Chiltern services after 1900

[smitha1]

Hi there,
I am planning on travelling on Chiltern services leaving Marylebone after 19:00 tomorrow towards Birmingham, was wondering how busy are these services at 19:15/19:45? Have purchased a super-off peak ticket and now wondering if I'll be standing the whole way.
Thanks!

 

[asylumxl]

Depends where they stop. I've found them to be reasonably well loaded, but you shouldn't end up standing all the way.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

The high peak at Marylebone is at about 18:00-18:30 and the station is extremely busy at that point, but the drop off from about 19:00 is very noticeable. At the time you wish to travel I would describe it as 'steady'.

What I will say is board the train as soon as it is posted on the departure screens and go to the far end of the train behind where the driver sits. It's ridiculous how many people pile into the coach closest to the buffer stops (I would imagine this is true at every terminal station in the world, it is certainly the case at Marylebone) and you would be amazed at the difference in how crowded the rear coaches are on trains leaving Marylebone compared to the front ones.

 

[SS4]

Get on at the front and you'll likely get a good seat. If you feel brave I've noticed the departures app is slightly ahead of the departure boards although use at your own risk re: platform changes.

I was on the 2045 ex-MYB in April and it was quite busy although I suspect this may have been due to the 50p return offer in force then.

 

[stu]

I did the 19:15 last Friday which is obviously the first super off peak train, was busy on an 8 carriage train but not to the point of having to stand.

 

[smitha1]

Travelled on these trains yesterday, and the 19:45 was quite busy, few people standing as far as High Wycombe and Bicester, but was pretty quiet after Leamington. Surprisingly the morning train to Marylebone was quite busy the 9:55 from Moor Street. Anyway thanks for all the replies!

 

[ChilternHenry]

I did the 19:15 last Friday which is obviously the first super off peak train, was busy on an 8 carriage train but not to the point of having to stand.

I've only ever seen Chiltern do a 7, although some platforms can take 8 cars I've never seen it done, are you sure it was 8 cars?

 

[Eagle]

I've only ever seen Chiltern do a 7, although some platforms can take 8 cars I've never seen it done, are you sure it was 8 cars?

All the stations it calls at can take eight cars.

 

[ChilternHenry]

Cheers for confirming that eagle, however, I'm still reluctant to believe it was an eight car train, I must check the set diagrams for this service

 

[js47604]

Cheers for confirming that eagle, however, I'm still reluctant to believe it was an eight car train, I must check the set diagrams for this service

Shouldn't have been more than 7 if calling at DOO stations with no monitors under current Chiltern agreements.Stations like Haddenham and Thame Parkway etc are having mirrors replaced by monitors this year for the purpose of running 8 car trains from the December timetable.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

That's an interesting bit of info. Seems odd because mirrors have only been in situ at Haddenham for a few months!

 

[stu]

Apologies, a typo peeps - what with 7 being next to 8 and all, and mashing the keyboard...

Cheers.