How busy have your trains been?

[Jamesrob637]

Tubes are busy too, and breakfast in my central London hotel which I've stayed at on many occasions was heaving

I miss the days of lockdown when you would barely see anyone on a train or in a hotel

I hate overcrowded 2-car trains but I equally hate everywhere being shut.

 

[RuddA]

Travelled from Norwich to Cardiff today, leaving just after 10:30.
Norwich to Ely had at least one person in every pair of seats, from Ely people were having to sit next to each other and 2 of the 4 carriages were shown as full on the screen. Cambridge to St Pancras was quite quiet. Lots of people queueing for the Eurostar and standing on the circle line at lunchtime. The Paddington to Cardiff service looked like every seat was occupied in coach B. TBH it felt like covid had never happened.
Found the seats firm but ok on the IEP but as others have said elsewhere the ride wasn't as good as it should be (kept thinking it was like when the Mk2d was used Norwich to London). The flirt was so smooth all the way, even my 12yr old commented how nice it was. Leaving Ely my wife's waterbottle slid across the table with the acceleration.

 

[S&CLER]

I travelled from Southport to Grindleford yesterday, Friday, as my anytime short return was valid without time restrictions, so I could use the 0816 from SOP and I hoped that the 0942 from Piccadilly might be less busy than the 0949 always is on Saturday. I made a 5 minute untimetabled connection at Piccadilly by walking briskly (after an anxious moment at Castlefield, where we were held to let a container train get in front of us), and found a seat on the 0942, but it was still full of people who were obviously travelling all the way to Sheffield on Northern's cheap fares. As @Killingworth says, this is a real nuisance for those wishing to travel to/from intermediate stations who are being crowded out. The 0942 left on time but then crawled to New Mills. where it was terminated with a fault. There were by my estimate about 100 -150 people left to wait on New Mills platform for the next Sheffield train at 1116, a 2-car 195. I got a seat, amazingly but I don't know if anyone was denied boarding. Returning from Hathersage at 1603, that train was fairly busy, but filled up at each station (though it doesn't stop at Edale). I then caught the 1719 to Southport, a 2 -car 150, full to Bolton, lots got off at Westhoughton, and it was largely emptied by Burscough Bridge.

 

[LowLevel]

I travelled from Southport to Grindleford yesterday, Friday, as my anytime short return was valid without time restrictions, so I could use the 0816 from SOP and I hoped that the 0942 from Piccadilly might be less busy than the 0949 always is on Saturday. I made a 5 minute untimetabled connection at Piccadilly by walking briskly (after an anxious moment at Castlefield, where we were held to let a container train get in front of us), and found a seat on the 0942, but it was still full of people who were obviously travelling all the way to Sheffield on Northern's cheap fares. As @Killingworth says, this is a real nuisance for those wishing to travel to/from intermediate stations who are being crowded out. The 0942 left on time but then crawled to New Mills. where it was terminated with a fault. There were by my estimate about 100 -150 people left to wait on New Mills platform for the next Sheffield train at 1116, a 2-car 195. I got a seat, amazingly but I don't know if anyone was denied boarding. Returning from Hathersage at 1603, that train was fairly busy, but filled up at each station (though it doesn't stop at Edale). I then caught the 1719 to Southport, a 2 -car 150, full to Bolton, lots got off at Westhoughton, and it was largely emptied by Burscough Bridge.

That particular train is impacted by EMR's 0851 Lime St - Norwich starting at Nottingham. Not down as returning in May, not running it saves an inefficient driver diagram (pass to Liverpool, work back).

 

[Peregrine 4903]

London Bridge was very busy today.

The 18:05 Thameslink service to Brighton left crush loaded, the 18:16 left full and standing and very nearly crush loaded and other Thameslink services were very busy.

Southeastern services were also extremely busy.

Southern services quiter though with some positively empty having empty coaches. Some were well loaded though and had most seats taken.

 

[raspberrypeel]

10 car IET going from London to Bristol today. So full that people were standing in the aisle, not just the vestibules.

 

[Ken H]

Bingley - Leeds today. The next train was one from Morecambe. 2 car 158. Very full. Stood. It was running late so probably hoovering up passengers expecting to get the electric 10 minutes behind.
Coming back another 2 car 158 to Morecambe. Rear coach busy, front coach nearly empty.
Very few masks.
Ticket check on the train on return leg only.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

London Bridge was very busy today.

The 18:05 Thameslink service to Brighton left crush loaded, the 18:16 left full and standing and very nearly crush loaded and other Thameslink services were very busy.

That might be partly down to the engineering work between Victoria and East Croydon?

 

[30907]

First trip to London since COVID started spreading again last summer.
Sunday 10:
1037 Saltaire- Leeds about 50% - peak time.
1110 LDS-KGX about 1/3 full in 1st by end.
St P-Herne Hill-Penge E-Bickley (all 8 car, perhaps 50%)
Today:
1131 BKL-PNE, 8, light
1708 PNW-London B 8, almost empty
1735 LBG-Charing X (ex Dartford, 12 car) light
Bakerloo quiet, Victoria full - put mask on.
1903 KGX- LDS as above.
Note - Easter Holiday period.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Sunday 10th April. 11.19 Kettering Leicester to watch the footie. 8 car 222 formation. About 2/3 seats taken in whole train. Fair few in first too. Few Leicester fans on. Not even at Mkt Harborough. Must have gone on earlier train. Many Palace fans on though. 19.43 back. 10 car 222. Again quite busy. Around 55-60 % seats taken I'd guess. At Leicester when got there at 11.44 seen St Pancras service leaving. 10 car 222. Front set very busy but 2nd set quite empty.

 

[infobleep]

I got the delayed 18:12 Haywards Heath to Clapham Junction service today. I let the 18:16 go first as we'd overtake it at Three Bridges

The train wasn't full but most groups of 2 seats or 4 were taken. I walked down to a table. Once we got to Gatwick Airport though a lot more boarded.

We lost further time to East Croydon and then ground to a halt at Selhurst. Sadly an incident at Thornton Heath. If only if got that Thameslink train but most of the time it is overtaken and I was heading to Clapham Junction.

So having just either missed a 75 bus or one was cancelled, I have a 15-minute wait to head back to East Croydon.

I didn't have time to wait for ticket acceptance to be in place, so used my Oyster.

I got on a delayed train from Caterham to London Bridge. This was fairly empty. Its been-stop

Once at London Bridge I will get on the Underground, which had always been my plan, once I alighted at Clapham Junction and used my Oyster to reach my destination.

I will be late for the event I'm attending but that's nothing in comparison to other things happening this evening.

 

[Kite159]

3 Coach 175 on Sunday evening (19:30 from Manchester), pretty much full & standing all the way down the aisles. Not sure how many passengers were left behind at Manchester but it certainly left a good number behind at Stockport. Emptied out a bit at Wilmslow & Crewe.

Didn't help that the 19:35 London train got cancelled so passengers with flexible tickets were going via Crewe to catch another London train, rather than waiting around for the 20:35 London train.

8 coach 350 set from Birmingham to London yesterday, busy from the start and remained busy throughout. Doesn't help that Birmingham - London on LNR is only 1tph at the moment, as the Birmingham - Northampton train only gives an unofficial connection at Northampton for London

 

[infobleep]

Earlier I got a tube from London Bridge to Green Park. It wasn't busy enough but it wasn't rammed.

Once at Green Park I went to the Victoria line for a train to Oxford Circus. The train was only 2 minutes away but in that time 3 trains went in the opposite direction. It was definitely a good 1 minute away!

I was expecting the train to be rammed, given how long it was taking by tube standards but it wasn't. Maybe a lot of people had alighted at Victoria. It was busy but see apace inside.

After attending an event, a George Ezra gig, and walking back to Victoria, I got a train to Clapham Junction. The 22.54. It was reasonably busy with all sets of two or four seats having at least 1 person in them.

I stood as I wasn't going far. From Clapham Junction, I got the 23:07 to Guildford. This was busy with every set if 2, 4 or 6 seats with someone in them in the front two carriages.

Good to see people out.

 

[james60059]

13/04/22.

07:07 Nuneaton - London Euston: 9 car Class 390, sat in Standard Premium, just 2 other passengers, however standard class was at least 2 thirds full.

Northern Line London Euston - Kings Cross: Full, all seats taken and many passengers standing.

10:45 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh: 5 car Class 803. Rammed, every seat taken which was pleasing to see.

16:52 Edinburgh - Crewe: 11 car Class 390, Standard Premium again, 6 passengers in my coach, standard was about half full and good numbers got on along the way.

20:38 Crewe - Nuneaton: 8 car Class 350. Quietest train of the day. Just me and one other in second coach, observed the train as it left and it was quite quiet.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

14.18 Manchester to Cleethorpes - 6 car class 185 full with many standing departing Stockport today, perhaps as many as 100 standing as every door vestibule had standeees, some more packed in than others.

 

[Killingworth]

14.18 Manchester to Cleethorpes - 6 car class 185 full with many standing departing Stockport today, perhaps as many as 100 standing as every door vestibule had standeees, some more packed in than others.

Were you in the first or second half of the train? Usually the rear section is much more heavily loaded than the front half. You were lucky, the next TPE due at 15.18 was cancelled.

Yesterday Northern's 3 diagrams on the stoppers were 2 x 4 car 150s and a 3 car 195. Today it was 2 x 2 car 195 and a 3 car 195 until the evening when a 150/156 combination ran. EMR seemed to provide the expected 4 car for most of today - but 3 cancellations.

With 3 operators on the route Sheffield-Manchester fares can diverge enormously, the cheapest sometimes 1/3, or 1/4 the price of the dearest in the same hour with a TOC restricted ticket. This can massively influence how busy some trains are, as does how many coaches actually run, be it due to short forms or cancellations.

 

[LowLevel]

Were you in the first or second half of the train? Usually the rear section is much more heavily loaded than the front half. You were lucky, the next TPE due at 15.18 was cancelled.

Yesterday Northern's 3 diagrams on the stoppers were 2 x 4 car 150s and a 3 car 195. Today it was 2 x 2 car 195 and a 3 car 195 until the evening when a 150/156 combination ran. EMR seemed to provide the expected 4 car for most of today - but 3 cancellations.

With 3 operators on the route Sheffield-Manchester fares can diverge enormously, the cheapest sometimes 1/3, or 1/4 the price of the dearest in the same hour with a TOC restricted ticket. This can massively influence how busy some trains are, as does how many coaches actually run, be it due to short forms or cancellations.

Regrettably one of the cancellations was due to some local scrotes putting a brick through the windscreen at Bennerley Viaduct - a nice thing to have though it is, now it is easily accessible we seem to be having problems on a regular basis with this. It used to happen before anyway, but it's now every week. Unfortunately I suspect any proposal to throw the perpetrators themselves off the viaduct (clear of course of the running lines!) would meet with the disapproval of the authorities, as of course "they've rights, you know!"

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Were you in the first or second half of the train? Usually the rear section is much more heavily loaded than the front half. You were lucky, the next TPE due at 15.18 was cancelled.

I watched the train depart, all six coaches were packed, if anything the front set busier as people had difficulty joining the rear set.

 

[philosopher]

The 10:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone train on Monday 18th was full and standing from Solihull and was probably getting close to crush loaded after Banbury. Probably not that surprising given the closure of the southern of the WCML.

Train had 7 carriages.

 

[Killingworth]

Northern running 6 cars on 2 out of 3 Sheffield-Manchester diagrams today. Just seen 10.14 at Dore where it picked up about 40. Rear section packed. Front half with possibly a pair of empty seats for any who pushed forward to frint coach. Seems to have been a good move.

11.14 is only 3 cars, as normal. On a Saturday that usually picks up 50 at Dore.

Edit. Despite what RTT says 195101 was added at Piccadilly. 11.14 well filled in last 3 coaches of originally intended 195113, some standing at Dore. Only about 30 joined and may have got seats in first two coaches. Surprising how many being packed in. Man City at home accounts for a few. 3 or 4 years ago we said a single Pacer wasn't enough but to be almost filling 6 cars is down to lack of TPE services.

 

[geoffk]

Have made my trip Exeter to Maidstone and back, the fare/routing options for which were discussed on this Forum. Journeys were either side of a Bank Holiday weekend and my estimates assume passengers were evenly spread throughout the train.

Thursday 14th - 10.15 Exeter to Paddington (2 x 5-car 802) around half-full from St. Davids, then stops at Taunton and Reading so probably 75% full at Paddington.
13.25 St. Pancras to Ramsgate (6-car 395) 75 to 80% full leaving London and I alighted at Strood.
Tuesday 19th - 11.00 from Paddock Wood (ex Dover) 2 x 4-car 375 more than half-full at PDW, after picking up at Tonbridge and Sevenoaks I would guess 80% full.
Finally 14.20 Waterloo to Exeter Central; I was in car 2 of a six-car 159 formation. 80% full after Clapham Jn as far as Andover, then similar again from Salisbury, down to around half-full at Yeovil Jn.
No on-train ticket checks on the way out but a check on each of the longer-distance trains on the way home.

These were my first ever journeys on the lines in Kent and the first London journeys for some years on the GW and LSW main lines so I've no pre-Covid travel experience to use as a comparison.

 

[30907]

Couple of trips on the 3-car 0919 Leeds-Carlisle from Shipley and 14xx back:
Saturday 16, to and from Settle, fairly full outward but empty seats, about 50% full on return (to Skipton where it terminated).
Today (23rd), to Dent, almost as busy; return from Ribblehead possibly slightly busier than previous week.

Update: 30th April, better weather, full from Settle to Ribblehead.
Return on the 1618 ex CAR - less than 50% load as far as Skipton, busier thence.

 

[davews]

You may have heard there was a Rugby match on today...
0935 ex Martins Heron already standing with just a few seats. Interesting chat with some of the fans, one having come from Yeovil.
1650 ex Waterloo, half full from there, full from Richmond, packed standing until Feltham then where quite a few got off. Again some interesting chats. I have no interest at all in 'the game' but they were a pretty friendly bunch.
Tubes Jubilee and Victoria equally jam packed, obviously lots going on up town today.
Apart from a few exceptions totally maskless. Nice to see the trains busy again.

 

[greyman42]

I travelled from Kings Cross to York in the peak on Wednesday (1600) and Thursday (1500) and both trains were pretty quiet. The morning southbound journeys were also quiet. LNER seems to be no where near getting back to pre-covid levels.

 

[james60059]

05/05/22.

10:51 Nuneaton -Peterborough: 3 car Class 170, about 70% full with many getting off at Leicester, and also many getting on.
17:54 Peterborough - Nuneaton: 3 car Class 170, 70%-80% full although it was heaving when it arrived from points East.

Observing various LNER services, they seemed to be pretty well loaded.

 

[DannyMich2018]

05/05/22.

10:51 Nuneaton -Peterborough: 3 car Class 170, about 70% full with many getting off at Leicester, and also many getting on.
17:54 Peterborough - Nuneaton: 3 car Class 170, 70%-80% full although it was heaving when it arrived from points East.

Observing various LNER services, they seemed to be pretty well loaded.

Engineering works near Birmingham so weekend services going either as far as Coleshill (Sat) or Nuneaton (Sun). Today's 19.45 Nuneaton to Stansted leaving Hinckley about 75% full. More got off at Leicester than on though. As is common now when this engineering works happens the Leicester local service doesn't run so just hourly service runs calling additionally at Hinckley, Narborough and South Wigston. I bet was busier earlier due to footy at Leicester.

 

[The Ham]

For the last few weeks rail use has been at 80% of pre Covid levels.

Interestingly, if that is the rate of passengers between London and the West Midlands then compared to 2009 we'd have been at 180% in 2019 we'd now be at 144% and the models used for HS2 predicted rail use of 150% at the opening of phase 1.

Over the next few years we'd need a total of 4% growth to reach that target.

There's various cavities, there's not been the regional rail use, so that's assuming a national average on a regional route, the numbers are fairly broad brush (for instance actual 2019 use was 180.1%, rail use has been seen at 81% on some days, etc.). HS2 was based on normal rail use throughout and the pandemic had cost the country a lot of money just to support the railways, etc.

However it does highlight that passenger numbers aren't likely to be significant adrift at the opening of phase 1 of HS2 from the predictions made for justifying HS2.

 

[yorksrob]

For the last few weeks rail use has been at 80% of pre Covid levels.

Interestingly, if that is the rate of passengers between London and the West Midlands then compared to 2009 we'd have been at 180% in 2019 we'd now be at 144% and the models used for HS2 predicted rail use of 150% at the opening of phase 1.

Over the next few years we'd need a total of 4% growth to reach that target.

There's various cavities, there's not been the regional rail use, so that's assuming a national average on a regional route, the numbers are fairly broad brush (for instance actual 2019 use was 180.1%, rail use has been seen at 81% on some days, etc.). HS2 was based on normal rail use throughout and the pandemic had cost the country a lot of money just to support the railways, etc.

However it does highlight that passenger numbers aren't likely to be significant adrift at the opening of phase 1 of HS2 from the predictions made for justifying HS2.

I was under the impression that regional rail use had had one of the best recoveries, bar InterCity.

 

[The Ham]

I was under the impression that regional rail use had had one of the best recoveries, bar InterCity.

Sorry wasn't clear, ment the regional rail use data (i.e. between London and West Midlands or Scotland and South West) hasn't been released, so not a direct comparison.

 

[cambsy]

Though not strictly, how busy train has been, Im going on Cross Rail, on Sat 28th May, to try it out, and see things like, how busy it is, wether its buoyant with weekend leisure market. Will Cross Rail be very busy from the start, or will it be a slow burner, building up business over time?.