We are going(me and my mam-no dogs :( ) on Saturday and the original plan was for my to drive us there, being as I still LOVE to drive BUT now I'm thinking it may be better if we got the train and avoided the horrendous traffic that is expected.
My question is, I've never got the train anywhere so how does it work, where is the station in relation to the NEC, have any of you fellow Cd'ers got the train to Crufts?
Any info will be greatly appreciated :)
Emily

The station is right next door to the NEC - you get off the train and dont even have to step foot outside as its a covered walkway righ through to the hall. The only problem I found with travelling that way was carrying all my shopping :D

Don't know where my other reply went to....anyway, thanks for your reply Fillis :)
Have been on a website looking at times etc and it looks ideal, we can go from mIddlesbrough, leaving later than we would if we were driving there, change once at York then straight to B'ham International, in under 4 and a half hours!
Its a bit scary thinking about it but sounds much better than driving there :D, will check with dad that he can drop us off and pick us back up at the station.
Can't wait, all excited now :D !!!
Emily

You will be fine - book your ticket and book a seat. I am not a train traveller, but went by myself from Manchester without a problem. Later in the journey you will probably get a few dogs on too!

Hi Emily,
  We went by train last year on Sat, from North Wales. Had one change on the way, and it was really good - when we got into the NEC just a walk down a corridor and we were at Crufts. Did have a problem going home though - I'd booked on the 6.15pm train, which was a direct train to where we live. When we got to the station, the train home had been cancelled, so we had to go on a really crowded train through Birmingham, ended up changing 3 times, with long waiting times at stations - so that was a bit of a nightmare!  After a long day just wanted to get home! Saying that, I would go on the train again, in the hope that cancelled train was just bad luck and a one-off!
  Hilda

Thanks for the replies, guys :)
Have decided now just to risk it and drive! The fare was going to be £60 EACH so that plus the fee to actually get into Crufts plus cat., guide and all the shopping it would have been too much so we are just going to leave really early and keep our fingers crossed :D
We are gonna have a trial run on the train, maybe to York and see how we get on and maybe next year we may take the train.
Thanks again, lets hope the traffic is not too bad for the sake of all people and dogs who will be travelling by road :D!!
Emily