BUSY 1935 Waterloo - Weymouth

[antharro]

I'm on the 1935 Weymouth fast from Waterloo. It's absolutely rammed tonight, even in the front few carriages which are usually much quieter. There are just a handful of seats left in the leading carriage which is usually more than half empty. Anyone got any idea what's going on tonight?

 

[ValleyLines142]

It appears to be just 444040 alone on the service, which I believe is the normal formation.

I imagine it's probably just because of half term, and it's probably just a mix of later commuters or day trippers heading home from the capital. It's affecting pretty much everywhere. I was on 158960 on the 1030 Cardiff to Portsmouth this morning and there were no seats left upon departure from Newport which was only the second stop! One poor woman, who was travelling to Southampton (a good three hours from Cardiff), had to sit on her case until Bristol!

 

[bigdelboy]

This is probably one of the first trains one can use after the rush hour if one has a super off peak ticket ..... in half term there may be more than usual holders of such tickets ....

 

[tsr]

This week seems to have had a more pronounced impact compared to various previous half terms I remember, and I have certainly seen some unusually busy and also exceedingly quiet trains on the Southern network. I can't really speak for other TOCs. It does seem that many commuters who are usually able to commute flexibly on trains around the end of the AM peak have decided not to take any chances, and have travelled a bit earlier to avoid any over-enthusiastic holiday traffic. This is probably wise in some areas, and a bit of an overreaction in others! Reading through various things on social media, I get the impression that most regular commuters are acutely aware of half term traffic and trying to squeeze on at more traditional times.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Signalling issues again between Southampton and Brockenhurst, have been causing delays as well.

 

[Kite159]

High number of passengers holding the Half-Price SWT half-term specials? Treated as Super off-peak and banned from leaving London between 16:00 and 19:00

 

[SpacePhoenix]

This is probably one of the first trains one can use after the rush hour if one has a super off peak ticket ..... in half term there may be more than usual holders of such tickets ....

Was there no spare unit that could have been coupled to the scheduled unit (can a 450 be used with a 444 in normal service?)?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Was there no spare unit that could have been coupled to the scheduled unit (can a 450 be used with a 444 in normal service?)?

They have in the past and there are still some ECS moves but I'm not sure if any passenger services still do, but then if it wasn't rammed as in full and standing then a single 444 would have been fine.

To be fair, the 1905 from Waterloo was a pair of 444s (444006 + 444032).

 

[Kite159]

Just be thankful it was a 444 and not one of the 450 services which goes to Weymouth.

 

[47832]

I was on the delayed 07:55 from Weymouth to London Waterloo which had people standing from Brockenhurst.

The guard did a very good job asking people to put children on laps and that could parents stop their children from running about in the aisles.

The guard stated that the train was so busy due to the half price half term offer.

By the time I got to Woking (20 odd minutes late) it was chocca even though it was a 10 carriage train.

 

[Be3G]

Presumably, what's also not helped is the rather unseasonable weather we've been having lately in London. It's probably meant there've been considerably more leisure trips than there would normally be during the October half term.

 

[hassaanhc]

They have in the past and there are still some ECS moves but I'm not sure if any passenger services still do, but then if it wasn't rammed as in full and standing then a single 444 would have been fine.

To be fair, the 1905 from Waterloo was a pair of 444s (444006 + 444032).

The 1905 is usually 450+444! (450 at Country End)
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Just be thankful it was a 444 and not one of the 450 services which goes to Weymouth.

*cough* 1W62 1320 Weymouth to London Waterloo due 1620! :P
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Presumably, what's also not helped is the rather unseasonable weather we've been having lately in London. It's probably meant there've been considerably more leisure trips than there would normally be during the October half term.

Yeah I think that is a factor. Tower Hill has had issues with overcrowding all week. Pretty sure concourse at Waterloo at 1625 was busier than normal!

 

[antharro]

A lot of passengers got off at Winchester and Southampton Central, but the train was still busy at Bournemouth. I had forgotten it was half term week, which would definitely account for the number of family groups travelling.

It was made up of 444040 (country end) and 444014 (London end, detached at BMH).

 

[rick9525]

I was in London this week, Tower Hill was incredibly busy due to the Poppy display which was the reason I was there on Monday and today it was down as exit only due to crowd control. On Sunday the 18:15 slow train to Reading was rammed as well though I only went as far as H and H.
I agree a very warm half term is making areas of London as busy as any Summers day. It is having a similar effect in Manchester making the 2 and 3 coach trains busy even on Sunday morning.

 

[nottinghamcity]

I catch 1Y22 once a month between Birmingham New Street and Tile Hill. It forms the first off peak LM London train. It is normally reasonably quiet, but at school holidays becomes the "kindergarten express"!

 

[Drsatan]

The 'figure of six' services from Salisbury to Romsey via Southampton Central are much busier during off-peak times when it's half term.

 

[lj9090]

High number of passengers holding the Half-Price SWT half-term specials? Treated as Super off-peak and banned from leaving London between 16:00 and 19:00

I'd say so; they've been getting busier and busier as the week's gone on. Those tickets are actually treated as First Off Peak for times, so morning is as per Off Peak but gain the Super Off Peak evening restrictions.

The 10 car 07:59 from Bournemouth, 1W94, was full and standing departing Bournemouth yesterday, first time I've ever seen that happen. The front 5 waiting at Bournemouth managed to fill up even before the back half arrived to join it, leaving a sizeable crowd waiting on the platform hoping the back half was emptier.

It was quite surprisingly back to normal this morning though, which was puzzling.

 

[ushawk]

The first super off-peak Southern trains from the Coast to London and the return journeys in the evening have been full and standing on a lot of occasions with 1st class being declassified on a fair few of them as well.

Its always been the case at school holiday time, trouble is that the extra coaches are often away from London at the beginning of the exodus - so there is no extra coaches.

 

[LeylandLen]

BBC TV London News said large unexpected crowds at Tower of London to see the poppies ; urging people to stay away and maybe go next week. Its been warmest Halloween in London since records began they say. Obviously London's a big attraction at half term. I imagine trains about now 1900 out of London will be VERY busy adding to the normal Friday rush . At least the public are using trains as opposed to driving . No doubt Sat and Sun trains will be unusually busy. Hope the occasional travellers get a good impression tho I doubt it if overcrowding is an issue.

 

[trainophile]

Michael Portillo and the East Coast and FGW documentary series have a lot to answer for!

People are trying the train, liking it, and using it more and more. Hardly surprising when you weigh up the pros and cons against driving on today's manic roads.