Train crowding information - FCC

[CheapAndNerdy]

I was at Blackfriars a few days ago and I noticed a poster indicating how busy services are in and around peak commute times. This information is also available on the FCC website.

Very useful for those of us who can be more flexible in our travel arrangements and who desire a more pleasant journey. Now obviously we expect commuter services to be pretty full, but the posters can be used to more precisely determine which service to catch to avoid standing or crushing.

Do any other TOCs provide this information? I couldn't find anything on Southern's website.

 

[Kite159]

Greater Anglia does:

http://www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/less-busy-trains

 

[TimG]

I was at Blackfriars a few days ago and I noticed a poster indicating how busy services are in and around peak commute times. This information is also available on the FCC website.

Very useful for those of us who can be more flexible in our travel arrangements and who desire a more pleasant journey. Now obviously we expect commuter services to be pretty full, but the posters can be used to more precisely determine which service to catch to avoid standing or crushing.

Do any other TOCs provide this information? I couldn't find anything on Southern's website.

I know that South West Trains used to have posters at stations with similar information.

 

[91103eastcoast]

I think East Coast have something similar.

 

[alex17595]

LM have had one on display at some stations for some time.

 

[andyb2706]

Don't think Northern do.....all they do is agree with the government to ban off peak tickets and rangers during the evening peak as from sometime in September to get the direct franchise extension.

So if you travel after 9:30am you have to be very careful when you plan your return journey. Could this be an attempt to do away with off peak travel totally on Northern Rail because you can never be too sure when you are going to do your return journey.

Is this type of ticketing in use anywhere else in the country? Or is it just another North bashing from Whitehall.

Can I apologise for this rant as it is something I feel strongly about, I remember the old days when BR tried pricing people off the railway to cut back over crowding as the government/Northern original franchise agreement predicted no growth.....7 years on and +40% growth in passenger numbers this seems to me to be in a similar vain as to the BR days.

 

[user15681]

SE used to publish it twice a year a few years ago. Was stopped because it was requiring too much work to produce in the office.

 

[NSEFAN]

Chiltern have such a system too, with posters displayed at stations.

 

[cf111]

I think East Coast have something similar.

They do indeed, you can find it here: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/train-seating-availability/

 

[DarloRich]

I was at Blackfriars a few days ago and I noticed a poster indicating how busy services are in and around peak commute times. This information is also available on the FCC website.

Very useful for those of us who can be more flexible in our travel arrangements and who desire a more pleasant journey. Now obviously we expect commuter services to be pretty full, but the posters can be used to more precisely determine which service to catch to avoid standing or crushing.

Do any other TOCs provide this information? I couldn't find anything on Southern's website.

London Midland have them at Milton Keynes and Bletchley and i asusme eleswhere

 

[FQ]

Chiltern have posters at stations as well.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

London Midland have had these for some time on the Cross City line (Lichfield Trent Valley/City - Birmingham New Street - Redditch/Longbridge). As well as the train loading information they had other useful information such as where to board the train for wheelchair/bicycle space etc.

 

[ac6000cw]

Is this type of ticketing in use anywhere else in the country?

Yes, of course it is - it's a sensible way of managing demand, so you pay more to travel at times when demand is highest.

 

[swt_passenger]

SE used to publish it twice a year a few years ago. Was stopped because it was requiring too much work to produce in the office.

I dare say they also found passenger behaviour wasn't altered, because everyone probably stuck to their preferred train and assumed/hoped that 'someone else' would delay their journey...

 

[northernchris]

Don't think Northern do

Northern do, I've seen posters at Shipley and Bradford Interchange. Can't find anything on their website though

 

[ValleyLines142]

I wish First Great Western would do this but one day you'll get a 158 on one service then the next day it'll be a 150, then a 150+153, then a 158+153 then a 150+150 and so on!

 

[marcouk2]

Northern do, I've seen posters at Shipley and Bradford Interchange. Can't find anything on their website though

Seen a poster at Barnsley as well for AM peak journeys.

 

[Rich McLean]

I wish First Great Western would do this but one day you'll get a 158 on one service then the next day it'll be a 150, then a 150+153, then a 158+153 then a 150+150 and so on!

Aka, the FGW Ramdom Unit Generator

 

[Parallel]

Aka, the FGW Ramdom Unit Generator

I'm pretty sure they actually do this. The evening Filton Abbey Wood - Westbury service that now ceases to run was anything from a three car 158 to a single 153...

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm pretty sure they actually do this. The evening Filton Abbey Wood - Westbury service that now ceases to run was anything from a three car 158 to a single 153...

Why have they stopped running it?

Should have kept it really as the 1646 Bristol Parkway to Warminster (1708 off Temple Meads) is HEAVING!

 

[Tetchytyke]

I dare say they also found passenger behaviour wasn't altered, because everyone probably stuck to their preferred train and assumed/hoped that 'someone else' would delay their journey...

Some people will change their journey pattern because they can, others won't be so lucky. I get a slightly later train in the morning than I otherwise would because I know it will be quieter.

It's useful to see which trains will be the busiest, and it isn't always intuitive either (e.g. the 0835 train from here is busier than the 0813).

 

[nw1]

I was at Blackfriars a few days ago and I noticed a poster indicating how busy services are in and around peak commute times. This information is also available on the FCC website.

Very useful for those of us who can be more flexible in our travel arrangements and who desire a more pleasant journey. Now obviously we expect commuter services to be pretty full, but the posters can be used to more precisely determine which service to catch to avoid standing or crushing.

Do any other TOCs provide this information? I couldn't find anything on Southern's website.

It looks like the 0816 and 0900 from Brighton could do with lengthening! They are at the minimum 4 coaches - don't know much about FCC but one guesses they've got a stock shortage right now.

 

[evergreenadam]

It looks like the 0816 and 0900 from Brighton could do with lengthening! They are at the minimum 4 coaches - don't know much about FCC but one guesses they've got a stock shortage right now.

Amazing the number of short formations still being run in the peak and how many off-peak services need to operate with 8 carriages to avoid being crowded. Post peak evening departures from St Pancras northbound seem to have many 4 carriage formations which rather unnecessarily extends the crush until later in the evening.

 

[jon0844]

On the GN side, every Moorgate service is 6 car where possible. There just aren't enough trains, so some run as 3.

But when I changed from a fast train at FPK and onto a Moorgate train, the next train was the almost only 3 car service. I could still get on if I had to, but it wasn't comfortable. The thing was that a 6 car was a few minutes behind and had loads of seats once people got off to get the tube.

Certainly some trains stopping at Hatfield are 4 car because they have to be (given their stopping pattern and stopping at 4 car only stations) but there's probably a 8 car semi fast a bit before that will be near empty and arrive at King's Cross about the same time.

In over 10 years I don't think I ever had to stand, unless I chose to.

 

[Strathclyder]

I don't think I've ever seen First Scotrail do anything like this.

 

[Parallel]

Why have they stopped running it?

Should have kept it really as the 1646 Bristol Parkway to Warminster (1708 off Temple Meads) is HEAVING!

There were posters up saying that cutting this service would allow extra capacity to run on the Warminster service before it and the Portsmouth Harbour service (until Westbury) behind it.

I suspect it was also to do with 5 trains running from Bristol and Bath within half an hour, with the Weymouth stopper going first. When that was delayed, it just caused knock on delays to the high speed service behind it, followed by the Warminster one, the (now axed) semi fast Westbury and then the express Portsmouth Harbour. No idea if this has made a difference though.

--

I agree that crowding information is useful, although not to be used too literally, as services can differ every day.

 

[ValleyLines142]

There were posters up saying that cutting this service would allow extra capacity to run on the Warminster service before it and the Portsmouth Harbour service (until Westbury) behind it.

I suspect it was also to do with 5 trains running from Bristol and Bath within half an hour, with the Weymouth stopper going first. When that was delayed, it just caused knock on delays to the high speed service behind it, followed by the Warminster one, the (now axed) semi fast Westbury and then the express Portsmouth Harbour. No idea if this has made a difference though.

--

I agree that crowding information is useful, although not to be used too literally, as services can differ every day.

The 1646 Bristol Parkway to Warminster has been pushed back to depart Temple Meads at 1708, instead of 1704, as it was never leaving on time! I forget how busy the section between Filton and Temple Meads is sometimes!

 

[PHILIPE]

Since the 16 55 Filton Abbeywood to Westbury was discontinued and the 1645 Bristol Parkway to Warminster was retimed, the formation of the latter was increased to 3 from 2 carriages (150/9) and the 16 30 Cardiff to Portsmouth strengthened with a 153 as far as Westbury. This meant that the same passenger capacity was still available along the corridor at this time of the day.