Commuting to London

Loz10

Hi,

I'm considering the commute from Aldershot, Hampshire to London Waterloo. Does anyone know how busy these trains are during rush hour? Don't know if they are really over-crowded or absolutely fine and nothing to worry about.

Thanks

spiro

You mat want to give people an idea what time you would be leaving Aldershot in the morning and London in the afternoon.

ChennyM

You will probably need to change at Ascot or Guildford, from memory. Should be able to get a seat on the Ascot service but that takes AGES to get into Waterloo (all stops through SW London). Guildford is quicker, fast service can be 2 or 3 stops, but will be very busy.

If you're returning from about 4 through 7 pm its always packed, Im afraid. Takes some getting used to.

Stigy

ChennyM wrote: »

You will probably need to change at Ascot or Guildford, from memory. Should be able to get a seat on the Ascot service but that takes AGES to get into Waterloo (all stops through SW London). Guildford is quicker, fast service can be 2 or 3 stops, but will be very busy.

If you're returning from about 4 through 7 pm its always packed, Im afraid. Takes some getting used to.

S/He'll be able to go direct from Aldershot to Waterloo, and it's much quicker than going via Guildford. In the morning rush hour, although it'll be busy, the trains tend to stop all stations up as far as woking (only a few stops anyway), then fast from Woking to Waterloo. All peak trains are packed unfortunately, but from Aldershot it'll be a lot less so than when departing Woking!

Same leaving Waterloo as far as how busy trains get, although unless you leave it till the last minute to board the train, you should get a seat!

Loz10

Thanks the replies. I would be leaving Aldershot in the morning between 7.30 and 8am and returning between 5 and 6...unfortunately peak times!

The rail planner says to change at woking on the way to london, but the aldershot train does go direct to waterloo. Does anyone know how long the train takes from aldershot to waterloo without changing? As you said, it will be much busier at woking so will try and avoid it if possible.

dzug1

Use the advanced options on the rail planner for direct trains only

Livingthedream

Direct trains take anything from 47min to 1hr 30mins;

07:00 Aldershot to London (direct) 1hr 29mins
07:04 Aldershot to London (direct) 47mins
07:30 Aldershot to London (direct)1hr 30mins
07:34 Aldershot to London (direct) 48mins
07:46 Aldershot to London (direct) 1hr 13mins
08:04 Aldershot to London (direct) 48mins

Loz10

Thanks for that, I didn't realise you could specify direct trains!

Seems there are several options depending on what time I need to be in London

Stigy

Livingthedream wrote: »

Direct trains take anything from 47min to 1hr 30mins;

07:00 Aldershot to London (direct) 1hr 29mins
07:04 Aldershot to London (direct) 47mins
07:30 Aldershot to London (direct)1hr 30mins
07:34 Aldershot to London (direct) 48mins
07:46 Aldershot to London (direct) 1hr 13mins
08:04 Aldershot to London (direct) 48mins

The 0700hrs service, the 0730hrs and possibly the 0746hrs service all go via Ascot I would imagine, hence the extended journey times. The 4 and 34 past each hour will go via Woking and will be the best option.

Livingthedream

Stigy wrote: »

The 0700hrs service, the 0730hrs and possibly the 0746hrs service all go via Ascot I would imagine, hence the extended journey times. The 4 and 34 past each hour will go via Woking and will be the best option.

07:46 goes via Woking but is a stopping service after Woking to London. But yes your correct with the others, the ones under an hour go via Woking, over an hour normally via Ascot.