Reading - Basingstoke stoppers

[pompeyfan]

I noticed last night that there was a Reading - Basingstoke stopping service operated by SWR?

Realtime Trains | 1J65 1957 Reading to Basingstoke | 02/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 1J65 1957 departure from Reading to Basingstoke on 02/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Is this an error with the data feed or are SWR now operating some stopping services between Reading and Basingstoke?

 

[swt_passenger]

I noticed last night that there was a Reading - Basingstoke stopping service operated by SWR?

Realtime Trains | 1J65 1957 Reading to Basingstoke | 02/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 1J65 1957 departure from Reading to Basingstoke on 02/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Is this an error with the data feed or are SWR now operating some stopping services between Reading and Basingstoke?

It was an STP - 2 Dec only. I’d assume it was a reaction to a GW gap in service? The GW version of the service runs in those times as 2J65, (which is why I couldn’t initially find the service tonight or Monday).

 

[pompeyfan]

Okay thank you. Is this a common thing? As in TOCs covering other TOCs services?

 

[swt_passenger]

Okay thank you. Is this a common thing? As in TOCs covering other TOCs services?

It’s unusual but not unheard of. IIRC the incoming SWR service is more of a route retention service, but does carry passengers towards Reading, so has a guard but normally returns as 5Y73 to Salisbury ECS. In this case the STP path seems to have been created at 1857, so one hour before. The GWR 2J65 seems to have been cancelled ‘unknown cause’.

Then checking the SWR 5Y73 ECS for the 2nd, it shows as cancelled Reading to Basingstoke, then starting at Basingstoke towards Salisbury as you’d expect.

 

[adc82140]

This has got me thinking: if a driver has route knowledge over a certain bit of track, but their TOC never normally stops at intermediate stations, do they require a route conductor for unusual station calls, or does that knowledge cover braking points for those stations by default anyway?

 

[pompeyfan]

It’s unusual but not unheard of. IIRC the incoming SWR service is more of a route retention service, but does carry passengers towards Reading, so has a guard but normally returns as 5Y73 to Salisbury ECS. In this case the STP path seems to have been created at 1857, so one hour before. The GWR 2J65 seems to have been cancelled ‘unknown cause’.

Then checking the SWR 5Y73 ECS for the 2nd, it shows as cancelled Reading to Basingstoke, then starting at Basingstoke towards Salisbury as you’d expect.

It’s nice to see some rare collaborative thinking. I’d be interested to hear of any other times that TOCs have run services for another operator at short notice. I can’t see GWR running additional services along the Netley line for example (although I don’t think they have many route retention trips to be fair to them)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Dec 2025 ==

This has got me thinking: if a driver has route knowledge over a certain bit of track, but their TOC never normally stops at intermediate stations, do they require a route conductor for unusual station calls, or does that knowledge cover braking points for those stations by default anyway?

I would hope drivers would know where the braking points are for stations in the same way they know the braking points for signals that could be showing danger.

 

[swt_passenger]

It’s nice to see some rare collaborative thinking. I’d be interested to hear of any other times that TOCs have run services for another operator at short notice. I can’t see GWR running additional services along the Netley line for example (although I don’t think they have many route retention trips to be fair to them)

In the recent past, ie about 5 or 6 years ago, I think GWR ran a couple of late evening passenger route retention services via Parkway and Eastleigh (reverse), with no calls, but they then gradually added station calls in one or both directions, eg at Botley and Hedge End.

But for many years before that FGW and then GWR had diverted via Eastleigh whenever the Southampton area was closed for engineering works, and on those occasions they also picked up the Chandlers Ford (CFR) calls. IIRC they maintained route knowledge via CFR with at least an early class 5 ECS, and presumably that covered the ability to stop at CFR. But I don’t remember how the southbound route knowledge via CFR was maintained.

 

[pdeaves]

As a general matter of interest, SWR runs Reading-Basingstoke hourly through the middle of the day on Sundays.

 

[Dieseldriver]

This has got me thinking: if a driver has route knowledge over a certain bit of track, but their TOC never normally stops at intermediate stations, do they require a route conductor for unusual station calls, or does that knowledge cover braking points for those stations by default anyway?

If you sign the route then you could be required to stop at any station on that route. Obviously if you have never stopped at a particular station before or only stop there infrequently, you will likely approach it much more defensively.

 

[greaterwest]

Okay thank you. Is this a common thing? As in TOCs covering other TOCs services?

It's been known to happen before and especially between GWR and SWR - one such example is the evening GWR Barnstaple to Axminster train running as a passenger service back to Exeter Central instead of Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) if SWR have service disruption on the West of England line. In fact, this train was timetabled to do so during the Crewkerne Soil Moisture Deficit timetable (which has only just changed back to the standard hourly service) - more on that here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...from-28th-july-re-opening-11th-august.289792/

SWR have also run ECS trains as passenger services between Westbury and Salisbury during periods of GWR disruption.

I can’t see GWR running additional services along the Netley line for example (although I don’t think they have many route retention trips to be fair to them)

GWR have made extra stops at Netley line stations in the past although they are never usually booked to, and even have a route retention ECS train via Havant which runs on Wednesday evenings.

I recall that a few years ago, GWR had booked stops at Swanwick for about a week, I think this was due to Southern withdrawing their services that week for some reason or other?

As a general matter of interest, SWR runs Reading-Basingstoke hourly through the middle of the day on Sundays.

But not stopping at intermediate stations. SWR are never booked to stop at those stations.

 

[adc82140]

If you sign the route then you could be required to stop at any station on that route. Obviously if you have never stopped at a particular station before or only stop there infrequently, you will likely approach it much more defensively.

Thank you. As an industry outsider I'm always interested to find out how things work from within.

 

[pdeaves]

But not stopping at intermediate stations. SWR are never booked to stop at those stations.

Of course. I didn't intend to imply intermediate stops, just use of the line.

 

[pompeyfan]

It's been known to happen before and especially between GWR and SWR - one such example is the evening GWR Barnstaple to Axminster train running as a passenger service back to Exeter Central instead of Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) if SWR have service disruption on the West of England line. In fact, this train was timetabled to do so during the Crewkerne Soil Moisture Deficit timetable (which has only just changed back to the standard hourly service) - more on that here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...from-28th-july-re-opening-11th-august.289792/

SWR have also run ECS trains as passenger services between Westbury and Salisbury during periods of GWR disruption.


GWR have made extra stops at Netley line stations in the past although they are never usually booked to, and even have a route retention ECS train via Havant which runs on Wednesday evenings.

I recall that a few years ago, GWR had booked stops at Swanwick for about a week, I think this was due to Southern withdrawing their services that week for some reason or other?


But not stopping at intermediate stations. SWR are never booked to stop at those stations.

I think we’re on about different things, as last night was a completely new train at very short notice as opposed to a preplanned additional or additional calls, but I get your point.

 

[cle]

Is there a reason why that service isn’t more regular throughout the week?

Would seem a useful way to add frequency between the Basingstoke and Salisbury main stations (and connections) - without a spare London path. Also Reading has many commuters etc too.

 

[50018_Reso]

Is there a reason why that service isn’t more regular throughout the week?

Would seem a useful way to add frequency between the Basingstoke and Salisbury main stations (and connections) - without a spare London path. Also Reading has many commuters etc too.

Presume due to conflict with many other paths including freight and allow some slack at Southcote Jnct for notoriously late running trains up from the desert.

 

[Stephen42]

Is there a reason why that service isn’t more regular throughout the week?

Would seem a useful way to add frequency between the Basingstoke and Salisbury main stations (and connections) - without a spare London path. Also Reading has many commuters etc too.

On other days there are two London Waterloo services an hour. On Sundays there's one Waterloo and one Reading an hour until late afternoon. The second Waterloo diverts to Reading which saves time and reduces paths at the London end. Excluding Sunday there is 2tph on the GW shuttle as well rather than 1tph. The stock and traincrew probably don't exist for anything more regular unless prepared to worsen existing London services.

 

[Forty29]

So was a class 159 used or was the normal turbo unit but crewed by SWR, l' m guessing the former if it was extended to Axminster?

 

[fandroid]

We get a better fast Basingstoke to Reading service on Sundays than we get in the rest of the week!

Yes, they are normally 159 units, not turbos.

 

[Jimini]

We get a better fast Basingstoke to Reading service on Sundays than we get in the rest of the week!

Yes, they are normally 159 units, not turbos.

...and a list of glamorous destinations from Reading available direct only on Sundays!

 

[greaterwest]

I think we’re on about different things, as last night was a completely new train at very short notice as opposed to a preplanned additional or additional calls, but I get your point.

The SWR Westbury to Salisbury ECS move runs daily as does the GWR Axminster to Exeter TMD and these trains have been run at short notice as passenger trains in the past.

I believe SWR have run short notice and completely additional trains between Basingstoke and Reading in the past during times of GWR disruption but I can't pick out a specific recent example.

The Soil Moisture Deficit example was simply a further example of another TOC covering a service, but long-ish term.

 

[Kite159]

So was a class 159 used or was the normal turbo unit but crewed by SWR, l' m guessing the former if it was extended to Axminster?

Would have been the 159 which would have worked the 18:47 Salisbury to Reading service (showing as 159005).

As for the Axminster GWR train, that would have been crewed by GWR crew using either a 150 or 158, I'm pretty sure Turbos are not cleared between Exmouth Junction & Axminster/Yeovil Pen Mill. Normally that unit does a route refresher trip from Axminster to Castle Cary & returns to Exeter but during the temporary timetable on the West of England line it instead worked back to Exeter.

 

[sh24]

GWR and Cross-Country will help one another out in the West of England. It's like a proper railway!

 

[Starmill]

This has got me thinking: if a driver has route knowledge over a certain bit of track, but their TOC never normally stops at intermediate stations, do they require a route conductor for unusual station calls, or does that knowledge cover braking points for those stations by default anyway?

As others have said this is covered. Chiltern never had a need to stop at Moor Park for example, but the driver could still stop there if asked to as part of an emergency for example.

 

[800301]

This has got me thinking: if a driver has route knowledge over a certain bit of track, but their TOC never normally stops at intermediate stations, do they require a route conductor for unusual station calls, or does that knowledge cover braking points for those stations by default anyway?

As other drivers have said, their route knowledge should include all intermediate stops. One notable journey is 1K32 2230 Paddington to Bedwyn, Monday to Thursdays, it's normally operated by either Paddington HSS or Bristol Parkway HSS, on a Friday it's operated by Paddington GWR.

This service stops at all stations from Reading to Bedwyn as a normal stopping service; stations such as Midgham and Aldermaston are only served by HSS drivers on this journey unless some major disruption is going on. Some drivers enjoy doing this job more than others