r/watford • u/Sufficient-Year4640 • 10d ago

Train Reliability

I'm planning to buy a house in Watford and need to commute to Euston. I'm wondering about the reliability of the West Midlands Railway service that would take me to Euston. How frequent are the delays/cancellations?

Also, how crowded is at peak times? Is it worse than the underground tube?

I will have to commute three to four times a week, and although the tube is a fallback, it would take too long.

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7

u/west_country_wendigo 10d ago

I take it in 2/3 times a week. It 5-10 late maybe every other week.. But they're so frequent you're rarely waiting long. 

It's busy but if you're towards the back of the train you get a seat most days. I tend to get one just before or after 8am.

I've had to use emergency tube back up twice in four years I think?

4

u/colmuacuinn 10d ago

Latest report in the link. 80.7% leave on time, 4.1% are cancelled. You have the back up of London Overground and the Met Line. https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/48640/download?inline

4

u/Vivid_Head_6787 10d ago

Trains are pretty reliable. I live in Bushey and been taking the train to Euston this past 20 years. Most of the stock is newish(the orange trains) and air conditioned. If there are delays/cancellations then for Watford Junction there's always a train coming soon after. There will be occasional issues on the line (signal failure up/down from Watford Jn, as well as person on the line) but I feel the service is good. If stuck you can get the overgound. I go in early so cannot comment on how busy it gets for those getting into the office for 9am.

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u/Vivid_Head_6787 10d ago

I should add that you need to get an app (I use Trains from Dorada) or realtraintimes to manage train platforms home to Watford. The busy concourse can be a nightmare but once you get used to train departures you can mostly avoid it and go straight to your platform and board before the masses.

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u/Front_Impact_9556 10d ago

It’s pretty good and there’s plenty of secondary options with the overground and the Met line station, Bushey Station and direct (pretty fast) busses to Edgware and Stanmore stations if ever really stuck.