Again, as megatrain has given up Londoto Torquay al la Plymouth it's all down to www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk for all the services and fares.
Straight to Torquay is expensive but if you go via Exeter St. Davids from London Paddington and back via Newton Abbott there is a way to get there for a mixture of singles that now total £34.50, still pretty good and with any railcards and getting a group of four to ten will of course help the wallet even further.
If interested hurry, theya re going fast, especially the week after Easter, presuming kids still off, I grabbed a £12 out to Exeter a couple of days ago and that's gone already.
Best Singles (as of 02/02/12)
Out
London Paddington 09.06 - 11.17 Exeter St. Davids - £16.00 (change to) Exeter St. Davids 11.56 - Torquay 12.46 - £6.00 (This service stops at Torre station at 12.43 and there is another one an hour later)
Back (all change at Newton Abbott)
Torquay 17.18 - London Paddington 20.37 - £12.50
Torquay 17.57 - London Paddington 21.32 - £12.50
Or if deciding to stay the weekend there is a late Sunday service still at a competitive price:
Torquay 19.00 - Newton Abbott 19.11 (change to) Newton Abbott 20.05 - London Paddington 23.32 - £12.50
Only three quid more from Southend stations but you have to be up very early, good luck!
Remember, it's in a Group Save area that can cut fares in half if four of you can travel together, getting it down to around £25 each in this case, and any various travelcards will make it even cheaper.
To find out more, go here:
www.daysoutguide.co.uk/groupsave.aspx
Station to Stadium
The ground is over two miles away from the main Torquay railway station and so a taxi (around £5) may well be in order.
Torre station (one stop before Torquay station but not all trains stop there) is closest to the ground. Walk up the hill opposite the station and its around a 20-25 minute walk.
If you have time on your hands then you can walk to the ground from Torquay station in around 40 minutes.
On leaving the station turn left into Rathmore Road. Follow the road crossing into Rathmore Road. Proceed by way of Lucius Street and Tor Hill Road into Union Street.
Take the St. Marychurch Road and climb the Hill towards Babbacombe then take the third turning on the right into Bronshill Road.
The floodlights of Plainmoor will be visable after a few minutes on the left.
(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.com for stadium directions.)
Hanging your hat in Torquay: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Football ground guide to the Gulls: www.footballgroundguide.com
Maps
Map 1 - From Torre to St. Marychurch Road
Map 2 - St. Marychuch Road to Bronshill Road (Plainmoor Stadium after a few minutes)
Map 3 - Torquay Station - Torre Station - Plainmoor Stadium
Torquay Station to Plainmoor; Directions above or find Falkland Road which also leads into St.Marychurch Road and the stadium off Bronshill Road.