FGW At Eastleigh

[forty_two]

On Monday at about 22:15 I saw an FGW 159 heading through Eastleigh towards the Portsmouth line whilst another FGW 158 was stopped with doors open in platform 3, though it did not appear to be in service. (Was not there long enough to see where it left to.)

I was under the impression that all FGW services go the other way after Romsey (via Redbridge) and there was no published engineering work on that date. So, can anyone explain what they were doing there? Are these regular movements?

 

[Hydro]

It's a regular diversion route. There may have been problems or emergency engineering work. FGW run between Soton and Fareham via Swanwick and Netley, but they go via Botley and Eastleigh in times of disruption or engineering work.

 

[thefab444]

2M95 21:23 Portsmouth Harbour - Westbury and 1F99 19:30 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour. Both booked via Eastleigh for route knowledge.

 

[forty_two]

2M95 21:23 Portsmouth Harbour - Westbury and 1F99 19:30 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour. Both booked via Eastleigh for route knowledge.

Thanks. So these two go to/from Portsmouth via Hedge End, then reverse at Eastleigh for the Southampton call?

 

[MCR247]

Yes they do

 

[swt_passenger]

The FGW services via Eastleigh don't have booked calls there, so can only be found in the timetable by the extra running time between Fareham and Southampton Central. Hence I wouldn't bank on using one to/from Easteigh...

What I was wondering, is how FGW drivers maintain their route knowledge for Romsey - Chandlers Ford - Eastleigh, which AFAICS they are doing again every weekend in January while the Southampton S&C renewal goes on?

 

[thefab444]

Good question, before December '07 there used to be an early afternoon ECS from Southampton to Southampton via Chandler's Ford/Redbridge.