The 09.48 from Paddington to Swansea today was surprisingly busy. Once again I suspect that we are largely running a "leisure railway" at the moment. Commuter traffic is practically non existent.
Saturday 12th September.
802103 1A25 15:00 Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington.
Last but one coach was empty, had it all to myself, but overall train was about 40% full.
800301 1C21 16:02 London Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads.
Standard Class about 70% full. The coach I was in, next to the first class one, had all seats taken.
The trains I observed at York station last night were absolutely dead compared to normal.
The 1954 Liverpool - Scarborough (2157 arrival into York) had no more than about 10 people on it as it approached York by the looks of it.
Perhaps @Iskra and @lkpridgeon can say how busy their trains were, but what I saw was depressing.
The 2123 York to Blackpool North (I made it!) was lightly loaded. The 2232 Leeds-Sheffield via Castleford had about 20 on it from Leeds. At Chapeltown, 3 got off and there was 1 person left on the train to Sheffield from there.
The daytime XC Sheffield-York was fairly busy in a distanced way.
It seems evening travel is really suffering. I'm heading down to Cornwall tomorrow so will update with what I see on my trains on that trip.
Did you have to get a reservation for the 390 trip?Been doing a wayfarer rover in the Manchester area today. Most services reasonably well loaded (in distancing terms). On a 390 to Crewe at the moment from Piccadilly and there’s 2 first class and 5 standard class passengers which is a little less assuring
19.06 Kings Cross to Lincoln on Friday looked to have been near off fully booked reservation wise however it seemed only about 40-50% of people turned up.
Lincoln to Sheffield on Sunday from Saxilby at 10.20 was reasonably well loaded but didn't reach the point of people standing as that service usually does on a Sunday. Past Worksop I'd describe it as at the socially distanced capacity.
Lincoln to Doncaster was back to what I would describe as more than usual loadings with about 14 passengers when I got on at Saxilby at 09.23 yesterday. A further 6 joined at Gainsborough
Doncaster to York, no reservations were being displayed however it was quite quiet.
And for my York to Retford journey today (10.02 to KGX) About 40 people have boarded so far. Again reservations were off, but this time it was done due to a set swap with a 91.
Absolutely. A lot of stevenage reservations. All you need to book a reservation on their site is to put 0 in the reference code box. Furthermore you can have multiple reservations for the same ticket.Interesting, do we think people are reserving seats on multiple trains?
If it's via Winchester not quite as dead as a dodo. Quieter than off peak from what I've seen. There's a slight bump around school/college commute time.Does anyone have recent experience of travelling between Bournemouth and Waterloo, weekdays, at (the old) Peak times? Seriously considering a first jaunt on the trains since you-know-when!
Thanks for this information, I really appreciate it. The service I’m asking about does indeed call at Winchester at which point (in the olden days) the Waterloo next stop trains were full & standing room only. I am cautious about travelling, but your report is encouraging me to maybe give it a try.If it's via Winchester not quite as dead as a dodo. Quieter than off peak from what I've seen. There's a slight bump around school/college commute time.
How busy are the TfW Manchester to Cardiff services?
0731 Meadowhall-Sheffield full and standing (in a distanced way)
Other Northern trains around Sheffield were busy, TP fairly quiet.
0956 Sheffield-Exeter XC HST 2/3 full most of the way.
1414 Exeter-St Erth 2/3 full most of the way.
St Erth-St Ives 4 carriage train pretty busy.
St Ives-St Erth same again.