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Completely Empty Trains

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43096

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1J10 2028 Hull-Doncaster HST is pretty empty whenever I have done it. It certainly doesn't need an 8-car HST set, as I've had the TGS to myself on it.
 
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xotGD

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I've been the only remaining passenger on a Leeds - Knottingley after Pontecarlo a couple of times
 

sd0733

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An empty one by the end is 19:01 Birmingham to Crewe. Usually has a handful on past Stafford past Stoke is usually in single figures who are usually for Kidsgrove and Alsager. Unusual to have more than 2 or 3 by Crewe, 0 is very common.
 

Ianno87

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I must admit to not understanding at all what the point of the extra dog-leg on that was. I think your report of low loadings confirms that there in fact was no point in it.

The way the timetable worked out, it was a unit and crew that would otherwise just sit at Lime Street for 50 minutes or so before going back again...might as well just stick it to South Parkway and back for relatively minimal extra cost.
 

philthetube

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I have been the only passenger on the last train into Colne at night, the crew hate it as they can turn at Nelson if empty.
 

vlad

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I'm sure I was the only passenger on the Central Trains service from Manchester Airport to Crewe on more than one occasion. It's not surprising it doesn't run any more.

Philosophically, if you were on the train, was it completely empty? :)

I was going to say that!
 

prod_pep

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I've been the only passenger on a few early morning Glasgow Central - Newton via Maxwell Park services and all three times I used the former 09.57 Hastings - Ore shuttle.

More locally, empty trains are not unheard of on the New Brighton line even now. I've seen a couple of the early morning and late night Sunday services run with no one on. The curtailed Hooton - Ellesmere Port service was empty multiple times when it ran last time the timetables were temporarily altered. Never noticed a Northern Line train empty at any time, however, as even the short Kirkby line is well used.
 

Bertie the bus

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Before Blackburn depot opened there was a something like 04:56 Preston - Colne. I never travelled on it but I'm guessing it was empty for a reasonable amount of the journey. It was just getting a unit to Colne for the start of service but operated as a passenger service as the guard came from Preston. The service now starts at Blackburn and is presumably also empty.

On a Saturday last winter I was the only passenger from Heysham to Morecambe on the Leeds service. I think I was the only passenger to Heysham on the inbound as well.

I've also been the only passenger, and 1 of 2 (the other being a lady with a suitcase so presumably not a regular) on the daily Leeds - Goole on arrival at Goole.
 

RailWonderer

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14:18 Liverpool St to Clacton on Sea. 12 car 360 EMU, front 8 cars completely empty. Some c2cs on the Tilbury loop in the middle of the day also. Just look for long diagrams in the middle of the day, there aren't many.
Parliamentary trains also, aside from enthusiasts on some days I guess.
 

stantheman

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There is a late evening XC Glasgow Central to Waverley via Edinburgh Sub which has been empty whe; I have seen it . no call at HaymRke5 even . Service probably sees more rare track badgers than real folk
 

Gathursty

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I left Shrewsbury on the first train of the day south to the Heart of Wales Line (to Cardiff Central) and was alone on the train until we arrived at Knighton.
 

theageofthetra

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Plenty of early and late Grove Park- Bromley North shuttles run empty. Have been the only passenger on a Heathrow T4 shuttle.

A few timetable changes ago there used to be an early Cannon St fast to Dartford that had one or two at the most passengers on it. Think it was 10 coaches.
 

InOban

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I've been told that the 20.36 from Oban to Glasgow is regularly empty after Taynuilt.
 

johntea

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Quite a funny one this evening, I was on the York to Leeds via Harrogate service (a 142) which on arrival into Leeds coupled up with another 142 set to form the Leeds to Sheffield via Castleford service, which was my connection! I got booted off whilst they coupled them up but then had the ex York unit pretty much to myself on the next journey as everybody else had already crammed on the original unit before it got coupled up!

Also I do find a lot of people don't bother to travel during certain rail replacement buses as I've often had those all to myself!
 

Wilts Wanderer

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The 05:15 Bristol TM-Paddington (via Westbury) is usually empty until Bradford-on-Avon, And has very few pax until at least Westbury. It is unique in not calling at Bath Spa and the 07:48 arrival time into London means there are later trains to Reading and Paddington via Swindon which overtake it. That being said, it gets extremely busy after Hungerford and Newbury, so it is a valuable peak working.

Similarly the 17:06 ex-Paddington usually has very limited pax on after Bedwyn. It used to run to Bristol (via the Hawkridge Curve avoiding Westbury) and on one occasion I was the only passenger on board between Pewsey and Trowbridge, where quite a few people boarded for stations to Bath / Bristol. I wonder if this was the only example of a train which was empty in the middle of its journey but not at the start / end.

It goes to Frome now, so the point is moot.
 

furnessvale

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Philosophically, if you were on the train, was it completely empty? :)
Indeed! I was thinking of the old question.

"If a tree falls n the forest and there is no-one there to witness it, does it still make a noise?"
 

Kite159

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I left Shrewsbury on the first train of the day south to the Heart of Wales Line (to Cardiff Central) and was alone on the train until we arrived at Knighton.

I would imagine the 0449 Shrewsbury to Llandrindod service will be empty most days, likewise for the 0453 Carmarthen to Llandovery
 

fowler9

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The way the timetable worked out, it was a unit and crew that would otherwise just sit at Lime Street for 50 minutes or so before going back again...might as well just stick it to South Parkway and back for relatively minimal extra cost.
That's what I heard. Shame it is no more. Loved that service.
 

Jamesrob637

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In the rural hinterland of the Czech Republic, trains at 4-5am are often full! Not full and standing, but a lot of seats taken. Guess working patterns are still different there for the extant mining industry etc.

Back to here, I'd have said the last trains on a Sunday around Manchester/Cheshire up to the 00s, but with an ever-expanding population this is unlikely. Maybe the last train on a Sunday somewhere in Cornwall in winter??
 

RichJF

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Penultimate/last Croydon - East Grinstead train I've sometimes been the only passenger travelling to & alighting at East Grinstead. Felt slightly weird!
 
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Always a favourite of mine is travelling between Sleaford and Spalding in the Peterborough direction... I have been the only passenger onboard mid afternoon.
 

SeanG

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On a Saturday last winter I was the only passenger from Heysham to Morecambe on the Leeds service. I think I was the only passenger to Heysham on the inbound as well.

I don't see the point of the winter Saturday service given that the boat goes to Birkenhead rather than Heysham
 

47271

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I've never been on it, but I often wonder about who's going to be on the 0508 Perth-Inverness over the first few stops.
 
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