Kemble To Paddington Commute

[amcc]

I am considering relocating from Kent to Cirencester, but will still need to commute to London twice a week, does anyone have any experience of this line?

Is it very busy? Will I get a seat? and how reliable is the service?

I don't have to be in the office until 10.30am not sure if this is considered off peak on this line? What would be the cheapest ticket, advanced?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Gloster]

I can’t help you in general, but what time would you need to arrive at Paddington?

 

[amcc]

I can’t help you in general, but what time would you need to arrive at Paddington?

I would need to be in Paddington around 10am, gives me 1/2 an hour to get on the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool St and short walk to office, thanks.

 

[Watershed]

Hi newbie here not sure if this is the right place to post, but I am considering relocating from Kent to Cirencester, but will still need to commute to London twice a week, does anyone have any experience of this line? Is it very busy? Will I get a seat? and how reliable is the service? I dont have to be in the office until 10.30am not sure if this is considered off peak on this line? What would be the cheapest ticket, advanced? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Can't comment on the service itself, but in terms of fares - the first train where an Off-Peak Return to London Terminals would be valid would be the 09:43, arriving at 10:59, so too late for your commute. However there are certain other Off-Peak tickets (e.g. to/from stations further afield) which would be valid on earlier trains such as the 08:46, arriving at 10:02. You could also buy a combination of tickets, or Advance tickets.

Whether a season ticket is worthwhile will depend on a variety of factors, including the time you wish to return from London (you can use the 18:30 with most Off-Peak tickets), as well as how often you will be commuting and whether you are eligible for any Railcards - particularly the 16-25, 26-30, Veterans, Senior or Disabled Railcard.

 

[JBuchananGB]

There are advance tickets available valid on the 08:46 and on suitable trains for the return trip, so as long as you can book ahead for the specific dates and trains there is money to be saved.

 

[amcc]

Can't comment on the service itself, but in terms of fares - the first train where an Off-Peak Return to London Terminals would be valid would be the 09:43, arriving at 10:59, so too late for your commute. However there are certain other Off-Peak tickets (e.g. to/from stations further afield) which would be valid on earlier trains such as the 08:46, arriving at 10:02. You could also buy a combination of tickets, or Advance tickets.

Whether a season ticket is worthwhile will depend on a variety of factors, including the time you wish to return from London (you can use the 18:30 with most Off-Peak tickets), as well as how often you will be commuting and whether you are eligible for any Railcards - particularly the 16-25, 26-30, Veterans, Senior or Disabled Railcard.

thanks, I looked into a season ticket but as I only need to be in 2 days a week, doesnt work out cheaper than the advanced ticket on the 8.46am. I dont leave work until 6.30pm so would get the 7.30pm home, not eligible for any Railcard except maybe the Two Together as my husband would commute 1 day a week too. Do you know what station would be best to try with the off peak ticket?
thanks

There are advance tickets available valid on the 08:46 and on suitable trains for the return trip, so as long as you can book ahead for the specific dates and trains there is money to be saved.

thanks, yes that is what I have been looking at doing, my days are set so dont change so I can book well in advance on that service. Just wondering what the service was like, I am used to commuting from Kent and that service is very busy on the first off peak out, but the commuter services are quieter than the offpeak!

 

[Watershed]

thanks, I looked into a season ticket but as I only need to be in 2 days a week, doesnt work out cheaper than the advanced ticket on the 8.46am. I dont leave work until 6.30pm so would get the 7.30pm home, not eligible for any Railcard except maybe the Two Together as my husband would commute 1 day a week too. Do you know what station would be best to try with the off peak ticket?
thanks

Yes, the season ticket is "good value" compared to the Anytime fare if you use it 4 or 5 days a week. But poor value if you only commute 2 days.

Booking Advance tickets a reasonable length in advance is probably your cheapest option all things said - e.g. I can see Advances for around £35 each way if I book a month ahead.

Unfortunately the Two Together Railcard is only valid from 09:30 onwards so you'd only be able to use it on the return journey. I suppose it would at least make one journey each week cheaper for both of you.

As for Off-Peak tickets, I'll send you a PM.

 

[amcc]

Yes, the season ticket is "good value" compared to the Anytime fare if you use it 4 or 5 days a week. But poor value if you only commute 2 days.

Booking Advance tickets a reasonable length in advance is probably your cheapest option all things said - e.g. I can see Advances for around £35 each way if I book a month ahead.

Unfortunately the Two Together Railcard is only valid from 09:30 onwards so you'd only be able to use it on the return journey. I suppose it would at least make one journey each week cheaper for both of you.

As for Off-Peak tickets, I'll send you a PM.

thank you,

 

[angled]

Not quite your situation but maybe a useful data point: I usually do Stroud-Paddington on Tuesday mornings (10:30 from STD) and Paddington-Stroud (16:30 from PAD) on Thursday afternoons (I stay in London Tues-Thurs).... so one stop further than Kemble and less 'peak' than what you're considering... and doing it one way is obviously less painful than doing it two ways on one day. But, all that aside, I find the service surprisingly reliable, although the London-bound train seems to be arriving at Stroud a minute later and later every week right now. So don't back on always arriving at PAD bang on time. Some other things to be aware of:

* The trains are getting noticeably busier week by week. They used to be nine-car trains but switched to five-car a few years back (either due to Covid or a timetable change - I forget which) but, either way, it may soon reach the point where they really should find a way to go back to nine-car.
* I've always been able to book a seat on the service I want - and I've always been able to book a seat on the day of travel if I've had a flexible ticket and wanted to get a different train.
* And booking a seat is definitely advisable... you do sometimes see people standing/sitting in the vestibules.
* Sometimes they forget to turn on the reservation lights and it becomes a free-for-all (or, worse, they announce the train at PAD but only turn on the reservations AFTER a bunch of people have boarded). But this could happen anywhere I guess
* Do you intend to work on the train? If so, check your network's coverage. I'm on three and get a perfectly good signal to tether from between Paddington and Swindon, but it's very patchy for significant sections between Swindon and Stroud, especially around Kemble.
* I know it's subjective but I've always found the journey to _feel_ as if it has passed very quickly. I wouldn't want to to the two way commute regularly but it's perfectly doable and, as you say, crossrail makes a big difference.
* I can often get a first class upgrade for my PAD-STD leg on seatfrog for £15 or less

 

[angled]

Oh - one other thing: when there *are* problems (strikes, trains developing massive cracks, etc), it does feel like the Golden Valley Line is one of the first ones to be sacrificed. If you're lucky they downgrade to Swindon shuttles, where you can change for a Paddington train. More likely, they just don't run trains on the Golden Valley Line at all. It hasn't happened a lot, but something to be aware of. I guess in your case, you'd be close enough to Swindon to just drive there... perhaps make sure you're signed up for one of those 'park on somebody's driveways' apps so you can park cheaply near Swindon station at short notice in such cases?

 

[W-on-Sea]

I often use that line on Saturdays (Didcot/Swindon to Stroud and back), and it's clear that whenever something is wrong with GWR, it's one of the first lines to be hit with cancellations or RRB substitions (which are not exactly quick, given the lack of direct roads paralleling the line). It's a lovely part of the country, but public transport, while better than in the fairly recent pre-COVID past, is not what it should or could be.

 

[Jimini]

I'm sure one of the experts will confirm back in due course, but I'm sure I've read on here previously that the Cheltenham > Paddington (and v.v.) is one 'turn' in railway driver parlance / timetabling, so it's far simpler to cancel those self-contained diagrams rather than displacing a train crew and unit coming from Bristol, Cardiff or further afield etc.?

 

[yorkie]

An unregistered forum reader would like to contribute as follows (received via our contact form):

Hi I do not wish to register but the OP may like to know that there is ample parking at Kemble on the Cirencester side.

Since the through Chelt Padd service was withdrawn a change at Swindon is inevitable and if that service collapses the waits can be long. An hour waiting on Swindon Station is purgatory.

On the other hand the alternative of driving to Swindon is not ideal either. Travelling from Cheltenham off peak I have never found seating to be a problem. Perhaps you could pass this on.

What I will add is that if you have a long time to wait at Swindon, simply head out the station and into the pub opposite. I did this myself on 19th May when Swindon Town were on TV, so it was busy and a lively atmosphere but was perfectly fine on my visit, despite Swindon losing the game on penalties.

 

[Jimini]

What I will add is that if you have a long time to wait at Swindon, simply head out the station and into the pub opposite. I did this myself on 19th May when Swindon Town were on TV, so it was busy and a lively atmosphere but was perfectly fine on my visit, despite Swindon losing the game on penalties.

The Queen's Tap? Certainly a good venue for people watching but not a bad place to while away a bit of time aye. If you stand on the platform for the duration of your wait, you're likely to go crazy by the incessant "when using the stairs, please hold the handrail and take care" announcements!

 

[greyman42]

An unregistered forum reader would like to contribute as follows (received via our contact form):


What I will add is that if you have a long time to wait at Swindon, simply head out the station and into the pub opposite. I did this myself on 19th May when Swindon Town were on TV, so it was busy and a lively atmosphere but was perfectly fine on my visit, despite Swindon losing the game on penalties.

What did the reader mean by "since the Cheltenham to Paddington service was withdrawn"?