Help please

[whole diary]

[New2trains]

Hi all. I am new to traveling by train, hence the name. 
I am traveling from Plymouth to Reading this coming Saturday and wondered if there was a way of finding out all the stations the train will be stopping at? Including the diversion due to engineering works. Thanks in advance for any help offered.

[JayMac]

First off, welcome to the forum New2trains. 

As for your query; it would help if you can tell us what time you are planning to leave Plymouth, or if you've already booked a ticket, what service you are booked on.

Generally, direct trains to London are diverted after Exeter St David's calling at Exeter Central, Honiton, Axminster and Yeovil Junction, then rejoining their normal route at Castle Cary, from there services have different calling patterns to Reading. Some omitting Westbury and some calling at Pewsey and/or Newbury.

The last direct train of the day leaving Plymouth at 1942 is scheduled via the diversionary route through Yeovil Junction and another diversionary route after Westbury, through (not calling at) Melksham, then joining the Great Western Main Line calling Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington

[inspector_blakey]

You can also look up your train on the National Rail Enquiries website the click on the "Details" link, and under the train you'll be catching click on "show calling points".

[New2trains]

First off, welcome to the forum New2trains. 

As for your query; it would help if you can tell us what time you are planning to leave Plymouth, or if you've already booked a ticket, what service you are booked on.

Generally, direct trains to London are diverted after Exeter St David's calling at Exeter Central, Honiton, Axminster and Yeovil Junction, then rejoining their normal route at Castle Cary, from there services have different calling patterns to Reading. Some omitting Westbury and some calling at Pewsey and/or Newbury.

The last direct train of the day leaving Plymouth at 1942 is scheduled via the diversionary route through Yeovil Junction and another diversionary route after Westbury, through (not calling at) Melksham, then joining the Great Western Main Line calling Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington

Hi and thanks for your reply, i am booked on the 11-14 from Plymouth to Reading, Saturday 5th March.

[New2trains]

You can also look up your train on the National Rail Enquiries website the click on the "Details" link, and under the train you'll be catching click on "show calling points".

Thanks
I have done that already, it shows Totness - Newton Abbot- Exeter St David- Exeter Central- Honiton- Axminster- Yeovil- Castle Cary.... but nothing else, i want to know all the stops on my journey, not part way 

[grahame]

You can also look up your train on the National Rail Enquiries website the click on the "Details" link, and under the train you'll be catching click on "show calling points".

Thanks
I have done that already, it shows Totness - Newton Abbot- Exeter St David- Exeter Central- Honiton- Axminster- Yeovil- Castle Cary.... but nothing else, i want to know all the stops on my journey, not part way 

I think that probably IS all the places that it's scheduled to stop for passengers along the way - so it would be regarded as a complete list.   It's possible that it will be stopped at signals at other stations (and between stations too) along the way, but that's not known until the day - it depends if other trains get in the way 

Trains will be busy as there are fewer than usual from London to Exeter, and other service will be serving the intermediate stations to Exeter, from Exeter to Yeovil, and from Castle Cary to Reading.  To stop your train at those would slow it down and lead to overcrowding.

[JayMac]

Plymouth 11:14
Totnes 11:41
Newton Abbot 11:54
Exeter St Davids arr. 1215 dep. 12:26 (reverses)
Exeter Central 12:31
Honiton 12:53
Axminster 13:06
Yeovil Junction 13:37
Castle Cary 14:10
Reading 15:11
London Paddington 15:39

[New2trains]

  Ok thanks, apparently Castle Cary is the stop before Reading, i did not know this. 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

its worth pointing out that this route is due to weekend engineering works (not sure if you are aware) and this service normally goes via taunton which is faster, however you will be embarking on a rare treat... or is that just me being sad?......i will be out with my camera!

[New2trains]

its worth pointing out that this route is due to weekend engineering works (not sure if you are aware) and this service normally goes via taunton which is faster, however you will be embarking on a rare treat... or is that just me being sad?......i will be out with my camera!

Thanks, i was aware of the engineering, but only cause i checked out the status myself, so much for signing up to the text alerts, no one alerted me of any changes   

I will wave to you as i pass by. 

[inspector_blakey]

Even under normal circumstances with no engineering there are lots of possible "last stops" before Reading. Some west of England services take the "Great Way Round" via Bristol Temple Meads, so last call before Reading on those might be Swindon or Didcot Parkway. When running via the geographically more direct "Berks and Hants" line the last stop might be Exeter, Taunton, Newbury and there may well be other options too.

[Timmer]

however you will be embarking on a rare treat... or is that just me being sad?

Depends if you class being on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) that will be rammed full because it's being diverted a 'rare treat'. Having twice experienced FGW^▸ (First Great Western) West Country to London services when they have been diverted via Yeovil...lets put it this way I won't be doing it again if I can avoid it.

So as not to put off our new member New2trains, as you are joining at Plymouth you should be all right especially if you have a reserved seat. Do come back and let us know how your journey went.

PS You are not being sad relex109 as I would recommend anyone who hasn't bashed a diverted HST going via Yeovil and Exeter Central to give it a try BUT almost all services will be very busy so unless you have a reserved seat you will almost certainly be standing.

[New2trains]

I have reserved a seat, thankfully. Don't fancy standing for 4 hours 

[Ollie]

To my knowledge the text alert service is only for unplanned disruption - so you wouldn't have got a text about this.
Unless it's a different service you using for text alerts, not gonna lie, I'm not overly familiar with them.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have those text alerts on my mobile - and yes, it is indeed only for last-minute delays and cancellations on the day.