Cross Country to Southampton Airport?

[gswindale]

We are going away in early June from Southampton and I'm looking at getting one of the early saturday morning trains from Reading.

What are the passenger loads on these services likely to be & is it worth trying to upgrade to a "weekend first" ticket if available on the day (my research into fares suggests 1st is way too pricey by default!)?

Thanks in advance

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I'll admit I am only guessing because I don't know that part of the country especially well, but early on a Saturday morning in June (so no football will be on) should be fine. You will get a seat if you make a reservation when buying tickets.

 

[Drsatan]

Like the previous poster, I can't comment on how busy the service will be, since passenger loadings on XC services fluctuate considerably depending on the time of day and place (I've been on XC services that are very quiet and full & standing)

However, in first class, all you'll receive will be a free cup of tea or coffee.

 

[Simon11]

I'll admit I am only guessing because I don't know that part of the country especially well, but early on a Saturday morning in June (so no football will be on) should be fine. You will get a seat if you make a reservation when buying tickets.

It will depend though on the cruise ships from southampton. Southampton port website let's you know shipping movements but they may not release info that far.
Also, would depend if there was any engineering work.

 

[paul1609]

We are going away in early June from Southampton and I'm looking at getting one of the early saturday morning trains from Reading.

What are the passenger loads on these services likely to be & is it worth trying to upgrade to a "weekend first" ticket if available on the day (my research into fares suggests 1st is way too pricey by default!)?

Thanks in advance

Early on a Saturday morning you wont have a problem getting a seat. First Class isnt worth it on such a short journey.
By and large XC trains seem to mostly empty and then refill at reading Id guess that no more than 25% of the seats have been filled on a through journey in my experience.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

We are going away in early June from Southampton and I'm looking at getting one of the early saturday morning trains from Reading.

What are the passenger loads on these services likely to be & is it worth trying to upgrade to a "weekend first" ticket if available on the day (my research into fares suggests 1st is way too pricey by default!)?

Thanks in advance

Cheaper advance tickets (sold on a quota basis) are released in the weeks preceding each day- (some of the other forum members may have more intricate knowledge of the process though) and these include advance 1st-class fares. As you know when you'll be travelling advance tickets may be an option, as you don't need the flexibility of walk-up fares- Plus, you'll have reservations on the off-chance that it's packed out! You might even find a 1st-class advance to be cheaper than the cheapest standard-class fare! Had that a few times as a student travelling between Ormskirk (via Preston) and Taunton.

 

[Lrd]

For a Saturday Morning coming South it should be fairly quiet, it gets quite busy going north in the mornings.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Cruises from Southampton in June:

June 1st 5 ships
June 8th 4 ships
June 15th 5 ships
June 22nd 2 ships
June 29th 4 ships

All those dates have the potential to be very busy (excluding 22nd).

 

[wintonian]

However, in first class, all you'll receive will be a free cup of tea or coffee.

South of Reading thats very unlikley during the week let alone at weekends!

What you do however get is a larger seat in 1+2 formation and there will most likley be no more than 2/ 3 other passengers in the coach From Winchester I have often been the only person in it and at others there has been a handfull of pepole.