How can I find out how busy a commuter train route is ?

property.advert

I'm thinking about moving to Farnham in Surrey and I would need to commute daily to London Waterloo.

Farnham is the 3rd station from the beginning of the route http://www.commutefrom.com/ but I am trying to find out about load levels on the trains.

South West Trains who run the route are pleasant but they have no useful information to give out. I'm looking for a commuter website where people who actually use these routes comment about them.

Any ideas ?

dacouch

On the Farnham to Waterloo train you will often see the news reader who fronted the Police, Camera Action tv show which was ironic as he is a twice convicted drink driver. When he was on the train he would be what we would say in my local as being all "Wobbly bob"

djheath

I have been on that very train at about 7am to 9 am a few times and I can tell you now, it is usually standing room only, or as I found out, sitting room only but mainly on the floor.

You might be lucky getting on at Farnham, as I got on further up the line which would be busier, so from your stop you might be able to get a seat.

If your compay pays for your travel, you could do what my friend does and that is to top up his cattle class ticket with his own funds to a first class ticket which gets him a seat at least.

oldagetraveller

You don't give your location, but could you do a trial run yourself, at the same time of day you would be travelling and from the same railway station (Farnham), if you relocated?

moonrakerz

This might help.........

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529

Altarf

You could try asking on here - www.railforums.co.uk

Hammyman

Its the South East. Standing room only applies to all commuter trains in that corner of the UK.

scubaangel

My experience is the same as djheath, only used the route a handful of times when I've been visiting my oh but the train has been completely packed - thats for trains I've been on between about 7am right through to 9am.

AdrianHi

I actually use this train, I start at the beginning of the line in Alton, passing through Farnham about 10-15 minutes after I get on. I typically leave Alton at 7.14am or 7.44am which means Farnham at around 7.30am or 8am. At that time of the morning there is plenty of space free at Farnham station for parking. On the way into Waterloo, exceptional circumstances aside, you will always get a seat and as early as Farnham there are usually some of those priority seats left than have more leg room.
From Woking onwards it really is standing room only, but you've already got a seat by then.
The return journey I take leaves Waterloo at about 5.55pm (usually platform 13) and 6.25pm (usually platform 6) and so long as you head towards the front half of the train you can usually get a seat. Sometimes things go wrong, coaches are fewer, other trains cancelled and you can get packed in like sardines on occasion.
As London commutes go it's probably one of the quieter ones you will find anywhere.
I have been using this route for the last 18 months and used it during 2007-2008 in the boom time when it was busier but there was still space back then.