0945 Reading - Leamington Spa (on a Saturday)

[tiptoptaff]

What are loadings like for this in 1st? I have reservations But is it likely to be so busy I'd have to argue the toss about it?

TIA

 

[nw1]

What are loadings like for this in 1st? I have reservations But is it likely to be so busy I'd have to argue the toss about it?

TIA

If it's a starter from Reading, probably not.

IMX XC trains on a Saturday morning, at least those starting Reading, seem to be less busy than one might expect though fill up around Leamington with Birmingham shopping traffic.

 

[Paul Kelly]

I'd say maybe 1 or 2 on from Reading, about 3 joining in Oxford, 1 or 2 more in Banbury and perhaps 3 or 4 joining in Leamington Spa. At the most. It should be very lightly loaded indeed (by CrossCountry standards!) because (a) it starts in Reading and so won't have any through traffic from the south coast, and (b) it goes direct from Leamington to Birmingham via the GWR/Chiltern Line and avoids Coventry & Birmingham International, which would otherwise generate a lot of traffic.

 

[nw1]

I'd say maybe 1 or 2 on from Reading, about 3 joining in Oxford, 1 or 2 more in Banbury and perhaps 3 or 4 joining in Leamington Spa. At the most. It should be very lightly loaded indeed (by CrossCountry standards!) because (a) it starts in Reading and so won't have any through traffic from the south coast, and (b) it goes direct from Leamington to Birmingham via the GWR/Chiltern Line and avoids Coventry & Birmingham International, which would otherwise generate a lot of traffic.

Hence why I actively aim for these Reading starters when travelling (a few times a year) SOU to Crewe - because they will give me a reasonably comfortable journey to Birmingham! Due to not-so-good connections at Reading and (sometimes) a missed 4 minute or so "unofficial connection" at Basingstoke it can take almost an hour longer, but it's worth it.

Sunday evening though even the Reading terminators southbound are busy as far as Oxford, at least, and sometimes I resort to walking to Moor Street to get a (relatively) less busy Chiltern as far as Banbury so I only use the XC south of there.