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Leeds to Birmingham tomorrow (Monday) - Quietest services

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johntea

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I'm travelling from Leeds to Birmingham tomorrow as I have a job interview there on Tuesday.

What services tend to be fairly quiet? I've never travelled such a journey on a (working week) Monday, presumably 5pm - 7pm is just a total write off in terms of hoping for a seat and the even more holy grail of a table seat?

I was hoping to catch something late afternoon / early evening as I then have to blast from New Street to Dudley :lol:
 
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Starmill

Starmill

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In my experience? None of them. The best way to get a quiet journey is to use the Northern service to Nottingham, which is almost always a 158 which is comfy enough and has plenty of tables you can work at - no power or wifi though, and then board a Turbostar service to Birmingham at it's origin. This again will yield a good seat and although there is power in First Class only there is wifi on most services.

You may be able to get a seat on a Voyager departure fro. Leeds at 1111, 1211 or 1311 with less difficulty than at other times of day. The 0600 is also typically an HST with many free seats.

You could try using the XC text reservation service as well, although this isn't the most reliable.
 
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Starmill

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jamie_ said:
I got the 09:10 HST last week which was nice and quiet
Click to expand...

Lucky! Which days of the week is this likely to be an HST in winter though? And I doubt the OP is ready to travel in 2 minutes unfortunately :(
 
Starmill

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Even one of my reccomended trains, the 1111 Plymouth service from Leeds was formed of 4 coaches and I saw had a few standees as I passed.
 
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johntea

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Ended up on a Northern express to Sheffield from Wakefield then the 19:24 Sheffield to Southampton which was nice and quiet.

Weirdly though the train manager reckoned it only went as far as Reading which I didn't quite understand as it was advertised as Southampton bound!
 
sprinterguy

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johntea said:
Weirdly though the train manager reckoned it only went as far as Reading which I didn't quite understand as it was advertised as Southampton bound!
Click to expand...
That's because, technically, that service does only run as far as Reading under it's own identity as 1V95: The unit sits around at Reading for half an hour before coupling to 1O34 19:27 Manchester Piccadilly - Southampton Central to go forward.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C13424/2016/01/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C13262/2016/01/18/advanced
 
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