Additonal Trains for London/Windsor during mourning period

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

I’m sure the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) will be paying the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s for these additional trains on the basis that it’s better to be safe than sorry and of course it gives out a positive message…even though it might be overkill.

I expect Monday will be very busy though.

[broadgage]

I'm trying to do the arithmetic here ... if people pass through Westminster Hall at a rate of 1 per second, that's 3600 per hour - but call it 3,000 because they're stopping every 20 minutes to change the guard.  If a train carries 500 people, that's 6 trainload of people per hour.  Spread between Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge, Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, Euston and Paddington that's just one trainload per hour into each terminus.  And that's ignoring the tiny stations such as Charing Cross, Canon Street, Fenchurch Street, St Pancras, Moorgate, Blackfriars and Maryleone and the fact that many people will come in on the underground or crossrail, or by bus (on the road or river).    Now - 1 trainload per hour into stations that have a train arriving every few minutes does not look massive ...

I suspect that numbers will be significantly greater than suggested above, for two main reasons.
Firstly many may visit London with the intention of paying respects at Westminster Hall, but give up when they see the queue. They still need transport to and from London.
Others may travel with the intention of "simply being there" and leaving flowers, No limit on numbers, unlike  paying respects at Westminster Hall.

And of course the State Funeral  is only days away, and there is no limit on the numbers attending to watch the funeral procession.

[grahame]

I’m sure the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) will be paying the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)’s for these additional trains on the basis that ...

Perhaps also on the basis that this is (one hopes) a one-off expenditure which does not set a precedent, so there's a lot of good publicity to be bought without repeat / run-on costs.

[broadgage]

The state funeral is a time for solemn remembering and not an occasion for feasting and celebrating.

However in about a years time the new King will be crowned and that WILL be the time for feasting and celebrating. Hopefully the railways will be prepared for the crowds attending the festivities.
A good show was put on for the last Coronation, despite rationing and shortages.

WE WANT AN OX ROAST ! there were some some ox roasts for the last Coronation, but numbers were restricted due to rationing. No excuse for not having ox roasts this time.

This is how it should be done ! In colour, still rare at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1OLZ_l0_U Sorry about the long intro, the actual ox roasting starts about 6 minutes in.

[TaplowGreen]

The state funeral is a time for solemn remembering and not an occasion for feasting and celebrating.

However in about a years time the new King will be crowned and that WILL be the time for feasting and celebrating. Hopefully the railways will be prepared for the crowds attending the festivities.
A good show was put on for the last Coronation, despite rationing and shortages.

WE WANT AN OX ROAST ! there were some some ox roasts for the last Coronation, but numbers were restricted due to rationing. No excuse for not having ox roasts this time.

This is how it should be done ! In colour, still rare at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1OLZ_l0_U Sorry about the long intro, the actual ox roasting starts about 6 minutes in.

Washed down with a couple of barrels of Port!

[GBM]

Washed down with a couple of barrels of Port!

I'm keeping quiet on this one!

[broadgage]

Strong nourishing ale to be quaffed with the ox roast would be more suitable, perhaps a morsel of port afterwards with which to drink a toast to the new King.

The loyal toast may be drunk in beer or wine at less formal events, but port is the proper drink at a more formal event.

It is not proper to drink the toast in strong spirits, nor in mixed drinks that contain strong spirits.

[JayMac]

Profligate waste of money.

[grahame]

Profligate waste of money.

If we're talking about the trains, I suspect that the extra spend is small and these will be an awful lot more tickets being sold. I do not see the passengers travelling being of a typical metric to look to dodge paying.   If we're talking about the whole lot o events going on, we're off topic and perhaps best to move that discussion elsewhere, fascinating thought the topic is.

[JayMac]

Profligate waste of money.

If we're talking about the trains, I suspect that the extra spend is small and these will be an awful lot more tickets being sold. I do not see the passengers travelling being of a typical metric to look to dodge paying.   If we're talking about the whole lot o events going on, we're off topic and perhaps best to move that discussion elsewhere, fascinating thought the topic is.

You're right. Not about the trains. A response to a coronation featuring ox roasts, barrels of ale and port.

[broadgage]

Perhaps a roast herring instead ?

[IndustryInsider]

A 4-car unit is the maximum that can be accommodated, at that is what was provided for a rather different royal event when Harry and Meghan got married.  Perhaps that will be arranged for Monday?

A 4-car train is indeed being provided for the day, though events have somewhat rendered those arrangements as unnecessary.

Thank goodness for the route to Windsor from Waterloo (and from Reading via Staines).

[IndustryInsider]

Thank goodness for the route to Windsor from Waterloo (and from Reading via Staines).

Mind you, there are delays of over an hour on that route after the police requested a line block due to an incident near Datchet.

One of those days, sadly.

[ChrisB]

Just as well they didn't book to use the Royal Train then....

[Marlburian]

George VI's funeral train travelled from Paddington to Windsor. No overhead cables then, and less need for security measures.