Twyford to London - help please!

[whole diary]

[Ramage]

Hello everyone

I am new to this forum, and the reason for joining is that we are seriously considering buying a house which would have a daily commute from Twyford into Paddington. I am hoping for some help from people in the know!

Looking at the timetable on nationalrail.co.uk, there are fast trains timetabled to take just over half an hour that leave at 7-22am and 7-56am...how busy are both these trains when they pick up at Twyford...can you get a seat / can you even get on?

Coming back in the evenings, when do things get more sensible...from 6-30pm onwards?

Any feedback would be very gratefully appreciated.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Ramage! 

To be honest, Twyford to Paddington is a bit outside my personal area of experience - but we do have several more 'local' members here, who will, I'm sure, be happy to offer their comments. 

[IndustryInsider]

Hi, Ramage - welcome to the forum.

I have to admit to not having definite knowledge as to the loadings of those trains, but I would expect you to be OK for a seat, given that they both also go on to stop at Maidenhead (where if you boarded there you might have problems). I do know that you'd be fine on the previous fast train at 06:54 and that has the advantage of being a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) train - more comfort, many more seats if you're not in the know!

Coming back the 18:33 is another HST and a great train with plenty of spare seats in comparison with others leaving Paddington at a similar time. Avoid the 18:18 like the plague as that is horrendously full until Maidenhead. I would imagine the 19:06 gets pretty full as well, but the 19:18 would be quieter - though again can't confirm that for you.

Hope that's of some help? Compared with commuters from some of the stations nearer into London, Twyford ones have a pretty good time of it!

[Ramage]

Thanks very much for the prompt feedback! 

Interesting to know about the 6-54am...probably too early for the daily trip but useful to know about, and thanks also for the tips about what to look out for on the way home

I think the 7-22am and the 7-56am come through from the Henley branch, so really alll about how full they get there, Shiplake and Wargrave...

[Oxman]

From what I have seen, you won't have a problem getting a seat on the trains from Henley.

[Mookiemoo]

Thanks very much for the prompt feedback! 

Interesting to know about the 6-54am...probably too early for the daily trip

Lightweight!  LOL^▸ (laughing out loud)

[Ramage]

LOL^▸ (laughing out loud)

Could be wishful thinking on my part, and you may yet see me on the 6-54am!

Thanks also for the feedback on the Henley branch Oxman

[BBM]

I can report from experience that both the 06:54 and 07:22 will have plenty of seats available at Twyford although they can both become rather squashed at Maidenhead (the 07:22 particularly). In the opposite direction both the 17:06 and 17:36 from Paddington are usually not too crushed although the 17:06 is noticably busier on Fridays.

However it would appear from a review of the December timetable in the November issue of 'Modern Railways' that the 06:54 will become a four-car Turbo and the 17:36 from Paddington will be a 4-car instead of 6 so it looks like that we can expect severe crush loadings then.  Apparently this is all part of a stock reshuffle to release yet another Turbo for the so-far non-existent refurbishment programme...

[argg]

Welcome Ramage!

I would echo the comments on the 7.22 and 7.56.  Cosy, but you can get on (expecially if you know the right spot on the platform for the doors).  If you're deciding between the two and aiming for arrival between 8 and 8.30 then consider the 7.08, 7.16 or 7.37 - all stopping services but IMO^▸ (in my opinion) much more civilised in terms of getting a seat. The 7.37 arrives just after 8.30 about the same time as the 7.56.

Evenings: The HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are a good option but don't leave it to the last minute, however with a journey time of 25-30 mins standing isn't too awful.  Look also for the Henley services (they arrive on platform 4  - so no bridge and faster exit ).  The 18.12 is a good choice, it is currently 5 or 6 cars whereas the 19.06 is only 3 car which can be a bit intimate!  After that time expect 3 car stopping services generally overcrowded until after Hayes.

(BTW^▸ (by the way) if planning to park at the station - get a larger mortgage!)

Have fun!

[dog box]

on the way back try the 1806 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Frome...although busy as savers are vaild on it, its 1st stop twyford and about a 20 min journey

[Ramage]

Thanks very much for all the responses, very helpful. I guess the two peak direct trains from Henley were always going to be full in the mornings, and hadn't really thought about the slower option, but sound much more civilised with a seat!

Interesting about parking - might well need to look into that as well, so what's the damage?! Could be a car or a moped

Good that there are some quick options in the evening, especially the 18-06...I work near Picc Circus, so hopefully wouldnt' take ages to get up to Paddington, although I know it's a bit of a walk from the tube to the british rail platforms

Of course need to see if we actulaly buy this house, but fingers crossed on that front...

[Mookiemoo]

Thanks very much for all the responses, very helpful. I guess the two peak direct trains from Henley were always going to be full in the mornings, and hadn't really thought about the slower option, but sound much more civilised with a seat!

Interesting about parking - might well need to look into that as well, so what's the damage?! Could be a car or a moped

Good that there are some quick options in the evening, especially the 18-06...I work near Picc Circus, so hopefully wouldnt' take ages to get up to Paddington, although I know it's a bit of a walk from the tube to the british rail platforms

Of course need to see if we actulaly buy this house, but fingers crossed on that front...

Bakerloo isnt bad.........  I did it frequently and its not as bad as some of the mainline stations

[Ramage]

Thank you for all the helpful advice. Looks like offer was accepted on the house, so may well be seeing some of you on the 6-54 / 7-22 / 7-56 early next year!

One final question - how busy is the car park at Twyford 7 to 8am in the week?

[IndustryInsider]

One final question - how busy is the car park at Twyford 7 to 8am in the week?

It's a busier car park than most, but I believe an extra lower section was added a few years ago. Either way, that early in the morning I would not expect you to have a problem.

As and when you start to use the service it would be useful to hear your opinions on it. We have a few hardened commuters on here, but not many that are new to a service.

[Ollie]

Have parked at Twyford a couple of times, although on both had turned up about 11am but was able to get a space, is a busy car park though from what I see when going past it on the train.