Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi

Never having commuted over xmas before (can you tell I'm not looking forward to it?) I am wondering what the PEAK traffic to london is like?

Also do they abandon the peak/offpeak distinction given that half the country seems to shut down for two weeks these days?

My season is up on the 8th and since I will need to stay over a few times and other variations I'm alculating whether its worth renewing it.

Might even consider going standard between xmas and new year if the loadings at 0530 are low....

 :o :o :o    ;D

While you certainly won't be finding yourself having to fight for a seat in standard on the way to Reading in the mornings that week first thing, it will be a different matter on the way back, especially if you want a table to work at, at least as far as Charlbury, thanks to lots of sales shoppers on the way home.

The period between Christmas and the New Year is usually a good time to travel in the peak.  The trains are really quiet.    Evening will be busier as the shoppers are returning home.

You might also like to know that weekend first is in operation from 24 Dec until 3 January and tickets restictions ie Off Peak  are lifted on FGW.

Restrictions not lifted in the AM on Xmas Eve on most FGW services, although they are lifted on the Cotswold line.

Interesting - in that case I'll be going standard and upgrading where needs be...........

Thanks all

Not sure what restrictions you refer to (off-peak or Weekend First availability?) but there is no difference on the Cotswold Line to anywhere else on FGW.

i.e. Weekend First only available on-train in the AM peak, off-peak tickets not valid on AM peak - both Christmas Eve.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=4575

You're right ChrisB, I was referring to the off-peak restrictions not being lifted in the morning of 24/12. It is nice of FGW to offer 'Weekend First' though. There's no network wide lifting of restrictions in the AM on Xmas Eve. Virgin, CrossCountry and East Coast have lifted the Peak restrictions. FGW, depite doing it in previous years, have decided not to this year.

However I have checked journeys from HFD, WOS/WOF etc to PAD, and they appear to be an exception.