Sheffield to New Street next weekend 21st/22nd December.

[beeza1]

I'm travelling to Birmingham for Christmas, I've driven down in the past but this year I'm travelling by train.
May seem a daft question but, has anyone any idea which trains will be "less busy", I can travel anytime from Saturday lunchtime onwards, arriving no later than 19:00.
I had planned on going early Sunday morning but the first train to Sheffield doesn't leave until 09:30 arriving at 10:30 meaning the first train to New Street is 10:56 arriving just after noon, which is a bit later than I had planned.

 

[sprinterguy]

I'd be inclined towards one of the services that operates as a pair of units, with 8 or 9 carriages: Using Realtime Trains from the Saturday just gone as an indicator, that would suggest the 11:56 or 13:56 departures from Sheffield within your suggested timeframe. If your time of departure is flexible, then Realtime Trains will show you the train formations on the day of travel to help inform your decision.

Alternatively, I've found in the past that, while only single units, the Reading services are typically quieter than Plymouth ones, though that might not be the case in the run up to Christmas: These, if running as planned, depart Sheffield at 12:24, 14:24 and 17:24.

 

[duffield]

If you're going direct from Sheffield to Birmingham on Cross Country (rather than - say - via Manchester), I've seen 1st class advance singles** (for example) for just £10 more than standard class on Saturday afternoon, which if the service is very overcrowded means you would be much more likely to be able to actually occupy your reserved seat (it's not uncommon for this to be impossible in standard class), and you might even get some minimal complementaries (a coffee and some biscuits or similar).

** That was yesterday, they might all have gone by now!

 

[jfollows]

You can go via Leicester and Nuneaton on an “any permitted” ticket, I don’t know if these trains are likely to be less busy. Map BY at https://data.atoc.org/routeing-maps

 

[duffield]

You can go via Leicester and Nuneaton on an “any permitted” ticket, I don’t know if these trains are likely to be less busy. Map BY at https://data.atoc.org/routeing-maps
View attachment 171075

It's quite a long way round time-wise (around 2h15m changing at Leicester vs 1h15m direct), and my experiences of the Cross Country class 170s on that route have involved sitting in the luggage rack between Nuneaton and Leicester.

 

[beeza1]

Many thanks for all the replies.
Due to a missed delivery on Saturday now rescheduled for this coming Saturday I'm going to have to travel on Sunday morning.
I've got to go to town tomorrow so I can purchase my tickets at the station and reserve a seat on the 10:56 service from Sheffield.
Thanks again.

 

[duffield]

Many thanks for all the replies.
Due to a missed delivery on Saturday now rescheduled for this coming Saturday I'm going to have to travel on Sunday morning.
I've got to go to town tomorrow so I can purchase my tickets at the station and reserve a seat on the 10:56 service from Sheffield.
Thanks again.

1st class advances still showing as available, and just £12 (approx) above standard for a single on that specific service; strongly recommended!

Edit: Doubly so as I've just checked and this service was a single 4-coach Voyager last Sunday.

 

[beeza1]

Went to the station yesterday to purchase my tickets and reserve a seat only to be told no reservations were available on the 10:56 departure and none on the 11:56 either.
On checking realtime trains for last Sunday both the 11:56 and 12:56 were 8 carriages so I will check Sunday morning and then decide.