Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi there

We've been renovating a house in the Vale of Pewsey with a view to moving there in the Summer. I would commute into town, taking the 7:22 every morning, and coming back in the evening.

After reading around, I'm a bit worried. Is this a feasible thing to do? Would I get a seat? I've done the journey a couple of times (though not that train) and found it OK.

Any information, or personal experience would be most welcome.

Thanks
James

Welcome to the forum, James. Not really my area, that one, but I am sure grahame & other forum members can help.

The 0722 is the first service off Exeter St Davids in the morning - and calls at Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Castle Cary and Westbury so I'd say it's likely to be fairly busy.

Returning in the evenings, you have a 1706 (Westbury), 1733 (Paignton - Reading, Newbury, Pewsey - looks like a good candidate to me as it's reasonably fast (22 mins faster than the other 2)), 1806 (Frome).

1733 to Paignton is empty virtually at Westbury so likely to get a seat. Most people probably go to Newbury.

The Exeter service leaves Exeter/Tiverton/Taunton at an unearthly hour so isn't likely to be overly busy until it reaches Newbury.

Educated guess - You'll get a seat inbound from Pewsey but the train'll get pretty crowded at Newbury from where it provides the fastest express into London, getting there at a "good" time.  Outbound - probably a bit of a scrum for seats at Paddington (get onto the train as soon as it's available) but I expect it would be "all seated" beyond Reading.

My pictures a couple of days ago which may of worried you were on the 10:17 - that' the only train from Pewsey that if after the morning peak (so affordable) but before lunchtime - so it's bound to get a bit busy, especially as it comes up all the way from Penzance, and especially as it was half term week for lots of kids from the West Country!

That service you speak of is a killer for overcrowding in half term.

Many thanks for the welcome and the information. That doesn't sound *too* bad...

I have got the evening train a few times so will be expecting the rush there, but I can live with that if the journey in is OK.

cheers
james

I'm a Pewsey commuter - something you might want to consider if your working hours are flexible is that the 0810 to London (arr 0922) and the 1836 back are both available with a Saver ticket which costs ^29 return. A huge saving compared with Open tickets which you need on the 0722 or earlier trains. With a saver you can also return on any train up to the 1633 then the 1836, 1945 and 2035.

Hi There;

It's been a while since any activity on this post, but I thought I would give it a go.

I live in london presently but I am considering moving to Pewsey (well, a village nearby) with my family. We have found a place and currently weighing up pros and cons.

I will continue to work in London, and will need to commute 3 times a week.

I am interested to learn James whether you ended up moving to Pewsey and how the commute has been for you (and general, non-train related experience I would find interesting too. :) )

My fear regarding the train is it will be standing room only, I dont mind doing this from a station like Reading which is 25 mins away, but not for over an hour. I am also planning to 'get some work done' on the train, so getting a seat regularly is essential really for us to make this move.

Also, is the car park generally full very early on and is there an alternative in the area (that might be free?).

I am thinking of staying in Pewsey 1 night and then try out the commute to see what it is like, posting on here is a less expensive alternatuive. :D

thanks in avance

Jon

Hi, Jon - welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!  :)

I'm not a local to that area, so I can't offer any comments on the points you raise - but I'm sure we have other members who will be happy to help.

I have commuted on this line for 10 years (up in the morning peak, down in the evening peak).

On the three trains which arrive before 9am in Paddington you will always get a seat if boarding at Pewsey. Others boarding beyond Newbury may have to stand. Travelling back in the evening (my trains are usually 1736, 1806, 1833 or 1945) I usually get a seat, and at the worst have to wait until Twyford or Reading before getting a seat. The 1806 is packed with Twyford commuters, and can be full and standing even 10 minutes before departure. If so, my strategy is usually to jump on the 1803 (Penzance) train as far as Reading (which is rarely full), and join the 1806 there, by which time there are plenty of seats.

Punctuality and reliability are pretty good at the moment, other than the very occasional "bad day" like last Monday. Journey times can be a bit tedious on the "stopping" trains (first two up, and the 1706 and 1806 back).

Hope this helps.

I thought the 18:03 was pick up only at Reading. I have often wondered if this is enforced in practice. 

Well the 1803 is advertised as stopping at Reading on the departure boards at Paddington, and it shows as a Paddington to Reading journey on the online journey planner, so I assume that it can be used as such. It is one of the less busy peak trains leaving Paddington in my experience, and it would place enormous pressure on the 1800 and 1806 if Reading commuters were barred from using it.

1803 is not advertised as stopping at Reading on Fridays only.

That distinction does not appear to be reflected in the PDF timetables on the FGW website for either the current or new timetables.

Yes it is.

That's what the FX is for.

Timetable number 7 is the appropriate Pad - Reading timetable.

Ahh, but timetable 7 is contradicted by timetables 4, 5 and 30. All of which show various West Country bound services (1006-1606, 1703, 1803) as being pick-up only at Reading. With no distinction made about only being applicable on Fridays.

Yes it was 4 I was looking at.

4 has the lil "u" after it which means Pick up only..
So does 5
And finally so does 30.

That's the point I was making - timetable 4 makes no distinction between Friday and the rest of the week.

Indeed, so as far as 4 is concerned it's monday to friday pick up only, either way on a friday you can't do it.