Aylesbury - London Marylebone

[sammyg901]

Hi

I'm just about to start commuting Aylesbury - London Marylebone. Just wondering if anyone had any tips?

In the morning I'll be on the 6.47 or 7.50 "express services" - are these both formed of 165s? Are any of the services from Aylesbury 168? I remember some peak time 168 workings in the evening back to Aylesbury.

Coming home I'll aim for the 18.18 - is this generally OK for seats? I'll be later some nights though. I know some of the stopping services get very busy - any particularly good/bad?

Thanks

 

[NSEFAN]

Most services to/from Aylesbury should be 165s during the peak times, as they have more seats. This can obviously vary depending on requirements.

 

[150219]

Hi

I'm just about to start commuting Aylesbury - London Marylebone. Just wondering if anyone had any tips?

In the morning I'll be on the 6.47 or 7.50 "express services" - are these both formed of 165s? Are any of the services from Aylesbury 168? I remember some peak time 168 workings in the evening back to Aylesbury.

Coming home I'll aim for the 18.18 - is this generally OK for seats? I'll be later some nights though. I know some of the stopping services get very busy - any particularly good/bad?

Thanks

From Aylesbury you will be OK getting a seat on any service. The 0647 and 0750 departures are operated by 4 and 5 car 165 formations respectively.

It's worth knowing that all of the evening services from Marylebone are busy, some more than others, so it's worth getting to the station before your train is advertised. Trains will be busy well into the evening, up until 1945-2000. The 1818 is operated by a 4 car 165 formation.

You won't find many 168's operating to or from Aylesbury during peak hours. These units contain less seats than 165's and only circulate on these trains through ad hoc operational requirements.

 

[Mojo]

I used to travel Aylesbury to Marylebone frequently, and my Mum did it daily for 30 years until 2006.

You're always okay leaving Aylesbury, but leaving Marylebone in the evening from what I remember the trains were packed out with travellers going to stations south of Amersham. Trains were sometimes cancelled or delayed in order to avoid upsetting the Birmingham passengers by running short formed trains, but worst of all was how Chiltern Railways left it until the last possible moment to announce a platform number, leading to a rush down the platform. Once they even taped on some cardboard to the edge of the screens so you couldn't see the platform numbers from the gateline, after many complaints it was removed.

The good thing about Aylesbury is it's close also to Tring station (only if you have a car) so if there are engineering works, or you get bored of the scenery you can change your route.

Basically, don't necessarily expect a seat on your way back south of Amersham, and be aware that Chiltern don't treat the Aylesbury passengers as well as the mob on the other line.

 

[Geezertronic]

...but worst of all was how Chiltern Railways left it until the last possible moment to announce a platform number, leading to a rush down the platform.

That's not just a Chiltern or a Marylebone thing

 

[Mojo]

That's not just a Chiltern or a Marylebone thing

I know it happens on a lot of Intercity routes, but when my Mum switched to Silverlink she was pleasantly surprised that the platforms are announced in plenty of time, with the cleaner going through the train whilst passengers are still on it.

 

[route:oxford]

Depends on where you live in Aylesbury - it can sometimes be quicker to drive to H&T parkway and get the fast service from there.

Always good to travel with Chiltern.

 

[sammyg901]

ah well, a table and a laptop point is out the question then. I've done a couple of ad-hoc journeys over the years in the evening peak and definitely had a 168. though we were leaving people behind at Harrow so they defiantly aren't suited stock for the route I guess!

I've just noticed there is a 19.09 limited stop so that'll be the other train I'll get home. I think that is just a 2-car 165? I've used it a few times on Fridays and got a seat though.

the late announcing is annoying but a feature of most London terminals, certainly at Victoria 2-3 minutes is common on some services. Just have elbows at the ready
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
H&T at the moment would work out slightly longer and involve driving, whereas now I can cycle or use the Purple Route bus for free with my season. However with the "mainline" project it would be worth considering I think if you live on the right side of town.

 

[Voyager 2093]

'Sammyg901' I would love to help you, but I cannot remember the exact timings of the 168 workings.What I do know is between Monday and Friday there are at least two 168 workings each day. The traction generally are the 168/1s but there are some 168/2 workings and you'd be very lucky to get a 168/0 working. All I can tell you is some workings may not stop at Amersham and some may be non stop from Aylesbury to Harrow on the Hill.

There are some working that only call at Chorleywood or Chalfont & Latimer then non stop to Harrow on the Hill but some services dont even call at Harrow on the Hill.

Really hope this helps.

 

[150219]

'Sammyg901' I would love to help you, but I cannot remember the exact timings of the 168 workings.What I do know is between Monday and Friday there are at least two 168 workings each day. The traction generally are the 168/1s but there are some 168/2 workings and you'd be very lucky to get a 168/0 working. All I can tell you is some workings may not stop at Amersham and some may be non stop from Aylesbury to Harrow on the Hill.

168 diagrams are designed for their 3 or 4 car formations and is not tied down to sub classes. For example, you may find that the 2118 from Marylebone is operated either by 168001, 168107 or 168215. It's just luck of the draw!

The diagrammed moves are *generally* first thing in the morning and last thing at night and via H Wycombe.

 

[Chilterns Dan]

As others have said, we only get 165s on the Aylesbury branch during peak, although you do occasionally see the 168s offpeak.

Can't comment on the loading from Aylesbury, however I do know that many travelling from South of Amersham stations complain of Chiltern services being busy.

Travelling from Marylebone, some services are advertised in good time, but I'd certainly plan on getting to the train a good 10 mins in advance to allow choice of seats - or a seat at all.

It's possibly true that Chiltern give priority to commuters on their 'main line'. Certainly the shared stations on the Aylesbury line are given lower priority than those from stations that are Chiltern only.

 

[barrykas]

The main cause of overcrowding on Chiltern's "Met" services is the timetabling. Because Chiltern's trains are faster than the LU Mets, people cram themselves onto Chiltern services (which can be a maximum of 6 cars, 5 if stopping at Rickmansworth) whilst 8 car Mets run half empty. (Possibly a slight exaggeration)

As for trains not being advertised 'til shortly before departure, that's primarily down to Chiltern mostly being a two track railway, and Marylebone only having 6 platforms, so you end up with multiple trains in the same platform. Planned examples in the current timetable include the 17:06/17:16, 17:33/17:44/17:51 and 18:09/18:18.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[alexjames]

I commute against the main flows between Harrow and Ricky.

Most Chiltern trains out of Marylebone in the evening peak are rammed to Harrow and seem to improve from Ricky onwards. Thats the slow ones. There is a smattering of faster ones that do not seem to be so full. So I suggest you aim at those. As mentioned above, all the fast trains from Baker Street/Marylebone to Harrow are Chiltern thus they are crammed. The alternative "fast" Underground trains take significantly longer because they all stop at Finchley Road and, I think, are prevented for timetabling reasons (and/or knackered signalling and track) from travelling at a decent speed between FR and Harrow. An occasional trip on the last underground train of the evening to Harrow or beyond (or the last train of the driver's shift) will demonstrate that the rolling stock can travel a lot faster than it does at the peak flows. But thats no great help to the regular commuter.

 

[sammyg901]

thanks for the help everyone

My experiences of the stoppers generally have been uncomfortably full, and if anything has gone wrong on the Met then they are crush loaded, so will definitely be aiming for the limited stop runs.

I just wish they'd run one around 8ish - the schedule isn't really built for the modern commuter. Same on Southern - 8pm is when they start running 4-car units around and reducing services when it really hasn't got very quiet!

 

[ungreat]

Hi

I'm just about to start commuting Aylesbury - London Marylebone. Just wondering if anyone had any tips?

?

Thanks

Yeah..turn up more than 5 seconds before departure....GN passengers dont seem to be able to do this and then report the driver for a fail to call...you know who you are!!