a better option getting to London on SUNDAY 26th November?

[whole diary]

[infoman]

The fastest diversion route via Waterloo is a 2h 12mins.


So if I tried Reading to Slough by train 20 minutes

Number 5 bus to Heathrow 30 minutes

with access to the rest of the underground network.

Thoughts any one?

[grahame]

The fastest diversion route via Waterloo is a 2h 12mins.


So if I tried Reading to Slough by train 20 minutes

Number 5 bus to Heathrow 30 minutes

with access to the rest of the underground network.

Thoughts any one?

Depends on where you are starting from and wanting to end up in London.   From where we live (Melksham) I would look at picking up the South Western line into Waterloo, either via Warminster and Salisbury, or driving across The Plain and parking on the line, perhaps at Andover.      Or on the other side, via Oxford and the Chiltern line into Marylebone

Heathrow fares are often loaded - how would that work on ticketing on your suggestion?

[stuving]

If you prefer trains, you could go via Slough to Windsor and walk to Windsor for Waterloo. Not quick, but then none of the options is.

[Ollie]

Reading to Basingstoke and then Basingstoke to Waterloo is the route I'd probably pick if I was leaving in the morning.

Time of day is relevant too as from 1230 there will be fast and stopping services to Ealing Broadway where you can then connect with the underground.

[infoman]

Thanks for all your replies,

just goes to show when your an experienced regular rail traveller,

you know how to get round these engineering issues.

Which would not normally apply to those who may only travel once or twice a year.

[PhilWakely]

At a very slight tangent...... for pax travelling up to The Smoke from Exeter today, for once I would recommend travelling to Waterloo via Honiton. Once connection times at Reading are factored in, the journey up The Mule is as 'quick' as a journey up the Berks and Hants and you can stay on the same train!

[Mark A]

It's called the mule??

Mark

[grahame]

At a very slight tangent...... for pax travelling up to The Smoke from Exeter today, for once I would recommend travelling to Waterloo via Honiton. Once connection times at Reading are factored in, the journey up The Mule is as 'quick' as a journey up the Berks and Hants and you can stay on the same train!

But is it the Mule or the Camel today with a humpy diversion Yeovil - Castle Cary - Westbury -Salisbury?

Edit to add - Example run today - 10:25 from Exeter St Davids, 14:22 arrival in Waterloo, shown as 3 carriages.
Tomorrow - 10:15 from Exeter gets in to Paddington at 12:29.

[infoman]

Have to agree Exeter to Waterloo via Salisbury looks the best option,as regards to the amount of coaches on the service.

At least the train starts at Exeter so you could gran a seat.

[Mark A]

Anecdote not data, meeting trains at Yeovil Junction on a regular basis some years back, passengers weren't thin on the ground aboard the trains, and at that time I can't recall services from London turning as 3 carriages - has the provision on the Exeter services been cut drastically?

Mark

[AMLAG]

Just to prove the UNJOINED UP Railway with what seems little or no communication with regards to main line closures we have Paddington closed today Sun 26/11 and for Devon & Cornwall passengers the direct Exeter to Salisbury / Waterloo line closed from Sat 25 Nov Until 10 Dec with Bustitution^▸ (the practice of replacing trains with buses) between Yeovil Jn and Salisbury and through trains diverted between Yeovil Jn and Salisbury via YPM, C. Cary and Westbury.
The much publicised NR^» (Network Rail - home page) media PR^▸ (Public Relations) spin is mainly about track improvements ( track renewal of the Down loop at Gillingham) for a smoother and allegedly more reliable service.

Network Rail and SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) have nevertheless had a special commemorative and hopefully edible biscuit baked for the inconvenienced and delayed passengers ..oh that SWR had refreshments again on their long distance trains; perhaps they could learn from TFW ?


 

[grahame]

Edit to add - Example run today - 10:25 from Exeter St Davids, 14:22 arrival in Waterloo, shown as 3 carriages.

Naughty irony - you could have arrived in London at about the same time by catching the 10:25 to(wards) Dundee and changing at New Street ...

[JayMac]

or driving across The Plain and parking on the line, perhaps at Andover.

I'm sure SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) would much rather you use the car park.

[JayMac]

Edit to add - Example run today - 10:25 from Exeter St Davids, 14:22 arrival in Waterloo, shown as 3 carriages.

Gained 3 at Salisbury. But they really should be running 6 from the start.

The train I caught from Yeovil Junction yesterday (Sat 25th), the 0824 Exeter to Waterloo via Westbury, was booked 6 from Exeter, with all the announcements and online info saying it was 6. Rolled into Junction with 3 and got another 3 there.