SWR regular timetable?

[handsomelife]

I'm looking to buy a house and one of my criteria is a decent train service into Waterloo. SWR's website at present understandably only appears to provide amended timetables for the service they're currently operating.

Does anyone know where I might find the full service timetables online?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Flange Squeal]

Find the station on https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NRT-Stations-index.pdf

Then visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/the-timetable/electronic-national-rail-timetable/ and scroll down to ‘Route Timetables’, click ‘May 2020’, then ‘Wessex Route’, and click the relevant timetable number(s) to download a PDF copy of it.

 

[handsomelife]

Ah fantastic, thank you so much!

 

[TEW]

A note of caution though, there is some uncertainty at the moment as to exactly what the timetable will be long term. It seems unlikely that the full planned May 2020 timetable level will be restored anytime soon, and some of the current reductions look likely to become permanent.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

I'm looking to buy a house and one of my criteria is a decent train service into Waterloo. SWR's website at present understandably only appears to provide amended timetables for the service they're currently operating.

Does anyone know where I might find the full service timetables online?

Thanks in advance!

Want to give us some stations? Some of us will remember the service pre-lockdown including peak extras...

 

[Flange Squeal]

For reference, the above link also still has the December 2019 timetables on there so you can check what was actually running pre-Covid, as well as the changes that the planned May 2020 timetable included.

 

[handsomelife]

Want to give us some stations? Some of us will remember the service pre-lockdown including peak extras...

So the one I'm particularly interested in is Camberley. At present it looks like there's only one direct train to Waterloo at 06:43, anything after that requires a change at Ash Vale with a 20 minute wait which doesn't sound appealing in those winter months!

 

[55002]

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/electronic-national-rail-timetable/electronic%20National%20Rail%20Timetable/02.%20December%202019/Wessex%20Route/Table%20149.pdf

thats pre Covid Dec 2019 timetable looks like 3 in morning rush and 54 mins past hour direct back from Waterloo. All up in air the timetable now with very few going back into London yet

 

[swt_passenger]

So the one I'm particularly interested in is Camberley. At present it looks like there's only one direct train to Waterloo at 06:43, anything after that requires a change at Ash Vale with a 20 minute wait which doesn't sound appealing in those winter months!

Camberley only ever had a very few peak extra through trains, the normal weekday service is a half hourly shuttle that runs between Aldershot and Ascot, with connections in and out of Reading trains at Ascot for Waterloo.

But AIUI the knock on effect of the 4 tph all day Reading service (delayed from Dec 2018) was supposed to be that through trains at Ascot would be removed completely. They also said the connections at Ash Vale would be improved, making it the faster (by 10 minutes) route to Waterloo from Camberley.

However, there was then a consultation on the plans, and a bit of a u-turn, and it was decided that they’d keep 3 morning peak up trains, and 3 evening peak down trains.

Nevertheless, that’s only going to be good for someone with what you’d call normal working hours.

Please note the comment by @TEW in post #4, but heres the consultation outcome report, section 4 page 5 refers:

 

[handsomelife]

That's really helpful, thank you both!

 

[30907]

Bit of history: the Camberley route enjoyed a half hourly through service from London via Ascot from electrification till at least the 70s, but the growth of places like Bracknell (and the indirect route to Camberley) prompted a shift in pattern. Services currently prioritise connections at Ascot over those at Ash Vale, even though it's potentially slower, but everything is complicated by the single line from Frimley to Ash Vale and the other routes in and out of Aldershot.

 

[4REP]

So the one I'm particularly interested in is Camberley. At present it looks like there's only one direct train to Waterloo at 06:43, anything after that requires a change at Ash Vale with a 20 minute wait which doesn't sound appealing in those winter months!

Your better off somewhere on the SWML.
Some stations quicker the same distance as Camberley. Up to around 10 trains an hour from an example like Basingstoke or more from Woking but just depends on how much you want to pay for a season ticket or fares etc

 

[4REP]

So the one I'm particularly interested in is Camberley. At present it looks like there's only one direct train to Waterloo at 06:43, anything after that requires a change at Ash Vale with a 20 minute wait which doesn't sound appealing in those winter months!

Farnborough boasts also a good service.
Up to 4 trains an hour. 2 stopping 2 fast.
30 minutes journey average

 

[modernrail]

Am I right in thinking the Axminster to Waterloo directs have gone because of Covid? I am travelling the route tomorrow and can only seem to find trains with a change at Salisbury.

Does anybody know the direct journey time vs the time changing at Salisbury?

Thanks!

 

[ls2270]

Am I right in thinking the Axminster to Waterloo directs have gone because of Covid? I am travelling the route tomorrow and can only seem to find trains with a change at Salisbury.

Does anybody know the direct journey time vs the time changing at Salisbury?

Thanks!

Yes, the Exeter to Waterloo service is split in half at Salisbury since COVID with only 1L20 0510 Exeter SD to Waterloo running through.
It’s roughly every two hours from Axminster nowadays, with a journey time to Waterloo of around 3 hours 20 minutes including the change at Salisbury.

 

[FenMan]

So the one I'm particularly interested in is Camberley. At present it looks like there's only one direct train to Waterloo at 06:43, anything after that requires a change at Ash Vale with a 20 minute wait which doesn't sound appealing in those winter months!

Hi, a Camberley area local here. The few direct trains are slow, taking the total commute time easily up to near 4 hours a day. There is minimal parking provision at the station although there is a local authority multi-storey across the road.

London commuters living in the east end (posh part) of Camberley often drive to Woking. And many in the west and south of the town use Farnborough Main. Obviously significant parking charges apply at both stations.

Some living on the west side of town also use Blackwater, on the North Downs Line, which has a slightly quicker service to Waterloo, typically 1h02m, (changing at Guildford) and a much quicker service to Paddington, typically 47m to 55m (changing at Reading). There is a cheap car park run by Hart Council. This option is worth considering if your workplace is near Paddington.

 

[45669]

As has been mentioned above, the normal service from Farnborough Main is four trains an hour. However, for Camberley and Frimley residents, the Stagecoach bus No.1 runs to the station forecourt every ten minutes and might be a useful alternative to driving and paying the car parking charge.

 

[handsomelife]

Hi, a Camberley area local here. The few direct trains are slow, taking the total commute time easily up to near 4 hours a day. There is minimal parking provision at the station although there is a local authority multi-storey across the road.

London commuters living in the east end (posh part) of Camberley often drive to Woking. And many in the west and south of the town use Farnborough Main. Obviously significant parking charges apply at both stations.

Some living on the west side of town also use Blackwater, on the North Downs Line, which has a slightly quicker service to Waterloo, typically 1h02m, (changing at Guildford) and a much quicker service to Paddington, typically 47m to 55m (changing at Reading). There is a cheap car park run by Hart Council. This option is worth considering if your workplace is near Paddington.

Ah this is really helpful, thank you (and everyone else that's replied!)

 

[Omnishambles]

Agree with some of the Farnborough comments above having commuted from there during the May 2019 timetable.
An extra few miles down the road with, in the main 43-47 mins, as opposed to Farnborough 38-43 mins is Basingstoke, regularly commuted In the December 2019 timetable.
Personally I find the 444s more comfortable than the 450s and the Salisbury DMUs best of all, Farnborough is mainly 450s
Also the added contingency in Basingstoke is to/from Paddington via Reading if the SWML is screwed With a running time of under an hour in the main

 

[FenMan]

Agree with some of the Farnborough comments above having commuted from there during the May 2019 timetable.
An extra few miles down the road with, in the main 43-47 mins, as opposed to Farnborough 38-43 mins is Basingstoke, regularly commuted In the December 2019 timetable.
Personally I find the 444s more comfortable than the 450s and the Salisbury DMUs best of all, Farnborough is mainly 450s
Also the added contingency in Basingstoke is to/from Paddington via Reading if the SWML is screwed With a running time of under an hour in the main

But, Basingstoke.

Ah this is really helpful, thank you (and everyone else that's replied!)

You are welcome. Typically, Camberley-London commuters who use the direct trains live a short walk from the station or prefer not to pay the car parking premium at Woking or Farnborough Main. That said, the primary commuter flow from Camberley is by car up the M3 to Heathrow Airport.

Meanwhile, on the western edge of Camberley, the main commuter flow from Blackwater station is to Reading (Microsoft, Oracle, etc). It's a mixed up area!

 

[Omnishambles]

But, Basingstoke.

ah, it’s not that bad to be fair

 

[45669]

ah, it’s not that bad to be fair

It even gets a mention in Gilbert & Sullivan. (Basingstoke, my dear, Basingstoke.)

 

[444045]

Talking with railway staff earlier today and plan for a normal timetable to start on Monday 7th September
subject to government agreement

 

[TEW]

It's not going to be a normal timetable from the 7th September on SWR, it will be a small increase from the current timetable.

 

[pompeyfan]

It's not going to be a normal timetable from the 7th September on SWR, it will be a small increase from the current timetable.

If anything it’s actually a reduction because where there was 2 trains there will only be one.

On the mainline there will be Salisbury - Basingstoke shuttles with through Exeters. Bournemouth - Southampton shuttles but through Weymouths. 1 fast 1 stopper on the Pompey direct with hourly Haslemeres.

 

[MontyP]

The SWR main suburban timetable still looks to be short of normal service by a couple of trains per hour - 1 x Dorking and 1 x Guildford via Epsom are still missing. Seems odd as the Dorking trains are usually the busiest in the suburban group. There are no peak-time extras either, so the usual 6 trains per hour in each direction at Worcester Park during peak is now only 2 per hour.

 

[pompeyfan]

To be fair the blame lies with the DfT, SWR submit their timetable to the DfT and it’s up to them if they approve or reject it

 

[TEW]

The SWR main suburban timetable still looks to be short of normal service by a couple of trains per hour - 1 x Dorking and 1 x Guildford via Epsom are still missing. Seems odd as the Dorking trains are usually the busiest in the suburban group. There are no peak-time extras either, so the usual 6 trains per hour in each direction at Worcester Park during peak is now only 2 per hour.

There is an extra 1tph from Epsom to Waterloo in the morning peak now, but it's still not ideal. The Epsom line has probably been one of the busiest lines throughout, it seems odd that other less busy routes have returned to normal whilst the Epsom line hasn't.

 

[Ianno87]

There is an extra 1tph from Epsom to Waterloo in the morning peak now, but it's still not ideal. The Epsom line has probably been one of the busiest lines throughout, it seems odd that other less busy routes have returned to normal whilst the Epsom line hasn't.

Epsom-Dorking at least has the GTR services as an alternative.

 

[London Trains]

The SWR main suburban timetable still looks to be short of normal service by a couple of trains per hour - 1 x Dorking and 1 x Guildford via Epsom are still missing. Seems odd as the Dorking trains are usually the busiest in the suburban group. There are no peak-time extras either, so the usual 6 trains per hour in each direction at Worcester Park during peak is now only 2 per hour.

Presumably SWR dont care about demand and want to dump all the Epsom to Dorking passengers onto GTR (which have a full service bar the Guildford to London Bridge peak extras and some early morning trains before 6:30) because it is an easy way to reduce services without leaving anywhere with no service, and believe Epsom to Raynes Park wont require more than 2tph (which is ridiculous given it has 6tph in the peaks usually).