southwest trains "first class"...

laird

I think the person that spoke to ukphd was somewhat confused.
From Twickenham there are a couple of routes you could take
South West Trains to Reading (separate section of the train behind the drivers cabs at each end of the muliple unit).
At Reading you would join First Great Western's train which has dedicated First Class carriages to Exeter (often with chef prepared food). Seating would be three abreast rather than four and comes with tea, coffee and biscuits.

It seems they might have been suggesting going via Basingstoke, if between Christmas and New Year you would join First Great Western here rather than at Reading. Normally though you would be joining a South West Trains diesel unit which again has a separate section for First Class.

South West Trains do have some units without First Class but these are meant to be restricted to the Hounslow Loop etc. The majority of their trains are Desiro units which will have First Class in the middle of the train. Even when it is in the centre of the train it is separated by a swing door from the Standard class.

chuckley

seriously?! SWT is a 'treat'?! its more of an everyday commuter train service... not Virgin Trains.

Stigy

laird wrote: »

I think the person that spoke to ukphd was somewhat confused.
From Twickenham there are a couple of routes you could take
South West Trains to Reading (separate section of the train behind the drivers cabs at each end of the muliple unit).
At Reading you would join First Great Western's train which has dedicated First Class carriages to Exeter (often with chef prepared food). Seating would be three abreast rather than four and comes with tea, coffee and biscuits.

It seems they might have been suggesting going via Basingstoke, if between Christmas and New Year you would join First Great Western here rather than at Reading. Normally though you would be joining a South West Trains diesel unit which again has a separate section for First Class.

South West Trains do have some units without First Class but these are meant to be restricted to the Hounslow Loop etc. The majority of their trains are Desiro units which will have First Class in the middle of the train. Even when it is in the centre of the train it is separated by a swing door from the Standard class.

It was dilliberate to use SWT due to the engineering work over Christmas.

SWT also have the white desiros (Class 444) which are slightly better equiped to deal with longer journeys (better seating and more toilets). Going to Exeter it would be the 158/9 diesels, which, if nothing else, have better 1st Class than any other of SWTs trains!

ukphd

laird wrote: »

I think the person that spoke to ukphd was somewhat confused.
From Twickenham there are a couple of routes you could take
South West Trains to Reading (separate section of the train behind the drivers cabs at each end of the muliple unit).
At Reading you would join First Great Western's train which has dedicated First Class carriages to Exeter (often with chef prepared food). Seating would be three abreast rather than four and comes with tea, coffee and biscuits.

It seems they might have been suggesting going via Basingstoke, if between Christmas and New Year you would join First Great Western here rather than at Reading. Normally though you would be joining a South West Trains diesel unit which again has a separate section for First Class.

South West Trains do have some units without First Class but these are meant to be restricted to the Hounslow Loop etc. The majority of their trains are Desiro units which will have First Class in the middle of the train. Even when it is in the centre of the train it is separated by a swing door from the Standard class.

The problem is there are engineering works on the reading line so I can't use First Great Western (otherwise I would!). Well I could use them but there are bus replacement services on and I can't face that. So am left with the only option - SWT via honiton (rather than reading), I'm unsure if that goes via basingstoke or not - the only change is at clapham junction for SWT via honiton.

geordieracer

ukphd wrote: »

The problem is there are engineering works on the reading line so I can't use First Great Western (otherwise I would!). Well I could use them but there are bus replacement services on and I can't face that. So am left with the only option - SWT via honiton (rather than reading), I'm unsure if that goes via basingstoke or not - the only change is at clapham junction for SWT via honiton.

your problem is starting from Twickenham. Your going to have to go back on yourself to start your journey and this is just going to add time to your journey.. And yes if your going through Honiton then you will be going through Baisingstoke

dzug1

ukphd wrote: »

The problem is there are engineering works on the reading line so I can't use First Great Western (otherwise I would!). Well I could use them but there are bus replacement services on and I can't face that. So am left with the only option - SWT via honiton (rather than reading), I'm unsure if that goes via basingstoke or not - the only change is at clapham junction for SWT via honiton.

Yes that route takes you through Basingstoke, though thankfully without a change.

laird

The First Great Wetern diversions over the Christmas period should come to your aid here

Diversion 1: Paddington - Banbury - Oxford and then to the West and Wales is one

Diversion 2: London Waterloo - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Westbury

Diversion 2 trains are the ones you will need, they will be slower than the direct SWT route I guess but if you can afford to take longer to get between Basingstoke and Exeter perhaps the additional comfort would make for a more pleasant journey?

I guess it would depend on the cost and timings as to whether from Twickenham you would be better to go in to Waterloo and back out or work your way via a connection or two to join the diverted First Great Western train at Basingstoke.

ukphd

geordieracer wrote: »

your problem is starting from Twickenham. Your going to have to go back on yourself to start your journey and this is just going to add time to your journey.. And yes if your going through Honiton then you will be going through Baisingstoke

Yep which is why the Reading route is usually better but there's no (easy) choice apart from changing at clapham for the southwest route.

Stigy

geordieracer wrote: »

your problem is starting from Twickenham. Your going to have to go back on yourself to start your journey and this is just going to add time to your journey.. And yes if your going through Honiton then you will be going through Baisingstoke

Changing at Clapham Junction it's only 14-minutes from Twickenham on a fast service (up Reading). All depends what sort train you're getting. Waterloo can add a further ten minutes to the journey, although it'll probably be the same train you get there as you will at Clapham.

geordieracer

Stigy wrote: »

Changing at Clapham Junction it's only 14-minutes from Twickenham on a fast service (up Reading). All depends what sort train you're getting. Waterloo can add a further ten minutes to the journey, although it'll probably be the same train you get there as you will at Clapham.

Aye but all depends on if there is a connection for Exeter as clapham isnt healthy to hang around on for longer then about 10 mins;)