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Mookiemoo
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« on: February 14, 2013, 11:06:47 » |
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For various reasons I will be needing to get the 1803 from PAD» to plymouth. Reserving a seat not an option.
Does anyone know how reserved this tends to be? is it the usual carriage E is an unreserved carriage? i.e. do I have any hope of getting a seat let alone a table seat.
Also, how long before 1803 does it tend to be announced / be ont he platform. Plan is to get to Paddington early at about the time its normally in the station to get on ahead of the hoards
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2013, 11:21:40 » |
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You don't say which night you are looking to catch this - easier earlier in week than later / Friday always rammed!
Get yourself the FGW▸ & NR» apps! Both tend to give you the heads up on platform number before it goes up on the boards. Oh, and wait on the overbridge - its quicker to access platforms from there with less of a crush that the concourse.
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2013, 11:49:55 » |
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You don't say which night you are looking to catch this - easier earlier in week than later / Friday always rammed!
Um, I do, in the title! Realtimetrains.co.uk also give the booked platforms long ahead of schedule :-) Just tying to get a feel for the reality of it |
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2013, 11:58:19 » |
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1st Class not an option?
You may be lucky and find there's a spare seat in the Pullman Restaurant for a Standard ticket holder, if you fancy some slap-up scran, but don't bank on it.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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bobm
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« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2013, 12:14:20 » |
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I have never tried it but I am told the Restaurant is at its busiest on a Thursday - the thinking is those who use the restaurant tend to go home earlier on a Friday.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2013, 12:14:52 » |
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You don't say which night you are looking to catch this - easier earlier in week than later / Friday always rammed! Um, I do, in the title! Oops! Sorry..... If its easier to use that website, feel free - but you'll need to keep refreshing it to get the info as soon as its displayed. Be waiting on the bridge at least 30 minutes early! |
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BandHcommuter
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« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2013, 12:26:08 » |
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In my experience it usually goes off platform 4, and boards well in advance. Coach E is unreserved, unless the train is short formed, when they bung the reservations for the missing coach into E. This is quite rare these days.
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broadgage
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« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2013, 12:36:33 » |
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The Golden Hind often leaves from platform 4, but do not count on this !
With a little knowledge one can usually determine the departure for the 18-03 before it be announced.
It cant* be a platform that is already occupied by a train advertised as going somwhere else.
It cant* be a platform that is already occupied by anything other than an HST▸
That should narrow the choice to at most two or three platforms, then look for the catering supplies being loaded for the restuarant, these will be much more extensive than supplies for only a buffet.
The final pointer is customers queuing for the Pullman, or on board staff laying the tables in F.
If you correctly determine the platform before it be announced then you are virtualy certain to get a seat, possibly even a table one.
If you leave it until the train is anounced, then it depends on how qiuckly you can run !
*In certain rare circumstances these rules dont work, but they are a very good guide normally.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2013, 13:25:40 » |
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As others mention it is booked off platform 4.
The set is formed by the 1724 arrival from Paignton - if you are there early enough to see that.
That of course assumes the set is not swapped!
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2013, 13:31:19 » |
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As others mention it is booked off platform 4.
The set is formed by the 1724 arrival from Paignton - if you are there early enough to see that.
That of course assumes the set is not swapped!
Thanks I intend to be at Paddington for 1730 at the latest! The earlier the better. |
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Logged
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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Southern Stag
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« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2013, 14:15:46 » |
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Beware that it is one of the more likely services to have a set swap at Paddington because it needs the right type of buffet for the restaurant service. It can be swapped to be formed off the 1730 arrival from Swansea at Paddington which should if all has gone to plan have been formed off the 0505 Penzance-London and should have the correct type of buffet. The 1803 is better than the 1903 on a Friday in my experience although at least on the 1903 there are a lot of passengers only travelling to Newbury. If the 1803 is full and standing from Paddington it will be that way until at least Taunton.
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Super Guard
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« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2013, 16:15:16 » |
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As DM says, this is normally formed off the 1724 ex-Paignton. This is formed off the 1000 Pad-Pgn which is the 0921 arrival from Plymouth (0530).
Even if there is a set-swap, they generally still put the Golden Hind on 4, with the 1800 Bristol on 3.
E will be unreserved.
1903 will also be rammed because Super Off-Peaks are valid.
I will actually be on one of those services at some point tomorrow, so i'll report back if it's likely to still form the 1803.
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Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own. I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.
If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2013, 17:40:04 » |
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Everytime I have travelled on the 1803 its been standing only until Reading, always managed to get a seat from Reading onwards. I also find going to the front of the train is emptier than the back standard coaches, although not a good idea if you want to use the restaurant.
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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JayMac
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« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2013, 18:31:14 » |
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And what are all those passengers for Reading doing on the 1803? The service is supposed to be pick-up only at Reading.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2013, 19:14:12 » |
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And what are all those passengers for Reading doing on the 1803? The service is supposed to be pick-up only at Reading.
I've never thought of that before. A very good question. |
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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