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Oxford to Gatwick Airport Direct service (Sat 14th Dec)

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MagicalWill

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Hi,

I was doing a bit of searching on Real Time Trains for my local station, Didcot, when I happened on a direct service from Oxford to Gatwick Airport (stopping at Didcot too). I can't see any other services like this in the weeks before or after this date. Is this a one off, a parliamentary service of some sort, or possible stock move for the timetable on Sunday?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20711/2019-12-14/detailed

If this is a one off I'm tempted to get it!

Thanks,

Will.
 
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greaterwest

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It runs every Saturday morning. It is a once a week service and it does not run in the other direction.
 

Mike99

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I think there is a thread somewhere that included this, if my failing memory serves me, it was a separate Oxford -Reading service and a Reading to Gatwick Airport service which a few timetables back ware joined together to create this one off early Saturday through train, Oxford via Didcot and Reading to Gatwick Airport
 

swt_passenger

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Oh cool, thank you! :) - so probably parliamentary then?
Not a “parliamentary”, it’s just for operating convenience. There’s a huge difference between services run at bare minimum to avoid closure procedures, and services run to conveniently move stock from one part of a TOC’s network to another...
 

Brown

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I wish this is a regular service as this helps avoiding change at Reading. Another one I would love to have is cross country to stop at Wokingham to/from Guildford which provides direct connections to and from Oxford.
 

swt_passenger

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I wish this is a regular service as this helps avoiding change at Reading. Another one I would love to have is cross country to stop at Wokingham to/from Guildford which provides direct connections to and from Oxford.
I wouldn’t hold your breath, AIUI the daily Guildford services have already been approved for removal from the service specification...
 

big all

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In 1994 we had around two or three services each way

A Saturday morning additional interwoven with the normal fasts to reading but from Gatwick to Oxford and return.

The funny thing was they ran Gatwick - Redhill - Guildford - Reading but allowed the normal fast running times, or even a few mins more.
 
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cm39275

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From the new timetable change on the 15th December it looks like this Saturday only working reverts back to two separate services one from Oxford to Reading and one from Reading to Gatwick, but there is a new Monday to Friday GWR stopping service each way between Oxford and Basingstoke. One to the out in the morning from Oxford and a return late evening from Basingstoke.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y95199/2019-12-16/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y95441/2019-12-16/detailed
 

yorkie

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molecrochip

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I wouldn’t hold your breath, AIUI the daily Guildford services have already been approved for removal from the service specification...
Are Cross Country loosing their diversionary route via Havant then? AIUI the main reason for the Guildford services was to enable the route retention.
 

swt_passenger

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Are Cross Country loosing their diversionary route via Havant then? AIUI the main reason for the Guildford services was to enable the route retention.
It doesn’t necessarily follow.

They don’t actually need to run in passenger service to retain route knowledge, in any case they don’t carry passengers between Guildford and Eastleigh now, and they don’t run via the Netley line, but still divert that way when running to Bournemouth via Havant.
 

Brown

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I wouldn’t hold your breath, AIUI the daily Guildford services have already been approved for removal from the service specification...

what does this mean then? Cross country won’t be running any services from Guildford any longer? Pardon my ignorance and no idea what is AiUi.
 

theironroad

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Are Cross Country loosing their diversionary route via Havant then? AIUI the main reason for the Guildford services was to enable the route retention.
It doesn’t necessarily follow.

They don’t actually need to run in passenger service to retain route knowledge, in any case they don’t carry passengers between Guildford and Eastleigh now, and they don’t run via the Netley line, but still divert that way when running to Bournemouth via Havant.

Iirc correctly (I've not checked) then it runs fast from reading to Guildford then ECS down the Pompey direct.

Having it terminate at reading could mean if they were short of a crew member who signs the route across via Guildford, then by having it terminate at reading wouldn't result bin a ppm cancellation.

Also, it means that as the train wouldn't stop at Guildford , then the delays caused by ensuring the train is empty of passengers could be avoided.
 

infobleep

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Iirc correctly (I've not checked) then it runs fast from reading to Guildford then ECS down the Pompey direct.

Having it terminate at reading could mean if they were short of a crew member who signs the route across via Guildford, then by having it terminate at reading wouldn't result bin a ppm cancellation.

Also, it means that as the train wouldn't stop at Guildford , then the delays caused by ensuring the train is empty of passengers could be avoided.
Would there not just be delays at Reading, whilst they ensure it's empty.

I personally enjoy travelling on the 6:04 occasionally. You could even get some advanced purchase fares for it. It makes a change from having to travel though London and use the tube.

I imagine they will all go or if jot go, at least rise in price as passengers will need to use GWR to connect to it at Reading
 

Wilts Wanderer

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The 0400 SO Oxford-Gatwick has run for a few timetable periods purely for diagramming purposes, and effectively to save a pair of ECS moves on/off depot at Reading. From the 21/12 the workings are once again split as the North Downs diagrams are segregated in preparation for future class 769 deployment. The Turbo from Oxford simply goes on depot.
 

FGW_DID

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Unfortunately in this country train companies don’t run trains for the convenience of passengers.

The railway is a mass transit system to move the public round the country, it’s not run for your own personal convenience. What’s inconvenient for you may be convenient for the other hundered odd passengers on the train!
 

BluePenguin

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Unfortunately in this country train companies don’t run trains for the convenience of passengers.
Really? So the railway runs hundreds of extra services in the morning and evening peaks because they just fancy it and not for the convenience of the nation who want to get to and from work?
 

LA50041

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The railway is a mass transit system to move the public round the country, it’s not run for your own personal convenience. What’s inconvenient for you may be convenient for the other hundered odd passengers on the train!
Hallelujah! +1
 

infobleep

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The 0400 SO Oxford-Gatwick has run for a few timetable periods purely for diagramming purposes, and effectively to save a pair of ECS moves on/off depot at Reading. From the 21/12 the workings are once again split as the North Downs diagrams are segregated in preparation for future class 769 deployment. The Turbo from Oxford simply goes on depot.
Does that mean a couple of ECSs to the Reading depot will then be required?

Save this and the regular twice a day Cross Country train from and to Guildford, is the line connecting the North Downs Line to the Great Western mainline at Reading used much?
 

AlbertBeale

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Really? So the railway runs hundreds of extra services in the morning and evening peaks because they just fancy it and not for the convenience of the nation who want to get to and from work?

No, surely the railway companies (try to) run the services that they're told to when they get the contract. and/or ones which make them the most profits. Passengers' convenience as such isn't their direct interest, though it might be (indirectly) if what they're told to do in their contract is informed by the interest of passengers. If things a profit-maximising company does are in the interests of passengers (or the needs of society, or the health of the planet, or anything else public spirited), it's not because that's their aim; that's not what private profit-making companies are designed for.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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Does that mean a couple of ECSs to the Reading depot will then be required?

Save this and the regular twice a day Cross Country train from and to Guildford, is the line connecting the North Downs Line to the Great Western mainline at Reading used much?

Yes, but this is not a problem.

On the whole it’s used 4-5 times each early morning and late evening to cycle the N Downs units to/from depot. Occasionally a set swaps over around lunchtime as well.
 

infobleep

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Yes, but this is not a problem.

On the whole it’s used 4-5 times each early morning and late evening to cycle the N Downs units to/from depot. Occasionally a set swaps over around lunchtime as well.
I wasn't thunking it's a problem. I was just wondering if it was actually used for anything else, given even less sees a to be or will be transferring from or to the North Downs Line to the Great Western Railway mainline with passengers aboard.
 
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