South West Trains, How reliable are they?

Aictos · 26 Dec 2010

I'm trying to complete some travelling arrangements for the 30th Dec as I'm spending a day on the Orton Towers railtour, I note there's a 05:50 departure from Waterloo which gets into Woking at 06:38 (The charter goes at 06:43) have I a good chance of making this connection or should I play it safe and board the charter at Staines instead which gives me a lot more time.

I don't normally venture south of the river so would like to know if SWT are pretty good, thanks

Also, the curve that's East of ByFleet and New Haw that heads off to Staines on my London Connections map shows up as a limited service, what trains if any run via that curve please?

RailUK Forums

matt · 26 Dec 2010

ajax103 said:
I'm trying to complete some travelling arrangements for the 30th Dec as I'm spending a day on the Orton Towers railtour, I note there's a 05:50 departure from Waterloo which gets into Woking at 06:38 (The charter goes at 06:43) have I a good chance of making this connection or should I play it safe and board the charter at Staines instead which gives me a lot more time.

I don't normally venture south of the river so would like to know if SWT are pretty good, thanks

Also, the curve that's East of ByFleet and New Haw that heads off to Staines on my London Connections map shows up as a limited service, what trains if any run via that curve please?

Personally i wouldn't risk a 5 minute connection for a charter.

junglejames · 26 Dec 2010

5mins is pushing it. SWT are usually pretty good i think, but you are always going to get the odd problem. Sods law, that problem is on your train. It doesnt take much to lose 5mins. Youve got to take into account possible platform changes as well, so you have literally no time to lose. Dont do it. Just in case.

Peter Mugridge · 26 Dec 2010

I would not rely on 5 minutes for anything, no matter how reliable the service was at any time.

Board it at Staines.

Unless...

There are two earlier trains you could catch, with are showing as running on the NRE website:

05.00 Waterloo - Woking 05.50
and
05.30 Waterloo - Woking 05.59

Aictos · 26 Dec 2010

Peter Mugridge said:
I would not rely on 5 minutes for anything, no matter how reliable the service was at any time.

Board it at Staines.

Unless...

There are two earlier trains you could catch, with are showing as running on the NRE website:

05.00 Waterloo - Woking 05.50
and
05.30 Waterloo - Woking 05.59

I am coming from Peterborough so it's tight enough as it is, I was looking at Staines but I need to know what trains use Byfleet curve so I can at a later date cross it off my route book.

wintonian · 26 Dec 2010

junglejames said:
5mins is pushing it. SWT are usually pretty good i think, but you are always going to get the odd problem. Sods law, that problem is on your train. It doesnt take much to lose 5mins. Youve got to take into account possible platform changes as well, so you have literally no time to lose. Dont do it. Just in case.

I agree, SWT are pretty reliable (all the extra padding the put in), but of course points fail and so do signals not to mention the weather - I wouldn't risk it if I had to be somewhere at a certain time.

Ibex · 26 Dec 2010

ajax103 said:
I am coming from Peterborough so it's tight enough as it is, I was looking at Staines but I need to know what trains use Byfleet curve so I can at a later date cross it off my route book.

I believe it's used by the sundays only Waterloo to Woking service via Hounslow (an extension of the Waterloo to Weybridge via Hounslow service).

It's also used during engineering works when there's possessions at Wimbledon, Surbiton, etc and all the mainline services divert via the Windsor lines, and up through Chertsey then onto the curve.

As for the question of how reliable are they, over the past 3 years I've only had two problems with them, one was a fatality and the other was a particularly bad bridge bash at Staines which are both of their control. Maybe I'm just lucky but I find them to be very reliable, of course if the infrastructure doesn't play ball it's a different story.

thefab444 · 26 Dec 2010

The only regular service over that curve is, as James says, the hourly Sundays only Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service.

Other than that, there is a Monday - Saturday 05:27 Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service, and a Monday - Saturday 22:52 Waterloo - Woking via Brentford. If you don't fancy those inconvenient times, you'll just have to wait for some engineering work.

Aictos · 26 Dec 2010

thefab444 said:
The only regular service over that curve is, as James says, the hourly Sundays only Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service.

Other than that, there is a Monday - Saturday 05:27 Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service, and a Monday - Saturday 22:52 Waterloo - Woking via Brentford. If you don't fancy those inconvenient times, you'll just have to wait for some engineering work.

Apart from the Byfleet Curve/Junction. is there anywhere else on SWT metals that a limited service runs?

thefab444 · 26 Dec 2010

Fulwell to Strawberry Hill is only served by about 3 trains per day each way in the peak period. Occasionally used for diversions for Shepperton services if there's a block in the Kingston/New Malden/Wimbledon area.

Clapham Junction (W) - Wimbledon via East Putney & Southfields gets about 2 trains per day, in the early morning and late evening. Occasionally used for diversions for mainline services if there's a block in the Earlsfield/Clapham Junction area, but this hasn't happened properly for a few years now.

Peter Mugridge · 26 Dec 2010

OP, if you are coming down from Peterborough then why not book a cheap hotel near Woking station and use it as a base for the tour?

Or are they all booked solid anyway?

Though as you can get the curve without the tour, it does look more like Staines for the tour now doesn't it?

Aictos · 26 Dec 2010

What's the best way to get between Waterloo and Kings Cross by Tube please?

National Rail tells me I have two options:

From Kings Cross St Pancras Underground Station take the Victoria Line (Southbound, Platform 4) to Warren Street Underground Station. Change and take the Northern Line (Southbound, Platform 2) to Waterloo Underground Station.

From Kings Cross St Pancras Underground Station take the Piccadilly Line (Westbound, Platform 5) to Leicester Square Underground Station. Change and take the Northern Line (Southbound, Platform 3) to Waterloo Underground Station.

Which is easier?

PS TfL is suggesting I take the Circle to Baker Street and then the Jubilee Line to Waterloo is this a better route?

thefab444 · 26 Dec 2010

Out of those two I'd probably change at Warren Street.

Ibex · 26 Dec 2010

If they're running, Victoria line to Oxford Circus, and then Bakerloo to Waterloo.

The Victoria line is very close to the entrance at Kings Cross, cross-platform interchange at Oxford Circus and then the Bakerloo is right next to the exit at Waterloo.

Simples. If the Bakerloo isn't running I'd go for Warren Street as it's quite a trek to change for the Piccadilly and it's not particularly quick. That's from personal experience.

swt_passenger · 26 Dec 2010

thefab444 said:
The only regular service over that curve is, as James says, the hourly Sundays only Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service.

Other than that, there is a Monday - Saturday 05:27 Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service, and a Monday - Saturday 22:52 Waterloo - Woking via Brentford. If you don't fancy those inconvenient times, you'll just have to wait for some engineering work.

Then of course there's a fairly regular FGW service over the Byfleet curve all this coming week...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

ajax103 said:
Apart from the Byfleet Curve/Junction. is there anywhere else on SWT metals that a limited service runs?

The north side of the Farlington triangle (ie Cosham to/from Havant) has only a limited SWT service, IIRC there's only two services each way on weekdays, west bound they are both late evening filling gaps once SN have stopped running.

Possibly more to do with route knowledge retention than any attempt at an actual service, the route is well used during engineering work on the main line through Winchester, or when the lines into Portsmouth are closed - in which case they sometimes link services and run Waterloo to Waterloo via Havant and Fareham...

thefab444 · 26 Dec 2010

swt_passenger said:
Then of course there's a fairly regular FGW service over the Byfleet curve all this coming week...

True, but you'd need an expensive ticket from Westbury to travel on those.

Aictos · 26 Dec 2010

thefab444 said:
True, but you'd need an expensive ticket from Westbury to travel on those.

Not for me or anyone else employed by First,

Lampshade · 26 Dec 2010

This one. In August I was travelling from Manchester - Staines via Sheffield, I arrived into St Pancras, took this route to Waterloo and got straight on the connecting service, beat my ETA by nearly 40 minutes <:D

t0ffeeman · 27 Dec 2010

The first tubes south of KX are at about 0540, I assume you'll be on the 0322 from PBO which regularly gets in at 0455. The 59 bus from outside Camden Town Hall (which is opposite St Pancras) will get you to Waterloo in about 15 mins at that time of day, but they go at 0456 and 0526!!

BTW, Bakerloo & Victoria lines are the easiest change by tube from KGX to WAT. Cross platform transfer at Oxford Circus.

Matt Taylor · 27 Dec 2010

Cosham to Havant has two eastbound workings, the 1643 Fareham to Waterloo via Havant and the 1927 Basingstoke to Havant, westbound there is just the 2158 Havant to Fareham.

Fulwell to Strawberry Hill has 4 up workings, one very early and then 3 in the am peak plus 3 down workings in the evening peak.

class377man · 27 Dec 2010

91107 said:
This one. In August I was travelling from Manchester - Staines via Sheffield, I arrived into St Pancras, took this route to Waterloo and got straight on the connecting service, beat my ETA by nearly 40 minutes

In fairness, NR journey planners always give far more time than is actually necessary for the tube and I imagine the Oxford Circus route would be even quicker still.

t0ffeeman · 27 Dec 2010

Regarding SWT diversions there is always Laverstock Junction east of Salisbury so that you can go from Grateley to Dean non stop. Was used regularly when the Weymouths were diesel. Would always call at Romsey also in those days...

Coxster · 27 Dec 2010

thefab444 said:
The only regular service over that curve is, as James says, the hourly Sundays only Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service.

Other than that, there is a Monday - Saturday 05:27 Woking - Waterloo via Brentford service, and a Monday - Saturday 22:52 Waterloo - Woking via Brentford. If you don't fancy those inconvenient times, you'll just have to wait for some engineering work.

Being the unbelievably pedantic bloke I am, it's actually 5.25

And if you're really unlucky you'll get me guarding it!!

swt_passenger · 27 Dec 2010

Matt Taylor said:
Cosham to Havant has two eastbound workings, the 1643 Fareham to Waterloo via Havant and the 1927 Basingstoke to Havant, westbound there is just the 2158 Havant to Fareham.

What I put earlier wasn't a guess Matt. There's two eastbound, the two you mention; and two westbound, the 2158 and the 2259.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

thefab444 said:
True, but you'd need an expensive ticket from Westbury to travel on those.

Not all that expensive for the distance and all the extra time involved on the tour of west London though, as SWT's route Warminster/Salisbury fare applies; if you've a relevant railcard it should be somewhere less than £20 for a Super Offpeak Day return...

thefab444 · 27 Dec 2010

Coxster said:
Being the unbelievably pedantic bloke I am, it's actually 5.25 And if you're really unlucky you'll get me guarding it!!

Well, it's shown as 05:27 in the CWN? I presume 05:25 is a PTT timing?

SWT's route Warminster/Salisbury fare applies; if you've a relevant railcard it should be somewhere less than £20 for a Super Offpeak Day return...

Good point, I hadn't thought of those!

Matt Taylor · 27 Dec 2010

swt_passenger said:
What I put earlier wasn't a guess Matt. There's two eastbound, the two you mention; and two westbound, the 2158 and the 2259.

That is correct, having been on leave for a couple of weeks I had allowed the 2259 to slip my mind.

swt_passenger · 28 Dec 2010

t0ffeeman said:
Regarding SWT diversions there is always Laverstock Junction east of Salisbury so that you can go from Grateley to Dean non stop. Was used regularly when the Weymouths were diesel. Would always call at Romsey also in those days...

It would be highly unlikely to ever get an SWT service that way nowadays of course, despite all the proposals in various rail forums even the Southampton tunnel closure last Christmas never saw DMU diversions.

Anyone wanting that route needs to use the timetabled early evening XC service that runs from Basingstoke dep 1847 to Southampton arr 1953,
or a weekend diverted XC service when the direct line through Winchester is closed.

nowananorack · 28 Dec 2010

The north side of the Farlington triangle (ie Cosham to/from Havant) has only a limited SWT service. It is, however, used as part of Southern's Victoria - Southampton service

GarethW · 28 Dec 2010

nowananorack said:
The north side of the Farlington triangle (ie Cosham to/from Havant) has only a limited SWT service. It is, however, used as part of Southern's Victoria - Southampton service

And of course (almost) hourly FGW Brighton - Gt Malvern trains. Normally three trains an hour in each direction.

thefab444 · 28 Dec 2010

GarethW said:
And of course (almost) hourly FGW Brighton - Gt Malvern trains. Normally three trains an hour in each direction.

I think you mean Southern's Brighton - Southampton trains. FGW only run two trains per day from Brighton.

South West Trains, How reliable are they?

Established Member

RailUK Forums

Forum Staff

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Member

Member

Established Member