindset thing, I wasn't trying to give advise so much as saying what I'd do - which I admit probably isn't very helpful.
I know it sounds daft, but if I'm already stressed I find not being in control more stressful.
It's strange isn't how being in car makes you feel in control even though you have very little control over the outcome.
I can’t think of anything worse than travelling in a packed train.
Sat for an hour not moving on the motorway with nowhere to go, no facilities, no food and no idea whats going on. On the train I can get up, wander around, listen to some music, read some stuff, go to the toilet, check my emails, eat or if it's the way home have a beer. It's hell I tell you!
I can’t think of anything worse than travelling in a packed train.
How about when when you have pre-booked a seat, and someone's decided that they are going to sit in it, then refuse to move when you politely ask them to. Then you have to have the dignity to not lose your shit with a complete stranger, after they have advised you to not be so petty.
Sat for an hour not moving on the motorway with nowhere to go, no facilities, no food and no idea whats going on. On the train I can get up, wander around, listen to some music, read some stuff, go to the toilet, check my emails, eat or if it’s the way home have a beer. It’s hell I tell you!
I didn't say travelling by car was good...
I prefer to use my private jet 😉
Well, if the so-called 'boffins' would just hurry up and invent the jetpacks we keep being promised, this would all be academic.
The m42 will be a nightmare that time in a morning it'll take over an hour from the m5 to Solihull so train eveytime
Train, I used to work at RR on that estate and could walk from the International Station. The traffic will can be a nightmare if you hit it at the wrong time.
I live about a 3 minute walk from that business park. The local traffic between 8-9 o clock in the morning can be terrible, add in the M5-M42 and your drive could be rubbish, might be lucky and just cruise straight in but that doesn't really happen does it. I'd go train every time as it is a 10 minute walk. And lunch/beer in The Little Owl on the way back to the station, jobs a good un.