GWR to use Euston

[The exile]

That’s because commuters became savvy to that. Its unlikely many people will be able to work it out given these closures are a rare occurrence.



Trains to Penzance/Plymouth are pretty much hourly from Paddington on weekends so why would an hourly service from Euston be any more busy compared to those from Paddington?

Surely the point is that there are only goi g to be 2 tph from London to anywhere long-distance GWR so they are going to be crammed with people travelling through to South Wales & the Southwest, (and changing off the S Wales for Bristol via Bath). That latter fact would mean that only the Penzance services have a chance of having capacity. Just imagine the EUS - Reading loadings if there is just one fast per hour. Agree, however, that its tough on anyone starting at Reading and heading for Cornwall.

 

[Tim456]

That’s because commuters became savvy to that. Its unlikely many people will be able to work it out given these closures are a rare occurrence.

I don’t think it’s a risk, however small, that GWR are prepared to take.

There's still the bi-hourly semi fasts to Exeter/Paignton/Plymouth starting at Reading with a change at either Exeter or Plymouth for those travelling to Cornwall.

 

[DelW]

Surely the point is that there are only goi g to be 2 tph from London to anywhere long-distance GWR so they are going to be crammed with people travelling through to South Wales & the Southwest, (and changing off the S Wales for Bristol via Bath). That latter fact would mean that only the Penzance services have a chance of having capacity. Just imagine the EUS - Reading loadings if there is just one fast per hour. Agree, however, that its tough on anyone starting at Reading and heading for Cornwall.

Or indeed changing from the North Downs line to go to Wales, as I might otherwise have been doing on one of these Sundays. I'll either be travelling on a different day, or more likely driving instead. Nearly all the Sunday train journeys I've made this year have been either delayed, disrupted, or heavily overcrowded.

 

[sh24]

One slightly niche point, e-ticketing is suppressed for these diversions. Just booked via the forum ticketing page and TOD is the only option.

 

[OscarH]

One slightly niche point, e-ticketing is suppressed for these diversions. Just booked via the forum ticketing page and TOD is the only option.

What was the ticket (or if you have a search link that's also great)? There's a good chance it isn't intentional and a quirk of how eTicketability works with group stations

 

[sh24]

What was the ticket (or if you have a search link that's also great)? There's a good chance it isn't intentional and a quirk of how eTicketability works with group stations

It was a First advance, Euston to Plymouth. Did seem rather quirky!

 

[OscarH]

It was a First advance, Euston to Plymouth. Did seem rather quirky!

Yeah, although those W1*/W2* advances are issued to London Terminals, it's only the flow to Paddington exactly that's enabled, not the general London Terminals flow, so no eTickets for Euston diverts. It's probably an oversight more than anything else, but eTicket data is probably the least of their concerns with diverts.

 

[sh24]

Yeah, although those W1*/W2* advances are issued to London Terminals, it's only the flow to Paddington exactly that's enabled, not the general London Terminals flow, so no eTickets for Euston diverts. It's probably an oversight more than anything else, but eTicket data is probably the least of their concerns with diverts.

Very interesting, thanks. As you say plenty to arrange with these, and frankly I'm grateful they are making the effort to divert. Collecting a TOD is a very small price to pay.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Yeah, although those W1*/W2* advances are issued to London Terminals, it's only the flow to Paddington exactly that's enabled, not the general London Terminals flow, so no eTickets for Euston diverts. It's probably an oversight more than anything else, but eTicket data is probably the least of their concerns with diverts.

Hopefully having flagged it up here, GWR's Pricing Team will have spotted it and make the necessary updates.

 

[Chiltern006]

Don’t know about you but I got a paper ticket just for the “can say I did this” sorta thing…

 

[-Colly405-]

Track fault at Acton.
1Z10 0834 BPW-EUS cancelled from RDG

 

[father_jack]

Track fault at Acton.
1Z10 0834 BPW-EUS cancelled from RDG

Indeed, some disappointed cranks being told at Reading to take Elizabeth line that's shut anyway from Ealing Broadway. Last pick up from Wales/Bristol is Swindon so having to go back and try again.

 

[zero]

How is the boarding process at Euston, are compulsory reservations being enforced / is there an unreserved carriage?

The first train out of Euston (1Z71 at 0833) also got cancelled as the set which formed 1Z10 was used to start 1Z71 from Reading instead of whatever the original plan was

 

[Oxfordblues]

I wonder if my Western Region status pass would be valid to Euston (which is on the erstwhile London Midland Region)?

 

[norbitonflyer]

(Tranferred from another thread)
Why are the trains timed as Voyagers in the down direction between Euston and Ealing Broadway, but as 16x DMUs in the other direction (except for 1Z16 which is timed as if Loco hauled). Why the difference?

 

[-Colly405-]

Indeed, some disappointed cranks being told at Reading to take Elizabeth line that's shut anyway from Ealing Broadway. Last pick up from Wales/Bristol is Swindon so having to go back and try again.

We ended up in SWR into Waterloo.
It seems sorted now so hopefully the return will be ok.

 

[Vexed]

How is the boarding process at Euston, are compulsory reservations being enforced / is there an unreserved carriage?

I just walked on at Euston without any checks for the 0933, then a ticket check on board. There was a carriage that had no reservations in it, I think it was G as normal but not 100% sure.

It wasn't fully reserved, maybe 50-60%. There were a lot of GWR staff around at Euston so they might enforce reservations and coach G might end up reserved for busier services at more sociable times, for a Sunday.

Attached is a photo of a GWR IET next to an Avanti Pendilino at Euston.

 

[sh24]

All very straightforward. There is even a friendly welcome to GWR passengers on the outdoor screens. I'm on the 14:33 to Plymouth, so watched the slightly delayed boarding of the 14:16 Swansea. It was called at 14:12 so a bit of the Euston rush in evidence but no shouty Euston staff yelling, instead some helpful GWR people giving reassurance and pointing passengers the right way.

Well done GWR for running a railway, not just a profit centre. Bravo.

Photo 1 - Euston departure board showing Swansea and Plymouth trains
Photo 2 - 2 x IET in the platforms
Photo 3 - Euston to Plymouth seat reservation

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

(Tranferred from another thread)
Why are the trains timed as Voyagers in the down direction between Euston and Ealing Broadway, but as 16x DMUs in the other direction (except for 1Z16 which is timed as if Loco hauled). Why the difference?

This weekend the timetable is using provisional sectional timings that have been adjusted to reflect the trial running from a few months back. The use of 221 / 16x timing loads is just a convenience.

The diversions at Christmas and thereafter will be planned with the fully calculated and agreed 80x timings in the proper timing loads.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Photo 1 - Euston departure board showing Swansea and Plymouth trains

Swansea (meaning Victoria) I think used to be on the Euston arch as one of the LNWR destinations, reached via Stafford, Shrewsbury and Llandovery.
I don't think Plymouth has ever been a destination from Euston.

 

[The Planner]

(Tranferred from another thread)
Why are the trains timed as Voyagers in the down direction between Euston and Ealing Broadway, but as 16x DMUs in the other direction (except for 1Z16 which is timed as if Loco hauled). Why the difference?

The same reason why most things are timed when they do it for the first time are, no timings exist for them. You can either copy a different timing load, knowing its a right side failure and alter them later, or just use something else that allows you to get the path in. If you saw the randomness that appears in some freight paths this is a drop in the ocean.

 

[sh24]

It's a very slow trip from the WCML to GWML. I had wondered why the goods loops behind Acton Main Line were being used and it looks like some electrification works were blocking the immediate connection off the incline onto the slow lines. The Ealing Broadway "stop" is purely to change from diesel to overhead, and Reading is for a driver, guard and catering crew change (and I assume the GBRf conductors too). Passenger doors were not released at Ealing, they were at Reading but I imagine hellfire and damnation await if you tried to board or alight.

Catering arrangements have changed. Supplies are loaded at Reading, and the legs to/from Euston are used for crews to breakdown/set up trolleys. Normal service after departing Reading.

Looks like there is a Europhoenix 37 Thunderbird parked at Hayes & Harlington too, just in case.

All good fun and I'm grateful to be able to get to Plymouth on one train, in comfort, with no replacement bus.

 

[Class15]

Saw a few of these today at Primrose Hill and they were surprisingly not very busy - anyone know why? As there were only 2tph I would have expected more people on board.

 

[-Colly405-]

It's a very slow trip from the WCML to GWML. I had wondered why the goods loops behind Acton Main Line were being used and it looks like some electrification works were blocking the immediate connection off the incline onto the slow lines. The Ealing Broadway "stop" is purely to change from diesel to overhead, and Reading is for a driver, guard and catering crew change (and I assume the GBRf conductors too). Passenger doors were not released at Ealing, they were at Reading but I imagine hellfire and damnation await if you tried to board or alight.

Catering arrangements have changed. Supplies are loaded at Reading, and the legs to/from Euston are used for crews to breakdown/set up trolleys. Normal service after departing Reading.

Looks like there is a Europhoenix 37 Thunderbird parked at Hayes & Harlington too, just in case.

All good fun and I'm grateful to be able to get to Plymouth on one train, in comfort, with no replacement bus.

We stopped at EAL to drop off the GBRF colleague, and RDG for crew change. Passenger doors not released at either.
The power changeover occurred on the move after EAL for us.

 

[dk1]

Apart from the infrastructure hiccup this morning, all seems to have gone very well indeed. Congratulations to all involved in getting this off the ground.

 

[Neil Holland]

Hopefully on the 18:12 EUS to BPW, not sure how rammed will be but we'll see.

 

[MrJeeves]

Hopefully on the 18:12 EUS to BPW, not sure how rammed will be but we'll see.

Hello from the same train! Seems to be okay towards the front but the rear of the train is rather full (except in 1st, where coffee is keeping me awake).

A few minutes late out of Euston but all caught up now before we've even hit Reading.

I'd love to ditch the train at Reading, but out of fear of being accosted (and the risk of the doors not being released) I'll stay on to Swindon and then return to Euston.

 

[Neil Holland]

Hello from the same train! Seems to be okay towards the front but the rear of the train is rather full (except in 1st, where coffee is keeping me awake).

A few minutes late out of Euston but all caught up now before we've even hit Reading.

I'd love to ditch the train at Reading, but out of fear of being accosted (and the risk of the doors not being released) I'll stay on to Swindon and then return to Euston.

Indeed. Hope you enjoyed the trip! I was hoping to follow the exact route but didn't really manage; might have been more informative in daylight

Looking good for connection at BPW.

 

[Bikeman78]

It wouldn't surprise me if additional boarding controls were put in place at Euston as well, with customers not holding seat reservations being last to board and in limited numbers.

That did not appear to be the case. There was a cursory glance at tickets. The train was busy. I sat in coach G which was completely unreserved. As far as I could see, every seat was taken so plenty of people without reservations must have turned up. Regarding Reading, couldn't they make it pick up/set down only? That would deter most people as it would not show on journey planners.

Of note, the train did not go straight to the down relief at the bottom of Acton bank. It ran to the north of Acton Main Line, then along the south side of Acton yard and over the top of the up relief diveunder. Definitely some winner track there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2024 ==

We stopped at EAL to drop off the GBRF colleague, and RDG for crew change. Passenger doors not released at either.
The power changeover occurred on the move after EAL for us.

Same for my train. Pulled away from Ealing Broadway on diesel. Stopped powering after about 10 seconds and then switched to electric.

 

[Tilting007]

Apart from the infrastructure hiccup this morning, all seems to have gone very well indeed. Congratulations to all involved in getting this off the ground.

Broken IBJ Acton West Jn, Down Relief.