Trains from London?

[eoinca]

Last year we got the train around 7 from Paddington and it was pretty chaotic, but we managed to get a seat easily enough, but this year we are flying to London on the tuesday night and want to get an earlier train around lunchtime.

Are these way busier than the later trains or is it still pretty ok?

[dawlishmonkey]

hey.I assume you mean you travelled on the wednesday this year and are doing so again this year? by 7 last year you mean evening? anyways,I work for the esteemed train company that operates out of london to castle cary(its ok no sympathy needed) you'll find anything before midday will be fine,the nightmare ones start from 15.00 onwards when you have a combo of glasto bound people who have finished work and normal commuters who are going home.

they say they're putting on extra services but no timetables out yet,and probably not till early may. but hey you'll always get on a train even if its standing room only,and if it is get into first class take some beverage(s) and relax

[eoinca]

hey.I assume you mean you travelled on the wednesday this year and are doing so again this year? by 7 last year you mean evening? anyways,I work for the esteemed train company that operates out of london to castle cary(its ok no sympathy needed) you'll find anything before midday will be fine,the nightmare ones start from 15.00 onwards when you have a combo of glasto bound people who have finished work and normal commuters who are going home.

they say they're putting on extra services but no timetables out yet,and probably not till early may. but hey you'll always get on a train even if its standing room only,and if it is get into first class take some beverage(s) and relax

[MrHew]

What happens at Paddington if you've got a ticket for a specific train? Do they insist you get it or do they just put you all in a queue together?

Cheers

[dawlishmonkey]

What happens at Paddington if you've got a ticket for a specific train? Do they insist you get it or do they just put you all in a queue together?

Cheers

[MrHew]

the queue isn't compulsory,its just easier for the station staff and better for those who aren't sure where they're going(the queue normally get the heads up over platform numbers first). they won't lift any ticket restrictions,so if you've got an advance ticket it will still only be valid on that train.Although many of the trains are full so the staff can't get through to check tickets,or they don't bother cos they know castle cary is crawling with staff,you will need to show your ticket to get out of the station at castle cary,I don't know how strict the staff on the gate were at cary last year about advance tickets,but if they felt so inclined they'd charge you the full open single for the journey.