How reliable is the 23:50 SWT Waterloo to Guildford?

[JonD]

Hi All,
I'm out in London tonight, and want to get a late train back to Claygate. But I'm slightly nervous that the last train out is at an odd time, not one that matches any of the other clockface times for this service.

Does anyone know how often the 2G75 23:50 Waterloo to Guildford gets cancelled? I don't want to be stranded at Waterloo! If it's reliable then I'd rather take that one.

Cheers
Jon

 

[wintonian]

I have caught the 01:05 on occasion though it's rare that I leave later than the 12:05 these days and I have never had an issue with them occasionally there is a bus replacement for part of the journey due to overnight works and I do find that it's only after about 22:00- 22:30 that you know you will get a seat without charging towards the platform with the rest of the herd of cattle.

BTW there are no works scheduled tonight on SWT.

 

[dan_atki]

It is scheduled to be operating tonight. I suspect as it's the last train to Guildford via Cobham then it is very rarely cancelled.

If it is, for whatever reason, SWT are liable to get you to Claygate tonight through whatever means (I assume the 2348 or 0009 to Surbiton and then taxi) or provide you with overnight accommodation.

 

[JonD]

If it is, for whatever reason, SWT are liable to get you to Claygate tonight through whatever means (I assume the 2348 or 0009 to Surbiton and then taxi) or provide you with overnight accommodation.

Oh, interesting. I had looked at the Surbiton option as a last resort, but hadn't realised that SWT would be expected to stump up. I guess that sort of makes sense.

Odd, there's no 01:05 listed on either SWT website or National Rail...

Thanks for the info guys. I just wanted to make sure it's not a service that is often empty, so sometimes just gets dropped.

Best regards
Jon

 

[wintonian]

Sorry the 01:05 is the last one out of Waterloo and goes to to Southampton.

From the conditions of carriage:

43. Help from Train Companies if you are stranded
If disruption caused by circumstances within the control of a Train Company or a Rail
Service Company leaves you stranded before you have reached your destination and the
Train Company whose trains you are entitled to use is unable to get you to that destination
by other means, any Train Company which is in a position to help will, if it reasonably can,
either arrange to get you to that destination, or provide overnight accommodation for you.
44. Circumstances that are within a Train Company’s control
For the purposes of Conditions 42 and 43, circumstances that are within a Train
Company’s control include the negligent or wilful acts or omission of its, or a Rail Service
Company’s, staff or agents.
45. Circumstances that are not within a Train Company’s control
For the purposes of Conditions 42 and 43, circumstances that are not within a Train
Company’s control include:
(a) acts or threats of vandalism or terrorism;
(b) suicides or accidents involving trespassers;
(c) gas leaks or fires in lineside buildings not caused by a Train Company or a Rail
Service Company or any of their employees or agents;
(d) line closures at the request of the police or emergency services;
(e) exceptionally severe weather conditions;
(f) industrial action by a Train Company’s, or Rail Service Company’s, staff or agents
or by any other person;
(g) riots or civil commotion; and
(h) fire, mechanical or electrical failure or a defect (except where this is caused by a
Train Company or Rail Service Company or their employees or agents, or as a
result of the condition of a Train Company’s trains).

 

[dan_atki]

Thanks for the info guys. I just wanted to make sure it's not a service that is often empty, so sometimes just gets dropped.

A service would not get cancelled due to low patronage as the TOC responsible for cancelling the service would have to pay a fine for doing so. Last train times are also part of the franchise agreement with the DfT.

 

[455driver]

Thanks for the info guys. I just wanted to make sure it's not a service that is often empty, so sometimes just gets dropped.

Best regards
Jon

So how do the crew get back to Guildford then?
It is a scheduled service so will run unless there is a lack of crew or stock, if there is engineering work then replacement buses will operate.
This is quite a busy service so will never be empty (trust me on that ).

 

[JonD]

So how do the crew get back to Guildford then?

Ah, good point. I assumed that they must stable the 455s at (or near) Guildford rather than Waterloo.

Cheers all!

Jon