London Midland train

[ShaunW50]

So on this coming Friday I have a train booked for 09:41 from Milton Keynes Central to London Euston. I have a 1dr class ticket, this is first time I ever been on this train service London midland. People say 1st class isn't different to standard class on this train, but the number one thing I hate is busy trains. At this time do you think the train will be busy?

 

[Eagle]

First class almost certainly won't be busy at that time of day.

 

[ShaunW50]

First class almost certainly won't be busy at that time of day.

Ahh that is great news. Have you been on that train at that time before?

 

[Morden Via CHX]

Won't be busy. Will 100% get a seat and won't be many in first class.

 

[ShaunW50]

Won't be busy. Will 100% get a seat and won't be many in first class.

Great. I hate busy trains, and hearing from people the standard and 1st class isn't different on London midland. When does it stop being busy in the morning?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

When does it stop being busy in the morning?

From commuter towns? Probably after about 8 to 8:30, people headed towards London mostly start work at 9.

 

[transmanche]

When does it stop being busy in the morning?

London Midland publish a Travel more comfortably guide to show you which are their busiest peak time trains and how likely you are to get a seat from MK to Euston in the morning - and from Euston in the evening.

(Bear in mind the guides relate to standard class seating.)

 

[ShaunW50]

London Midland publish a Travel more comfortably guide to show you which are their busiest peak time trains and how likely you are to get a seat from MK to Euston in the morning - and from Euston in the evenin

(Bear in mind the guides relate to standard class seating.)

Looking at that guide the last train is 09:22 which is standing only. Mine is 09:41 train so I'm really hoping it won't be busy at that time and I can just have a relax comfy journey which last 44mins to get to Euston.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

From commuter towns? Probably after about 8 to 8:30, people headed towards London mostly start work at 9.

I believe the 09:41 train doesn't go any where else before Milton Keynes. So first stop is Milton Keynes then 2 towns after then Euston. I'm not 100% but I think it goes like that.

 

[tsr]

I believe the 09:41 train doesn't go any where else before Milton Keynes. So first stop is Milton Keynes then 2 towns after then Euston. I'm not 100% but I think it goes like that.

The train is the 0925 from Northampton. It should call at Wolverton, Milton Keynes Central, Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard and London Euston, arriving by 1027. You can see the stops and track the train on the following webpage (a new right-hand column will appear for tracking) : http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P34242/2013/08/09 (I assume you mean you're travelling on this Friday 9th, but you can change the date in the URL). Just a note - platform numbers on that website are not guaranteed to be correct.

If you have a First Class ticket, you should usually always try to use it in First Class where you can, as it is quieter on the majority of services. If you find that the slightly better overall atmosphere in LM First Class isn't needed because the train is quiet anyway, you could always try Standard Class if you book again. That said, if you really do want to sit in Standard anyway, that shouldn't be a problem!

 

[MK Tom]

I believe the 09:41 train doesn't go any where else before Milton Keynes. So first stop is Milton Keynes then 2 towns after then Euston. I'm not 100% but I think it goes like that.

That's the 09:47 you're thinking of. The 41, as is said above, starts at Northampton. The 47 would be even quieter, but a lot slower. Similarly the 10:06 LM service will give a faster journey time but is liable to have more people on it, having come from Birmingham.

I never have trouble getting a seat in standard class on the 09:41 anyway, so first will be a piece of cake. It'll be at its busiest after Leighton Buzzard, as it's their only non-stop Euston service in the hour.

 

[ShaunW50]

That's the 09:47 you're thinking of. The 41, as is said above, starts at Northampton. The 47 would be even quieter, but a lot slower. Similarly the 10:06 LM service will give a faster journey time but is liable to have more people on it, having come from Birmingham.

I never have trouble getting a seat in standard class on the 09:41 anyway, so first will be a piece of cake. It'll be at its busiest after Leighton Buzzard, as it's their only non-stop Euston service in the hour.

Okay. So it's busy when it reaches Leighton. So the 09:41 train isn't busy then from you experience? You don't need to stand up and always get a seat

 

[MK Tom]

Nope, I always sit in the rear coach which is usually quiet. Hardly ever get ticket checks on it though so you may have the odd standard class passenger sat in first class.

 

[ShaunW50]

Nope, I always sit in the rear coach which is usually quiet. Hardly ever get ticket checks on it though so you may have the odd standard class passenger sat in first class.

Ok. That is great news, I hate busy trains so glad I picked a train after rush hour.

 

[oversteer]

Not sure what's diagrammed at that time of day but LM services are often two or three 350 sets coupled together, so there will be up to three separate first class areas should the first one be to busy

 

[gordonthemoron]

at that time of day it'll probably be 4 coaches (1 unit) or 8 coaches (2 units), highly unlikely to be 3 as they are only used in the peak

 

[MK Tom]

It's usually four in my experience.

 

[Kristofferson]

Don't expect the toilets to be unlocked btw, LM rarely seem to empty the tanks.

 

[gordonthemoron]

actually the timetable says it is 12 coaches

northampton-milton-keynes-leighton-buzzard-london

 

[MK Tom]

Well in that case there'll be loads of room. 41s on other hours are usually four so I assumed that applied to all off-peak ones. The 9.41 certainly was four at one point in time.

 

[gordonthemoron]

TBF, what the timetable states doesn't always match what turns up. For instance I often catch xx.41 from MK and it is not unusual for the train to be announced as 4 coaches and then 8 pull in

 

[ShaunW50]

I contacted London midland by twitter. They said that the 09:41 train is planned to be a 8 coach train. Just as long it's not really busy I will be happy

 

[southern442]

Great. I hate busy trains, and hearing from people the standard and 1st class isn't different on London midland. When does it stop being busy in the morning?

It's a slightly comfier, more high quality seat.

 

[Poggs]

TBF, what the timetable states doesn't always match what turns up. For instance I often catch xx.41 from MK and it is not unusual for the train to be announced as 4 coaches and then 8 pull in

Is it one of the trains that join at Northampton?

 

[dvboy]

LM are running some shorter formed trains during August as there's one in TPE land for driver training and they are doing some of their own too.

 

[IanD]

The 0941 is the second off-peak LM service from both MK and Northampton so does sometimes get quite busy (but not generally rammed) during school holidays as the sensible people in both places realise it leaves 20 minutes after the previous service but arrives only 10 minutes later, starts at Northampton and should have 12 coaches. I used to use it often but have never failed to get a seat in standard so presume first class would be similar (as I don't know anyone who thinks 1st is worth paying extra for on LM except possibly during Great Escapes).

 

[plastictaffy]

The 0941 isn't a train I've worked - well, I don't see it on my diagrams anyway. However that service is the 0925 off NMP, (calls WOL, MKC, LBZ and then EUS, should go over onto the Up Fast at Ledburn) which shouldn't be too busy. There'll still be a few stragglers commuter wise, but I can't see 1st class being rammed. However, bear in mind that it is the summer hols at the moment, and that would be only the second train that off peak tickets are valid on, so it could throw up a surprise. Because it's a "Flyer" (Limited Stop) it should be diagrammed for a Mark 1 unit. However that doesn't mean King's Heath won't put a Mark 2 on it.