Penrith to Reading- via Banbury or Euston?

[Skiddaw]

Hope this is in the right place....

I travel from Penrith to Reading occasionally to visit friends. I used to travel via Banbury (changing at Wolverhampton) but the X Country leg to & from Reading was pants. I called it the 'third world train' because it was so overcrowded. It was usually impossible to get into the carriage you had a booked seat in, let alone reach the seat itself (which would in any case already be occupied). There was never a Seatfrog upgrade option (presumably because train had so few carriages). I invariably ended up squashed with about 85 other people in one of the vestibules on both legs and there was nearly always a delay somewhere which meant you missed the Wolverhampton connection on the return leg. As a result, and especially after Covid hit, I started travelling via Euston (Avanti). Slightly more expensive (I prefer a standard return whichever route I use rather than an advance ticket on basis that it gives me more options) but at least I know I have a seat (usually upgrade to Standard Premium if train is busy) and I rather like the walk from Euston to Paddington (I hate using tube unless forced to). Anyway, last time I travelled (first May BH weekend) Euston was closed for engineering works on the day of my return leg so I came back on the X Country Banbury route. Rather to my delight, the train was brilliant- twice as long as it used to be and I was even able to get a Seatfrog upgrade. I'm now therefore wondering if it is worth booking the Banbury route next time I travel.

My question is, was the extra long train just due to the fact that Euston was shut (and therefore everyone would be doing the same as me) or is that the case for all the X Country trains on that route now? I'm usually heading South on a Friday and returning on a Sunday (or BH Monday) if that is any help. My next trip is scheduled for a weekend in mid July. I'm sure you lot will know (you know everything )

 

[Watershed]

Hope this is in the right place....

I travel from Penrith to Reading occasionally to visit friends. I used to travel via Banbury (changing at Wolverhampton) but the X Country leg to & from Reading was pants. I called it the 'third world train' because it was so overcrowded. It was usually impossible to get into the carriage you had a booked seat in, let alone reach the seat itself (which would in any case already be occupied). There was never a Seatfrog upgrade option (presumably because train had so few carriages). I invariably ended up squashed with about 85 other people in one of the vestibules on both legs and there was nearly always a delay somewhere which meant you missed the Wolverhampton connection on the return leg. As a result, and especially after Covid hit, I started travelling via Euston (Avanti). Slightly more expensive (I prefer a standard return whichever route I use rather than an advance ticket on basis that it gives me more options) but at least I know I have a seat (usually upgrade to Standard Premium if train is busy) and I rather like the walk from Euston to Paddington (I hate using tube unless forced to). Anyway, last time I travelled (first May BH weekend) Euston was closed for engineering works on the day of my return leg so I came back on the X Country Banbury route. Rather to my delight, the train was brilliant- twice as long as it used to be and I was even able to get a Seatfrog upgrade. I'm now therefore wondering if it is worth booking the Banbury route next time I travel.

My question is, was the extra long train just due to the fact that Euston was shut (and therefore everyone would be doing the same as me) or is that the case for all the X Country trains on that route now? I'm usually heading South on a Friday and returning on a Sunday (or BH Monday) if that is any help. My next trip is scheduled for a weekend in mid July. I'm sure you lot will know (you know everything )

Most, but not all, XC services between Bournemouth/Soton/Reading-Manchester are now doubled up. This is to compensate for the fact that the Reading-Newcastle service has almost entirely been withdrawn.

In theory there's the same level of capacity as pre-Covid (1tph with double sets vs 2tph with single sets) but clearly the lower frequency means that the train is less attractive, and so it's quieter.

 

[Skiddaw]

That makes sense @Watershed . Many thanks for your reply. I might give the Banbury route a go this time and see how it hangs.

 

[bkhtele]

If Euston & West Coast are open as normal I would still prefer via Euston. Trains are generally more pleasant.

 

[jfollows]

It's a personal preference, but I always go via London.
Fewer stops.
Better trains.
More frequent trains London-Reading.
The option to visit places in London en route.
I don't mind Euston Square-Paddington H&C but the 205 bus is a good option instead.
I go back to 1980 when I even preferred Oxford-Manchester via London, the trains Oxford-Birmingham were so unpleasant.
I would only advise Birmingham-Reading direct for people who are opposed to the Euston-Paddington transfer for whatever reason.
My sister lived in Reading until she emigrated to Rhodes and I always went via London.

 

[30907]

I go back to 1980 when I even preferred Oxford-Manchester via London, the trains Oxford-Birmingham were so unpleasant.

Remarkable. An hourly loco hauled service with Mk1 and 2 stock (mostly not a/c, I agree) - I can imagine some forum members would give their eye teeth today for that. Seriously, I don't recall the service being unpleasant when I left the area in 78...

 

[jfollows]

Remarkable. An hourly loco hauled service with Mk1 and 2 stock (mostly not a/c, I agree) - I can imagine some forum members would give their eye teeth today for that. Seriously, I don't recall the service being unpleasant when I left the area in 78...

Unreliable, late, infrequent and overcrowded. Class 47 also, nothing special.
Alternative of Class 50 + early Mark 2 either to London (or even sometimes to Worcester) was always preferable, more reliable, less busy.
EDIT The only improvement today really is the frequency of services Reading-Oxford-Birmingham.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==

(The exception was 1O24 07:44 Manchester-Brighton which ran non-stop Birmingham-Oxford which I caught from Macclesfield Stockport but that's getting off-topic as usual!)

 

[Skiddaw]

I've decided to chance the 'third world' route this time (if only because it's looking as though the Euston route is likely to be compromised due to engineering works on the Sunday). It'll be interesting to see if it is as civilised as it was last time, or if the last journey was a one-off. I'll keep you posted....