First Capital Connect 'Sleeper' Service

[mappman1000]

Was thinking of doing this for the sheer hell of it and because I still need the hertford loop

Basically, its the weekdays only (I think?), return service that runs to and from Peterborough overnight, operated by FCC.

0136 London Kings Cross - Peterborough (arrive 0316)
0325 Peterborough - London Kings Cross (arrive 0459) via Hertford loop

Is there a reason why this service is operated, as I cannot imagine there's a high demand for travel at those times?

Also, is there a poor guard/RPI onboard this?

 

[scotsman]

It'll be Driver only, FCC don't have Guards and I can't see many RPIs being brave enough to go checking on that train

 

[radamfi]

I still need the hertford loop

Does it count if you do it in the dark?

 

[Aictos]

Especially not with drunks on the service, only runs Monday to Saturday as well.

The 03:16 terminator at Peterborough doesn't form the 03:25 departure as the stock for the 03:25 comes out of the Nene sidings, the terminator I believe goes into the Nene sidings upon arrival at Peterborough.

 

[t0ffeeman]

It'll have a few railway staff going home on it. You get the drunks on Thursdays & Fridays and anytime there is an event in London. Formed of a shabby 317. The 0325 is a 365

 

[Aictos]

The 03:25 is usually a Class 365 however Classes 317/321 can deputise from time to time depending on operational needs of course.

 

[Firestarter]

Was thinking of doing this for the sheer hell of it and because I still need the hertford loop

Basically, its the weekdays only (I think?), return service that runs to and from Peterborough overnight, operated by FCC.

0136 London Kings Cross - Peterborough (arrive 0316)
0325 Peterborough - London Kings Cross (arrive 0459) via Hertford loop

Is there a reason why this service is operated, as I cannot imagine there's a high demand for travel at those times?

Also, is there a poor guard/RPI onboard this?

There are loads of sleeper trains on the TL side of the fence.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Apart from staff going to and from work (the old 0331 Milton Keynes - Euston , if delayed messup half of the netowrk and LUL) , there are almost always legitimite early travellers as well as an element of those who have perhaps imbibed generously.

 

[Harlesden]

I'd love to do it but can't find a fare less than £38 for the round trip - even checking Early December Advance.
I can get to Grimsby and back for less than that.

 

[mappman1000]

Looking at National Rail enquiries, London Midland and First Great Western operate similar services.

0134 London Euston - Milton Keynes Central (arrive 0237)
0330 Milton Keynes Central - London Euston (arrive 0435)

0134 London Paddington - Reading (arrive 0229)
0354 Reading - London Paddington (arrive 0447)

Assume this is a turbo?

There's probably other similar trains existing that I don't know of...

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I'd love to do it but can't find a fare less than £38 for the round trip - even checking Early December Advance.
I can get to Grimsby and back for less than that.

You can do that journey on the early hours of a Saturday for £24

 

[anthony263]

Looking at National Rail enquiries, London Midland and First Great Western operate similar services.

0134 London Euston - Milton Keynes Central (arrive 0237)
0330 Milton Keynes Central - London Euston (arrive 0435)

0134 London Paddington - Reading (arrive 0229)
0354 Reading - London Paddington (arrive 0447)

Assume this is a turbo?

There's probably other similar trains existing that I don't know of...

All the overnight services are a class 165 or 166.

I spent 1 night last winter after arriving into Reading at 23:15 and doing abit of night photograpy traveling on the night train to Paddington where i arrived at i think around 03:15 before getting a night bus down to liverpool street then another down towards enbankment where i did some night photography before the tubed started operating.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

For Night Owls there is more of a selection of services on the Thameslink route.

LONDON to BEDFORD


01:06 London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
Bedford [BDM]
Platform 2
02:22 1h 16m 0

01:32 London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
Bedford [BDM]
Platform 2
02:48 1h 16m 0

02:32 London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
Bedford [BDM]
Platform 2
03:48 1h 16m 0

03:52 London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
05:08 1h 16m 0

04:32 London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
05:48 1h 16m 0


BEDFORD to LONDON

01:02 Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
02:16 1h 14m

02:02 Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
03:16

03:02 Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform 1
04:16 1h 14m

03:42 Bedford [BDM]
Platform 1
London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform A
04:53 1h 11m

04:10 Bedford [BDM]
Platform 2
London St Pancras International [STP]
Platform A
05:12


a near 24 hour service (excepting Saturday night/Sunday morning when most people going out would like one) which is one of FCC's few redeeming features.

 

[TEW]

0134 London Paddington - Reading (arrive 0229)
0354 Reading - London Paddington (arrive 0447)

Assume this is a turbo?

There's a couple of London-Reading (0034, 0134, 0334 from London) (0112, 0224, 0354, 0439 from Reading) services overnight using Turbos, the units will be swapped at Reading though with the set arriving from London going on to the depot for fuel and cleaning.

 

[dvboy]

I used an early morning London-Bedford service recently to get to Luton Airport for a 6am flight, and I wasn't the only one (check in starts at 4am and is usually very busy with 6 or 7 EasyJet flights going at 6).

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I used an early morning London-Bedford service recently to get to Luton Airport for a 6am flight, and I wasn't the only one (check in starts at 4am and is usually very busy with 6 or 7 EasyJet flights going at 6).

They are pretty busy round the clock and not just for people going to the airport. I have often found the 01.06 and the following departure or two to often be standing room only.

 

[causton]

They are pretty busy round the clock and not just for people going to the airport. I have often found the 01.06 and the following departure or two to often be standing room only.

That will be all the people coming home from London making it busy - FCC's Great Northern side is the same, after about 10pm every train is as busy as many peak trains around here!

 

[mappman1000]

Its understandable that FCC and Southern operate services for Luton and Gatwick all night. Is the reason for FGW operating overnight turbo's, so tha people can get them to Hayes and Harlington, to connect with buses to Heathrow for early flights?

Always fancied doing an overnighter on Southern using a Daysave, but the 377's cannot be that enjoyable, just imagining the folk who get on at Clapham and Croydon in the small hours. Another thing I've wanted to do is go back and forth between St Pancras and Hendon all night on a travelcard, or two.

I am surprised that Stansted's don't run overnight, even if they were hourly.