First Train from Ely to Cambridge on a Sunday

[bspahh]

In recent years, the first train on a Sunday morning from Ely to Cambridge has been about 9am, which gets to Kings Cross after 10am, Stansted at 11 and after 12 for Heathrow and Gatwick.

I just checked on RealTimeTrains which has times for last weekend and through to October. These are the times of the first departure on a Sunday morning from Ely to Cambridge. For some of these there is a replacement bus service. However, a number of them have an extra train that leaves Ely at 07:57.

2023-04-09 08:28 Bus
2023-04-16 07:57 Train
2023-04-23 08:57 Train
2023-04-30 08:57 Train
2023-05-07 08:16 Bus
2023-05-14 09:06 Bus
2023-05-21 07:57 Train
2023-05-28 08:57 Train
2023-06-04 07:57 Train
2023-06-11 08:00 Train
2023-06-18 08:57 Train

I checked the rest of June and July and the first departure was 08.57 for all them.

Is there going to an earlier train in the long term?

 

[Magdalia]

The 0757 departure from Ely only runs when it terminates at Cambridge because of engineering work.

There are lots of engineering blocks at weekends for work on resignalling and building Cambridge South.

So, although you get an earlier start from Ely when the 0757 runs, you don't get an earlier arrival in London because you have to get a rail replacement bus from Cambridge.

 

[bspahh]

Thats a shame.

I might use that with an Anglia Day Ranger, to walk from Berney Arms.

The 7:57 means Ely-Cambridge-Ipswich-Norwich connects with the same train to Berney Arms that you get with the first direct Ely-Norwich train.

 

[MikeWM]

The very late start for Ely trains on a Sunday is a continual complaint of mine, as I've mentioned many times on here! The first Cambridge train is invariably very busy too, so there doesn't appear to be a lack of demand for an earlier start.

Is there anywhere of similar size or larger in the south-east, with substantial regular London traffic, that has a later first Sunday arrival into London? I'm struggling to find any.

 

[dk1]

The whole Sunday service on this route is a mess and has been for many years. The 2-3 trains in each direction all run within 10-13 minutes of each other in both directions then nothing for 47-50.

 

[MikeWM]

The whole Sunday service on this route is a mess and has been for many years. The 2-3 trains in each direction all run within 10-13 minutes of each other in both directions then nothing for 47-50.

Yes, that's one of the other things I regularly moan about We really do need earlier and better-distributed services on a Sunday.

 

[dk1]

Yes, that's one of the other things I regularly moan about We really do need earlier and better-distributed services on a Sunday.

GA have been running an extra 4 Norwich-Cambridge services each way making it half hourly for some of the day but that’s only during GEML engineering blockades to assist the chronic crowding across the Breckland.