Paul G wrote in
news
In message . 145,
David Jackman writes
On the GE mainline I'm told Chelmsford is becoming an absolute
nightmare - so you would need to go further out than that (unless you
fancy Brentwood where the service is dire but you do, at least, get a
seat).

Brentwood: A train every 10 minutes off peak (until past 9pm in both
directions), depending on the direction), and a more frequent service
during the peak, "dire"? Also, given that it is the first station to
just have an all stopping train in the London-bound direction, I
strongly suspect (though do not know) that the chances of getting a
seat are quite or very good. 40 minutes into London with around 10
stops.


The problem with Brentwood is that it is in the wrong place :-)

Despite being on a fast main line to London every train is pretty much
all stations so it will always take 35-40 minutes and it's one stop
beyond boundary zone six, which makes an annual travelcard £2,500
instead of £1,784. The service isn't terribly reliable - in the event
of disruption trains are turned round before they reach Brentwood - and
the 315s are known for often having no heating in Winter and for a few
years had windows that barely opened so it got very hot in summer.
(This was to stop the yobs throwing the seat cushions out of the
windows; the recent "refurbishment" saw a redesign to allow more
ventilation).

Crossrail - if it ever happens - will improve matters but the all
stations nature will always make it a slow and tendious journey.

It just isn't a railhead I would ever suggest for long distance
commuting.

David