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Has anyone made a journey by train in the last few weeks purely for leisure purposes?

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Upton

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With the easing of lockdown rules in the past few weeks I was wondering whether anyone on this forum has decided to make a train journey just for leisure? If so what were your thoughts on doing this and where did you travel to/from?
 
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Hadders

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I've made several journeys since the Government guidance changed. Other than wearing a face covering travelling by train is a pleasure at the moment as there are so few passengers.

Enjoy it while you can....
 

talldave

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The opposite in fact. I have a pub leisure trip this week for which I should be taking the train (no drinking & driving!), but I will walk (just over 3 miles each way) as that's preferable to being muzzled and better for my wellbeing.
 

Class 33

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Yes. For the first time in 4 months I took a moderate distance journey on the train last week. Bristol to Gloucester. 50 minute journey there and back. Was good to be on a train again relaxing and watching the passing scenery. Was good for my mental health. In the next week or two, on a fine warm day I intend to go down to Weymouth for the day. A journey of about 2 hours 20 minutes each way.

The travel and leisure industry re-opened on 4th July. Therefore for people who don't have their own transport, they should get out on the trains to enjoy days out/short breaks/holidays. Trains are not "ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY" or "Key Workers only" anymore.
 

island

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Yes, I travelled about 40 minutes out of London for a change of scenery a couple of weeks ago. All three trains I used had plentiful space and there was little to report.
 

stuartl

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Yes trip to London last week. As an earlier poster said, it was very nice due to lack of people
 

Sand_elf

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I took a train to Derby last night too see a live band in a beer garden - the first time in 4 months. I took my first train since lockdown on 30th June from Beeston to Nottingham to walk with friends - I was the only person on the train. Despite the intimidating notices I wasn't stopped at either Nottingham or Derby and the ticket machine happily sold me a ticket
 

birchesgreen

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Yes i've been on 25 trains since mid-June, the only annoyance i've had is the ridiculous one way system at New Street.
 

YorksDMU

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I’ve had two train journeys to York as well as a couple to Hull since the 15th June. All went well, and the face mask caused me no issues. I’m hoping to go to Scarborough as soon as I can, but it’s the lack of trains, with only one every two hours that is a possible issue with that. Certainly the trains remain very quiet indeed.
 

Ken_Ilworth

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Yes, only 3 so far. Aylesbury Vale Parkway - London almost immediately the restrictions were lifted and a couple of short WCML journeys (but on WMT) this week. Not more than one other passenger in the carriage, toilets fully working on each occasion. At the time of my first trip, masks were only recommended, though I complied last week.
It can't go on like this forever, and I notice a headline in the telegraph today that ministers might be encouraging people back into public transport.
 

route101

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Yes , Edinbugh twice , plus Dunbar and Ayr from Glasgow. My first trip down south this week and possible few days away next. Mask is annoying but getting more used to it but trains are generally quiet.
 

Peter Mugridge

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Yes, as soon as the guidance changed on Monday I went down to Hassocks in Sussex for a short walk - which "by pure coincidence" took in a certain footbridge at the same time as the route learning passes of 73 107 were in the area...
 

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brad465

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Having just been on holiday in the west country I made a fair few journeys for leisure there, including especially on the reopened Dartmouth steam railway, which is also running a non-stop service between Paignton and Kingswear. I'm guessing this is to avoid complicating their train reservations.
 

yorkie

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Yes, as soon as the guidance changed on Monday ....
Government guidance changed a long time before that ;) But yes some TOCs changed their tune on Monday.

Anyway yes, I have made plenty of leisure journeys lately and - other than having to wear a mask and having to walk about half a mile at Leeds station to change trains - it's been a very pleasurable experience.

A tiny fraction of normal passenger numbers means that even with reduced timetables it's been rare for me to have anyone sat anywhere near me. There is comprehensive ticket acceptance at the moment too.

Enjoy it while it lasts. Passenger numbers are slowly picking up, though for the sake of the future of the industry I want passenger numbers to increase rapidly soon, but from a purely selfish point of view (which is never the view I'd advocate) if you want loads of space to yourself, now is the time to travel.

I've also posted my pub experiences have been positive; it's really good to be able to get out and about again.

There are absolute bargains to be had with accommodation; I've booked loads of Premier Inns. It's been great seeing so many forum members recently; if anyone is up for walking or cycling, it would be great to hear from you.

I've got plenty more trips planned.
 

johntea

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You are right about Premier Inn, I stayed in Deansgate Manchester last night for a couple of pence under £50! To get a room in central Manchester on a Saturday, especially a summer one for less than 3 figures usually is almost unheard of!
 

Bletchleyite

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You are right about Premier Inn, I stayed in Deansgate Manchester last night for a couple of pence under £50! To get a room in central Manchester on a Saturday, especially a summer one for less than 3 figures usually is almost unheard of!

Most people doing domestic city breaks are doing it for things that are either closed or heavily restricted at the moment, so if you just like being in or walking round cities (or riding their transport networks, provided you don't find a mask hampers your enjoyment) now is probably the time!

I'd imagine you can stay in London pretty cheaply at the moment, for one.
 

Scotrail12

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I went on Monday to Glasgow city centre and on Friday from Blairhill to East Kilbride and back. No issues.
 

greyman42

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I have been travelling all over the network since 1 June. I was never questioned once.
 

route101

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Booked Glasgow to Preston return on Wednesday. And Glasgow to London for weej after is about to be booked.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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These positive, in a good way, posts about return to rail for leisure trips is very reassuring, I had been given conflicting advice about this recently. I hope to be able to use the trains again soon and infact was about to ask about seat bookings on mainline (IC type) trains from London. I was told by a friend that they had booked specific trains, but there were no seat numbers given, but when I have looked on a couple of TOC websites, they say that you must sit in the seats allocated by them as they are socially distanced?

I presume on commuter type trains and even for longer distance trains in the southeast, then you can not book seats anyway, I wonder how that would work say for example from WAT to Exeter/Bristol-Weymouth etc., ?
 

Fisherman80

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I've made about 3 leisure journeys in the past 3 weeks. I've done a circular tour of the Cumbrian coast twice,and two weeks ago I bought a North East round robin ticket. All my journeys started from Bradford.
This Friday I will be getting a North Country rover.
 

route101

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These positive, in a good way, posts about return to rail for leisure trips is very reassuring, I had been given conflicting advice about this recently. I hope to be able to use the trains again soon and infact was about to ask about seat bookings on mainline (IC type) trains from London. I was told by a friend that they had booked specific trains, but there were no seat numbers given, but when I have looked on a couple of TOC websites, they say that you must sit in the seats allocated by them as they are socially distanced?

I presume on commuter type trains and even for longer distance trains in the southeast, then you can not book seats anyway, I wonder how that would work say for example from WAT to Exeter/Bristol-Weymouth etc., ?

Avanti and LNER are compulsary reservations. Got one for this wednesday, not sure ill sit in my seat though
 

route101

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Joined
16 May 2010
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These positive, in a good way, posts about return to rail for leisure trips is very reassuring, I had been given conflicting advice about this recently. I hope to be able to use the trains again soon and infact was about to ask about seat bookings on mainline (IC type) trains from London. I was told by a friend that they had booked specific trains, but there were no seat numbers given, but when I have looked on a couple of TOC websites, they say that you must sit in the seats allocated by them as they are socially distanced?

I presume on commuter type trains and even for longer distance trains in the southeast, then you can not book seats anyway, I wonder how that would work say for example from WAT to Exeter/Bristol-Weymouth etc., ?

Avanti and LNER are compulsary reservations. Got one for this wednesday, not sure ill sit in my seat though
 

Grecian 1998

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These positive, in a good way, posts about return to rail for leisure trips is very reassuring, I had been given conflicting advice about this recently. I hope to be able to use the trains again soon and infact was about to ask about seat bookings on mainline (IC type) trains from London. I was told by a friend that they had booked specific trains, but there were no seat numbers given, but when I have looked on a couple of TOC websites, they say that you must sit in the seats allocated by them as they are socially distanced?

I presume on commuter type trains and even for longer distance trains in the southeast, then you can not book seats anyway, I wonder how that would work say for example from WAT to Exeter/Bristol-Weymouth etc., ?


SWT and SWR haven't offered reservations on Waterloo-Exeter or Waterloo-Weymouth services for over a decade IIRC. Doesn't seem to cause any problems. If you get on at Waterloo just go to the front of the train - most people seem to pile on at the back. That's always worked for me off-peak anyway.

I've done three trips out of Bristol since the end of May. Used Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Salisbury. All have had barriers since the end of June, but no issues using any of them.
 

Fisherman80

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Avanti and LNER are compulsary reservations. Got one for this wednesday, not sure ill sit in my seat though
I got on an LNER train without a reservation a couple of weeks back when I had my first trip on an Azuma between Newcastle and York. I wasn't challenged by anyone to see if I had a reservation or not.
 

BJames

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These positive, in a good way, posts about return to rail for leisure trips is very reassuring, I had been given conflicting advice about this recently. I hope to be able to use the trains again soon and infact was about to ask about seat bookings on mainline (IC type) trains from London. I was told by a friend that they had booked specific trains, but there were no seat numbers given, but when I have looked on a couple of TOC websites, they say that you must sit in the seats allocated by them as they are socially distanced?

I presume on commuter type trains and even for longer distance trains in the southeast, then you can not book seats anyway, I wonder how that would work say for example from WAT to Exeter/Bristol-Weymouth etc., ?
East Midlands Railway even with advance tickets are not allocating seats at all, so if there are no seat numbers given you sit anywhere. They just expect you to distance yourself if possible.

LNER supposedly compulsory but I see above people haven't been challenged... I assume it's just to put off more people rather than stopping and checking everyone in case one person has slipped the net.

I presume from the post you're looking at SWR. You'll be fine to just sit anywhere, as said above it's not like they're used to reservations anyway.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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East Midlands Railway even with advance tickets are not allocating seats at all, so if there are no seat numbers given you sit anywhere. They just expect you to distance yourself if possible.

LNER supposedly compulsory but I see above people haven't been challenged... I assume it's just to put off more people rather than stopping and checking everyone in case one person has slipped the net.

I presume from the post you're looking at SWR. You'll be fine to just sit anywhere, as said above it's not like they're used to reservations anyway.
Thanks for replies, I was looking at SWR but they have reduced their Bristol services, so I think it will have to be GWR, I have not traveled with then for a very long time, I presume that I will be on one of their newish trains now?
 
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BJames

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Thanks, thanks for replies, I was looking at SWR but they have reduced their Bristol services, so I think it will have to be GWR, I have not traveled with then for a very long time, I presume that I will be on one of their newish trains now?
Yes, travelling from Paddington to Exeter or Bristol would be on their Class 80x IETs. If you were doing Exeter-Bristol or vice versa it would likely be on either the Castle Sets (refurbished and shortened HSTs) or a new 80x if it's going to London via Bristol (are these operating in the Covid timetable?), although some other sets were still operating between Exeter and Bristol when I was last down that way, perhaps someone can clarify what else is operating there now.
 
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