Commuting from Swindon to London

[Ben Lowden]

Does anyone have experience with commuting from Swindon to London by train? What the parking/traffic is like, can you get a seat on the train generally, etc?

[Mr E]

Pre covid I know someone who did it every day. First class season ticket was ~12k and he didn’t always get a seat.

His train was cancelled or seriously delayed on a regular basis. He lasted about 11 months and jacked it in.

Might be ok. Depends on your tolerance levels.

[SmithCorona]

There are loads of trains to Swindon, so the actual risk of being stranded at Paddington for any length of time is lower than basically any other station in the West after Reading.

Quick services can be just over 50mins. And getting a seat is likely too - depends on the time and service you are getting on. An 8am stopper from Swansea will be full by Swindon, but a 7am from Cheltenham won't be.

Loads of parking at the station (about 12 quid) and traffic is only a snarled up in the last half mile off the dual carriageways due to roadworks and weird layouts.

The other consideration is how far you have to go from Paddington at the other end. And the return journey is often a battle to get to train to get a seat, especially on the reading and Twyford stoppers.

TlDR: it's easily doable every day if you are working nearish to Paddington.

[Ben Lowden]

Thanks both! Luckily it’ll only be once a fortnight so easily manageable. Helpful insight.

[Mr E]

Ben Lowden said:

Thanks both! Luckily it’ll only be once a fortnight so easily manageable. Helpful insight.

That’s not a commute. You’ll be fine.

[Ben Lowden]

Mr E said:

That’s not a commute. You’ll be fine.

Thanks!

Cardiff_Exile said:

On top of this you have the joy of parking at the station. In Swindon it is £8 day and you need a snotter as it’s a hot bed for thieves and other miscreants. There used to be a sign at Swindon that proclaimed 'this car park is regularly patrolled by security staff' and some wag had cross out security staff and written 'youths' - always used to make me smile.

This post from another thread (from 2011) has me a bit concerned about leaving my car at the station, but how bad can it be...

[tog]

Depending on whether you are actually in Swindon, or just nearby, look at trains from Bedwyn or Hungerford too. Fewer trains, but they are much cheaper. Free parking in Bedwyn too.

[Ben Lowden]

Thanks

[Darlo74]

Ben Lowden said:

Mr E said:

That’s not a commute. You’ll be fine.

Thanks!

Cardiff_Exile said:

On top of this you have the joy of parking at the station. In Swindon it is £8 day and you need a snotter as it’s a hot bed for thieves and other miscreants. There used to be a sign at Swindon that proclaimed 'this car park is regularly patrolled by security staff' and some wag had cross out security staff and written 'youths' - always used to make me smile.

This post from another thread (from 2011) has me a bit concerned about leaving my car at the station, but how bad can it be...

I've parked at Swindon main station car park regularly for the last 10 years with minimal issues. Haven't seen any break-ins, but a couple of incidents as the spaces can be tight - one where someone drove into the front of my car and damaged the front bumper/light and one where some moron in a Q7 parked within 3 inches and left a lovely deep dent in my passenger side door.

There is another car park open now that I think used to be for Network Rail staff only, adjacent to the main car park. That's managed by a different company but has a better layout and larger parking spaces so I use that more now.

As others have said if you're commuting once a fortnight you'll be fine!

[worsy]

Darlo74 said:

Ben Lowden said:

Mr E said:

That’s not a commute. You’ll be fine.

Thanks!

Cardiff_Exile said:

On top of this you have the joy of parking at the station. In Swindon it is £8 day and you need a snotter as it’s a hot bed for thieves and other miscreants. There used to be a sign at Swindon that proclaimed 'this car park is regularly patrolled by security staff' and some wag had cross out security staff and written 'youths' - always used to make me smile.

This post from another thread (from 2011) has me a bit concerned about leaving my car at the station, but how bad can it be...

I've parked at Swindon main station car park regularly for the last 10 years with minimal issues. Haven't seen any break-ins, but a couple of incidents as the spaces can be tight - one where someone drove into the front of my car and damaged the front bumper/light and one where some moron in a Q7 parked within 3 inches and left a lovely deep dent in my passenger side door.

There is another car park open now that I think used to be for Network Rail staff only, adjacent to the main car park. That's managed by a different company but has a better layout and larger parking spaces so I use that more now.

As others have said if you're commuting once a fortnight you'll be fine!

I lived in Swindon for a few years several years ago. I used to park in the North Star car park and walk across the bridge. It is slightly cheaper and a little easier to get to.

Echo other contributions, once a fortnight is easy. I did it 5 days a week for a few months over to Canary Wharf and it persuaded me to move back home and use hotels if I ever needed to be in London.

[Ben Lowden]

Great thanks both, really helpful insight!

[JonnyWhitters]

Car park spaces are tight (as said previously), but there are a few decent ones if you turn right as you enter the main parking area and go near the low concrete wall. Depends where you're coming from, but nice little cut through street at the back of the Holiday Inn Express to save going round the houses (one way system) and brings you out opposite the car park entrance.

Used to fill up by c.07:30 and on the odd occasion I parked nearer town and walked into the station. Slightly better since Covid. North Star car park is a good shout if you don't get a spot in the main two.

Just download the parking app and save yourself the hassle of faffing with tickets too.