Trivia/Nonsense - what 'inside knowledge' do you use to 'beat the crowds?'

[Backroom_boy]

'Inside Knowledge' may sound too grand but I enjoy anything that 'beats the crowds'; current favourite is using the footbridge at King's Cross to get to my trains before the mass of muggles using the ground level route.

 

[Horizon22]

Walk to the very front of Stratford on the Jubilee line and wait for the next train; practically empty and there’s something every 2-3 minutes normally and you’re not crushed like a sardine.

 

[A S Leib]

Not the most obscure – CrossCountry's own map recommends, or used to recommend, it – but the first one which comes to mind is changing at Birmingham International, Wolverhampton, Derby or Cheltenham instead of Birmingham New Street when possible.

 

[ChrisC]

When travelling from Manchester towards Sheffield using EMR or TPE get on the train at Oxford Road to get a seat before the crowds board at Piccadilly. I almost always do this when travelling from Manchester to Nottingham.

 

[py_megapixel]

Not many people seem to realise there are toilets on the platforms at Sheffield - they tend to be much less busy (and cleaner!) than the ones on the concourse, where there is often a queue.

 

[Peter0124]

When travelling from Manchester towards Sheffield using EMR or TPE get on the train at Oxford Road to get a seat before the crowds board at Piccadilly. I almost always do this when travelling from Manchester to Nottingham.

Likewise, getting the train from somewhere on the Airport branch if heading towards Preston for example. Avoids the busy Platform 14.

Also, boarding at Manors instead of Newcastle when wanting to travel along the Tyne Valley during the busy hours.

 

[A S Leib]

Not one I've done, but if you have the time, maybe getting a northbound CrossCountry service from Wakefield instead of Leeds? The problem there is that I suspect many such services are already full and standing by Wakefield.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Probably a bit obvious, but I always try to be at the best set of doors for the exit, so I don't get stuck behind slow walkers.

On Avanti, I think they assign reservations to coach D last, so if it's not a super busy train (check the reservation seat map), Coach D will probably be quieter than C, G or U.
I've seen 9 car services where A, B, E and F are fully reserved and D had about 5 people in it.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Not one I've done, but if you have the time, maybe getting a northbound CrossCountry service from Wakefield instead of Leeds? The problem there is that I suspect many such services are already full and standing by Wakefield.

They certainly are. Three occasions in the past fortnight for me. Have you thought about joining at Penzance or Plymouth (as applicable)?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

They certainly are. Three occasions in the past fortnight for me. Have you thought about joining at Penzance or Plymouth (as applicable)?

but at least you'd have first dibs on any seats that get freed at Leeds.

 

[Huntergreed]

Probably a bit obvious, but I always try to be at the best set of doors for the exit, so I don't get stuck behind slow walkers.

On Avanti, I think they assign reservations to coach D last, so if it's not a super busy train (check the reservation seat map), Coach D will probably be quieter than C, G or U.
I've seen 9 car services where A, B, E and F are fully reserved and D had about 5 people in it.

Indeed.

Also, despite having been converted for a couple of years now, coach G is also noticeably quieter than all other standard coaches on many of the services I take!

Whether people don’t realise it’s standard now or just don’t walk down that far (as it’s furthest from the reserved standard coaches) I’m not sure, but I’ve had success getting a full bay of 4 in there regularly when there are passengers standing in some other coaches!

 

[Howardh]

Not many people seem to realise there are toilets on the platforms at Sheffield - they tend to be much less busy (and cleaner!) than the ones on the concourse, where there is often a queue.

On P1/2/3 at Bolton, there's a single accessible toilet further down the platform rather than using the one in the main block; comes in handy if the main one is being used! Don't think there's an accessible one on P4/5 though.

 

[Backroom_boy]

On Avanti, I think they assign reservations to coach D last, so if it's not a super busy train (check the reservation seat map), Coach D will probably be quieter than C, G or U.
I've seen 9 car services where A, B, E and F are fully reserved and D had about 5 people in itit.th

This is a good tip; anyone know how LNER bookings fill up by coach?

 

[yorksrob]

Walking to the front of the IC125 at St Pancreas was my favourite in the good old days.

Finding the standard class compartment next to the first class ones as well.

 

[AlterEgo]

Traksy is very good at predicting platform changes and which train is ready to leave first during disruption, by showing the “road being set”.

 

[WirralLine]

Quite simple one would be boarding at the front of the train at Manchester Airport. Everybody piles in the back coach so it's full and standing, with fresh air at the front

 

[43096]

Using RTT and OTT maps to know where the inbound working is at Waterloo so I can be on the platform before the platform is advertised.

My best move with this was several years ago when up Windsor line services were in chaos with consequent down evening peak collapse. But I knew my train was formed of an ECS working from Wimbledon depot, which wasn’t affected. Could see it was running up through Clapham on RTT so went onto the usual platform - pair of 458s roll in, doors open, I get on. Could see the platform board flicked up as “1735 Reading” so I was on the right train - and then the hoardes descended!

 

[Taunton]

Boarding at Taunton for Paddington trains which have only come from Paignton, not from Penzance, means a far better chance of getting a seat. This has been true since Warship days and still applies now, only that modern-style timetable information makes it far harder for the non-enthusiast to find out where given departures have originated.

 

[jamesst]

One often used on Merseyrail at james st during peak is to board trains on the inward rather than the outband platform. This gets you a seat before the crowds get on round the loop.

You do need a knowledge of the timetable to do this though as the inward trains still display Liverpool at that point!

 

[Harpo]

Going to the north end of New St to leave via the fire escape bridge towards Navigation Street.

 

[ChrisC]

Not the most obscure – CrossCountry's own map recommends, or used to recommend, it – but the first one which comes to mind is changing at Birmingham International, Wolverhampton, Derby or Cheltenham instead of Birmingham New Street when possible.

That used to work very well when travelling north from Nottingham with an easy same platform change at Chesterfield. XC used to recommend this and most journey planners used to give a change at Chesterfield rather than Sheffield. Now that XC have significantly cut the number of trains calling at Chesterfield this no longer works forcing passengers to have to change platforms at Sheffield and has made the Sheffield call even more busy. Many XC trains now seem to have an extended wait at Derby now instead of the Chesterfield call.

 

[Trainman40083]

Before the likes of real time trains, you could tell which way round a Voyager was, by the yellow band on the coupler, indicating the first class coach. Many a time I have seen it approach and lined myself up with the right door for the unreserved coach whilst others seemed to stand around the middle of the coach wondering which coach was which. A friend used to be station announcer at Leicester. In the days of HSTs and a busy platform, he used to announce that the train had 14 doors. Please use them. You don't all have to use the one door that is open. (making the train late)

 

[Kraken]

'Inside Knowledge' may sound too grand but I enjoy anything that 'beats the crowds'; current favourite is using the footbridge at King's Cross to get to my trains before the mass of muggles using the ground level route.

Similarly, using Signalmaps or some other live map site to determine which platform your train is sitting at when at Kings X before they announce it on the departure board. You can just saunter through to the platform and get on as soon as the doors open so you can get a seat.

 

[Oxfordblues]

The Lawn at Paddington was packed yesterday with crowds gawping at the screens waiting to be told the platform for their train. I simply consulted realtimetrains for 1W29, got the unit number, identified the inbound train and used opentraintimes to find that it was coming into No.5. I then entered via the gateline for 2 & 3 and sneaked across to 5. First on the train!

Many of those waiting in front of the screens were probably IT consultants, computer boffins and software engineers, so it gave me some satisfaction that I had outwitted them all!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Quite simple one would be boarding at the front of the train at Manchester Airport. Everybody piles in the back coach so it's full and standing, with fresh air at the front

That also often used to be the case on the dedicated Gatwick Express train when departing from London Victoria.

 

[Donny Dave]

Check to see if the TPE service is a 3 or 6 car, then move down the platform away from the stsirs/entrance at Doncaster or Sheffield. Usually get a seat, if not a table even on the busy services.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

'Inside Knowledge' may sound too grand but I enjoy anything that 'beats the crowds'; current favourite is using the footbridge at King's Cross to get to my trains before the mass of muggles using the ground level route.

Similarly, the underpass at Waterloo, which - aside from the evening peak - is pretty much deserted for most of the day.

Both when travelling as a passenger and working trains into and out of Waterloo, I just use the underpass to navigate between platforms as it's an infinitely more pleasant experience than fighting your way through the overcrowded concourse, which I tend to avoid unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Howardh]

Check to see if the TPE service is a 3 or 6 car, then move down the platform away from the stsirs/entrance at Doncaster or Sheffield. Usually get a seat, if not a table even on the busy services.

Ah, yes, the three-car have a vestibule outside first-class where there's ONE seat which isn't under the air-con, it's the last (or first) seat on the train! It is adjacent to the toilet and as hard as rock, next to the cab, but there's no cold breeze!! Just have to work out if that's the end that enters the station first and be prepared. No such thing in the 5-cars but they are warmer.

 

[Donny Dave]

Not quite for that reason, but on the 6 car services, no one thinks to move down towards the end of P3b at Doncaster, or P1b at Sheffield. A side benefit is that by doing that, your ideally positioned at the end of the train for the stairs, so you best the crowds for a second time.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Ignoring the signs at King's Cross for the deep tubes and turning left for the much shorter original route (signed for the Met, Circle, H&C), avoiding the long trek to the Northern ticket hall.