Eastleigh - Waterloo without a convoluted route on 08/01/2022

[Fiyero]

I am hoping to go to London on the 8th of January for a couple of shows.
I have looked on the journey planner and there are engineering works but the journey planner seems to be making things even worse. It has given me this itinerary:

09:14 - 09:24 Eastleigh - Winchester Train
09:48 - 10:24 Winchester - Woking Train
10:30 - 11:05 Woking - Surbiton Bus
11:11 - 11:38 Surbiton - Waterloo Train

That really doesn't look fun and last time I had to get a bus they put me on the wrong one and I missed my connection (I'll ask the driver which service he is next time rather than the staff on the forecourt!)

The bit that troubles me most though is that the train I would board at Winchester goes to Waterloo and actually arrives there 2 minutes before the one they want me to get from Surbiton:

09:48 - 11:36 Winchester - Waterloo Train

Why can't I just stay on that one? And is there any way to force a booking system to give me that on an advance fare? I may just buy the flexible fare anyway (or even cycle to Southampton Airport Parkway) but trying to work out my valid options!

 

[yorkie]

I don't know which "the" journey planner referred to is, but Trainsplit offers the following and will sell an Advance fare for it:

Eastleigh 0921
Southampton Airport Parkway 0924

Southampton Airport Parkway 0938
Waterloo 1136

is there any way to force a booking system to give me that on an advance fare?

Most booking systems only allow one via or avoid point, but Trainsplit allows up to 3 of each, and you can also specify changing at or not changing at.

 

[JonathanH]

And is there any way to force a booking system to give me that on an advance fare?

The train from Winchester is diverted from Woking via Guildford and passes through Surbiton. You might want to try specifying via Guildford or avoid Earlsfield (where the train from Surbiton calls but which is not a timing point for the train from Winchester).

 

[yorkie]

Can you just avoid Surbiton?

If the aim is to avoid calling or changing at Surbiton, the only booking engine that would allow that is Trainsplit, that I know of.

On other booking sites, if you put Avoid Surbiton, that would exclude itineraries which simply pass through, which is no good here.

Note: The train reverses at Woking & Guildford, to run via Effingham Junction (avoiding Weybridge) but does rejoin the mainline at Hampton Court Junction, just before Surbiton.

 

[swt_passenger]

The SWR engineering work page is explaining a full block between Woking and Surbiton though. I doubt the through trains that are coming up in planners are actually running. (Which is a bit ridiculous this far out…)

Planned Improvements - January Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our January engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

 

[Fiyero]

I don't know which "the" journey planner referred to is, but Trainsplit offers the following and will sell an Advance fare for it:

Eastleigh 0921
Southampton Airport Parkway 0924

Southampton Airport Parkway 0938
Waterloo 1136


Most booking systems only allow one via or avoid point, but Trainsplit allows up to 3 of each, and you can also specify changing at or not changing at.

Thank you, I had tried South Western Railway and TrainPal but have had a quick look on Trainsplit. It seems to be doing the logical split of a single from Eastleigh to Parkway and then Parkway to Waterloo for me

The train from Winchester is diverted from Woking via Guildford and passes through Surbiton. You might want to try specifying via Guildford.

When I tried that on the SWR site it won't let me travel until the 22:12!

 

[JonathanH]

If the aim is to avoid calling or changing at Surbiton, the only booking engine that would allow that is Trainsplit.

I wrote that too hastily. The train from Winchester has Surbiton as a timing point but does not call.

Other journey planners will allow stations that a train does not call as to be avoided provided you are booking in advance and the station is not a timing point (checking first using RTT).

The SWR engineering work page is explaining a full block between Woking and Surbiton though. I doubt the through trains that are coming up in planners are actually running. (Which is a bit ridiculous this far out…)

Planned Improvements - January Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our January engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

Yes, diversions via Woking - Guildford - Effingham Junction - Surbiton.

When I tried that on the SWR site it won't let me travel until the 22:12!

Yes, it seems to be only allowing journeys via Guildford on through trains, suggesting there isn't an easement for connections on the diversionary route.

I guess the split option is the only one which will work here.

 

[30907]

NRE shows me Advance fares from Winchester on those trains.

The trains are diverted Woking-Guildford-Cobham-Surbiton, which is ingenious but somehow falls foul of the permitted routes system when travelling from Eastleigh (but not from other stations in the area!)

My hunch - without checking, and certainly without knowing the technicalities of the system - is that Eastleigh-Havant-Guildford-Woking- Waterloo is a permitted route normally, and the computer thinks you are doubling back between WOK and GLD, which of course isn't allowed.

Either that, or someone has put an easement in the system to allow the Cobham route but forgotten Eastleigh?

Anyway, you could split at WIN or SOA as suggested - or simply board the Woking train and if there is a ticket check ask if you can stay on - I would be very surprised if this wasn't allowed. Or tweet SWR.

 

[island]

I am afraid if you want to go from Eastleigh to London on 08/01/2021 you will need a TARDIS rather than a train

(sorry)

 

[Fiyero]

I am afraid if you want to go from Eastleigh to London on 08/01/2021 you will need a TARDIS rather than a train

(sorry)

Argh. Though a TARDIS is seeming easier all round!

 

[island]

I also probably wouldn't be booking Advances for this as there's a very decent chance your show might be cancelled. If you want to minimise costs try a route Three Bridges ticket from Southampton Central or Fareham to Victoria.

 

[Fiyero]

I also probably wouldn't be booking Advances for this as there's a very decent chance your show might be cancelled. If you want to minimise costs try a route Three Bridges ticket from Southampton Central or Fareham to Victoria.

I know, which is part of the reason I'm dithering! Also the thought of not getting back to Eastleigh until 01:39 isn't too appealing (but at least that one is direct!) The flexible fare with my railcard won't be much more in the grand scheme of things so I will likely do that - but still need to make sure my ticket is valid. As others have mentioned it looks like Eastleigh is an anomaly!

 

[FenMan]

Going up to Town I'd consider going via Reading to Paddington. The journey times are considerably shorter.

 

[Kite159]

Going up to Town I'd consider going via Reading to Paddington. The journey times are considerably shorter.

I was thinking along the same lines.

From a glance on RTT it seems the XX:46 service from Portsmouth gives a +5 connection into a GWR Reading service (with a SWR to Reading behind), that will be faster than the double reversal at Woking & Guildford.

 

[ThisIsSurbiton]

I don't know which "the" journey planner referred to is, but Trainsplit offers the following and will sell an Advance fare for it:

Eastleigh 0921
Southampton Airport Parkway 0924

Southampton Airport Parkway 0938
Waterloo 1136

Interesting! The journey planner I work with finds this journey but thinks that the journey *must* be split, as the through journey doesn't follow a mapped route, presumably around Guildford. NRE seems to agree in as much as it offers two fares. SWR should really have made a temporary map easement for it.

 

[Fiyero]

Interesting! The journey planner I work with finds this journey but thinks that the journey *must* be split, as the through journey doesn't follow a mapped route, presumably around Guildford. NRE seems to agree in as much as it offers two fares. SWR should really have made a temporary map easement for it.

It’s odd trainsplit is giving it as a split fare (single to parkway then advance back up to London). Trainpal has offered me tickets doubling back without splitting before but won’t when it seems a great choice today!

 

[island]

I also probably wouldn't be booking Advances for this as there's a very decent chance your show might be cancelled. If you want to minimise costs try a route Three Bridges ticket from Southampton Central or Fareham to Victoria.

Scratch that, Southampton to Victoria services are canned for the next two and a half weeks.

 

[JonathanH]

Scratch that, Southampton to Victoria services are canned for the next two and a half weeks.

Running to London Bridge but not matched up properly at Horsham in the schedules.

 

[mmh]

Yes, it seems to be only allowing journeys via Guildford on through trains, suggesting there isn't an easement for connections on the diversionary route.

But isn't a direct train between two stations always a valid route for that journey, no matter what route it takes?

 

[JonathanH]

But isn't a direct train between two stations always a valid route for that journey, no matter what route it takes?

Yes, that is effectively what I wrote - eg why the first journey the OP could book direct from Eastleigh to Waterloo without using the bus was the 2212.

 

[30907]

But isn't a direct train between two stations always a valid route for that journey, no matter what route it takes?

Good call.

But I can get an Advance from Shawford changing at Winchester only, so the issue is specific to Eastleigh.

 

[Fiyero]

Good call.

But I can get an Advance from Shawford changing at Winchester only, so the issue is specific to Eastleigh.

That makes me feel so special.

In all seriousness, if I bought a flexible fare I would have no issue using it and changing at Winchester then staying on that train would I?

 

[30907]

That makes me feel so special.

In all seriousness, if I bought a flexible fare I would have no issue using it and changing at Winchester then staying on that train would I?

No. It is unquestionably valid.

 

[kieron]

I also probably wouldn't be booking Advances for this as there's a very decent chance your show might be cancelled. If you want to minimise costs try a route Three Bridges ticket from Southampton Central or Fareham to Victoria.

The book with confidence scheme will operate at least until the end of March, so Fiyero would be able to get a full refund for advance tickets if he applies before 6pm the previous day, although this is in travel vouchers rather than money.

Advance tickets are a bit cheaper, even now. nre.co.uk* gives £33.90 for an Eastleigh-Southampton Airport Parkway single and two advance tickets compared to £45.60 for a return.

* You may need to delete any nationalrail.co.uk cookies you have for this link to open correctly.

 

[Fiyero]

The book with confidence scheme will operate at least until the end of March, so Fiyero would be able to get a full refund for advance tickets if he applies before 6pm the previous day, although this is in travel vouchers rather than money.

Advance tickets are a bit cheaper, even now. nre.co.uk* gives £33.90 for an Eastleigh-Southampton Airport Parkway single and two advance tickets compared to £45.60 for a return.

* You may need to delete any nationalrail.co.uk cookies you have for this link to open correctly.

I have a Network Railcard so a flexible return is £30 and change I think. I’ve also booked to stay up now so only need to deal with one journey each day.

 

[kieron]

Fair enough. I was just thinking that, if you need to catch a specific train in each direction, the only difference between advance and flexible fares would be the price.

 

[Fiyero]

Fair enough. I was just thinking that, if you need to catch a specific train in each direction, the only difference between advance and flexible fares would be the price.

That is the odd bit. I can’t get a journey planner to give me the single connection but with a flexible ticket I think it would be harder to argue it isn’t valid. I also can’t be certain all my planned activities will happen so would rather be able to go up late if the first thing is off and come back early if the last thing is.