Worcester to Brighton FGW

[Bodiddly]

Hi,
Can anyone help? I am planning a trip on this train from Worcester to Brighton on a Monday morning within the next few weeks. I know it's a 5 hour journey but it's a service I have been wanting to do for ages. I need some information on how busy the train gets and where it gets busy or where lots of people get on/off. I am assuming it will be a 3 car 158 so will most of the train be reserved? When I get on at Worcester Shrub Hill (or Foregate St), can I look forward to a seat for the duration of the journey or will I have to do the reserved seat musical chair game? Also, does it normally run to time?
Any help appreciated!

 

[Techniquest]

In my experience, time keeping is usually pretty good. 1050 Great Malvern to Brighton you're doing? That was a 159 in the high summer, and before that it was most normally a 3-car 158 whenever I saw it (every Monday for a while, then every 2 weeks) so you should have no problems there.

It's not normally that busy, again from my experience, at the Worcester end so you SHOULD be fine. Personally I'd get a seat reservation anyway just for peace of mind.

Busiest bits, roughly, will be Cheltenham to Gloucester and onwards to Bristol, then Salisbury to Southampton. Of course, if it's all gone belly up in the Severn Tunnel then it'll be far different!

 

[Bodiddly]

In my experience, time keeping is usually pretty good. 1050 Great Malvern to Brighton you're doing? That was a 159 in the high summer, and before that it was most normally a 3-car 158 whenever I saw it (every Monday for a while, then every 2 weeks) so you should have no problems there.

It's not normally that busy, again from my experience, at the Worcester end so you SHOULD be fine. Personally I'd get a seat reservation anyway just for peace of mind.

Busiest bits, roughly, will be Cheltenham to Gloucester and onwards to Bristol, then Salisbury to Southampton. Of course, if it's all gone belly up in the Severn Tunnel then it'll be far different!

Thanks for the info. Can you elaborate on the tunnel problems if any were to happen?

 

[bnm]

If it is still the hired in SWT Class 159 (some debate on that regarding FGW's lease - I've not heard either way and have not been on the ground to see if it's working the service this week) then bag yourself in the 1st Class section. It is declassified for the entirety of its use by FGW.

if not, then from Worcester you will have absolutely no problem bagging a decent unreserved seat for your whole journey.

Problems in the Severn Tunnel are unlikely to affect your journey. it's far more likely that issues around Bristol, Westbury or Salisbury will see the service caped short of Brighton. All too often this service turns around short of its destination. The last time I planned to catch the return working from Brighton I discovered that the 1050 from Gt Malvern had been caped at Westbury!

 

[ValleyLines142]

Thanks for the info. Can you elaborate on the tunnel problems if any were to happen?

I believe what Techniquest is trying to say (although do correct me if I'm wrong) is that the Cardiff to Portsmouth and the Great Malvern to Westbury/Weymouth/Brighton services share the line between Bristol and Salisbury, so if there are problems in the Patchway/Severn Tunnel area, then the Cardiff to Portsmouth services will be delayed, so people at Filton Abbey Wood, Temple Meads and Bath will use the Great Malvern to Westbury etc services instead, which will already be fairly busy from holidaymakers heading down to the resorts along the South Coast.

 

[Bodiddly]

Thanks. A lot of moves further on in the day rely on me getting to Brighton for around 16.25 to give me a 5 minute turn around for the FCC back to London St Pan. I'm doing all of this on a First staff travel card hence the reason I only want to use First services, and can't reserve seats!

 

[tony6499]

Thanks. A lot of moves further on in the day rely on me getting to Brighton for around 16.25 to give me a 5 minute turn around for the FCC back to London St Pan. I'm doing all of this on a First staff travel card hence the reason I only want to use First services, and can't reserve seats!

A 5 minute turn around at Brighton is incredibly tight and you're pushing your luck with that one

 

[Techniquest]

A 5 minute turn around at Brighton is incredibly tight and you're pushing your luck with that one

That is taking the mick a bit, I mean it can just about be done but if the train to Brighton is more than 3 minutes late (and let's be honest, that's not difficult with a journey through some rather busy areas!) it's going to be exceptionally difficult to make it.

Does the OP have an alternative train to choose in case of issues?

DanTrainMan185 has it pretty much right with expanding on my point regarding issues in the Severn Tunnel. Fortunately it's not a regular thing, but it does have the ability to mess things up badly!

 

[ValleyLines142]

That is taking the mick a bit, I mean it can just about be done but if the train to Brighton is more than 3 minutes late (and let's be honest, that's not difficult with a journey through some rather busy areas!) it's going to be exceptionally difficult to make it.

Does the OP have an alternative train to choose in case of issues?

I agree. That service often loses time, especially in the Yate/Bristol Parkway area.

Besides, there are plenty of FCC services from Brighton afterwards aren't there? After the arrival of the FGW at 1615, there's one at 1624 anyway (then 1630), so you should definitely make the latter (possibly the former if the FGW arrives on time).

 

[PHILIPE]

This train has a record of either starting at Worcester instead of Great Malvern or turning back short of Brighton due to late running, a combination of various issues, mostly signalling. As it has a long distance to travel the opportunity is there to incur more delays which then have a knock on effect for the rest of the journey. Perhaps going through to Brighton on any day is often a "hit and miss" affair.

 

[hassaanhc]

I agree. That service often loses time, especially in the Yate/Bristol Parkway area.

Besides, there are plenty of FCC services from Brighton afterwards aren't there? After the arrival of the FGW at 1615, there's one at 1624 anyway (then 1630), so you should definitely make the latter (possibly the former if the FGW arrives on time).

According to their timetable the 1630 is booked as 12.377, while 1624 is 8.319 . Next train after that is at 1703 and is also 12.377
I think the 377 reason is why 1630 is chosen and not 1624

 

[Techniquest]

According to their timetable the 1630 is booked as 12.377, while 1624 is 8.319 . Next train after that is at 1703 and is also 12.377
I think the 377 reason is why 1630 is chosen and not 1624

I'd have gone for the 1624 personally, enjoy some 319 action before it goes!

 

[hassaanhc]

I'd have gone for the 1624 personally, enjoy some 319 action before it goes!

Hehe . I've been wanting to do a 319 to Brighton for a while, on the weekend due to the bargain Super-Off-Peak tickets from London . I'm sure I'd have gone last Saturday if engineering works hadn't got rid of the faster services. This is the reason why I have their timetable, to work out which train is planned

 

[Techniquest]

I didn't have that luxury when I did Brighton on FCC in 2011 on those free tickets, I turned up on spec and it was a pair of 377s from East Croydon to Brighton. Which then turned into a trio of 377/5s for the trip to Bedford.

I'd have waited for 319s, but it was a day with lots of delays so it was easier to just get on with it. After all, I may have not had 319s for ages afterwards! T'was late enough getting to my hotel as it was that night, as I headed south (this time on a pair of 319s ) and was supposed to be on them to St Pancras but the stopper from Luton was cancelled so we became an all-stations stopper instead. So I technically got to my hotel around 40 minutes earlier than expected but it was still quite late in the evening by now!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Agree with Techniquest here, get the 319s in whilst you can - must get down there and do Brighton>Bedford throughout for some thrash!

 

[Kite159]

Agree with Techniquest here, get the 319s in whilst you can - must get down there and do Brighton>Bedford throughout for some thrash!

Would you recommend doing the full run starting from Brighton or starting from Bedford?

 

[Techniquest]

Whether starting at Bedford or Brighton is better depends partially on one thing really, and that's whether you prefer AC or DC EMU action. If AC then start at Bedford!

Of course, location and price also play big factors but hey...

 

[Blindtraveler]

Actually if you did it as part of a travelcard bash then its not too costly and speeking personally, the beuty of this run if you get both AC and DC so you can have your cake and eat it here! Id start at Brighton as you tend to get a better run of St Pan towards Luton than on the way in!

 

[Kite159]

Whether starting at Bedford or Brighton is better depends partially on one thing really, and that's whether you prefer AC or DC EMU action. If AC then start at Bedford!

Of course, location and price also play big factors but hey...

I will be arriving into Brighton first (hopefully FGW won't cancel the first Brighton service on that Sunday), so it was a decision of either TL up to Bedford and then EMT/Southern south or vice versa.