sussex commuters

[beorhthelm]

im looking to move back to fair sussex, been looking at east side, Battle, Polgate, but want to cut journey time. whats the chances of getting a seat on the morning commuter trains through Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Haywards Heath? id rather sit for longer than stand for 40 min.

 

[pasty]

I don't know about London Bridge, but from any of the stops you mention above you can normally still get a seat on the Gatwick Express to Victoria.

 

[happypig]

I sometimes get the 0620(ish) train from Eastbourne to Gatwick in the morning. Plenty of seats at Polegate, a lot get on at Lewes but there's still a few. Haywards Heath onwards it's standing room only. On the rare occasions that I've gone in later, it's been similar.
Coming back from Gatwick it's standing room only to Lewes unless I'm lucky

 

[Djmiles]

I think your chances of finding a seat on a train to London from Mid Sussex is slim to none.

 

[Gully]

I think your chances of finding a seat on a train to London from Mid Sussex is slim to none.

...unless you get a job driving them!

 

[drew]

I used to get a train to London from Wivelsfield, mainly the 7:07 to London Bridge, and only missed out on a seat a handful of occassions. Having said that, at Haywards Heath all the remaining seats would be taken.

 

[Beach Hut]

Haywards Heath is normally where you will have to stand no matter whether Standard or sometimes even first class.

 

[Gwylan]

I think your chances of finding a seat on a train to London from Mid Sussex is slim to none.

I very rarely see a full train and I've been commuting for five years: the three Gatwick Express trains that leave between 6.30 and 7.00 are amazingly empty even by the time you reach Victoria and all FCC trains before 7.00 are empty too. I rarely go in after 7.00 so can't comment on later ones but there are heaps of seats before then.

 

[Hunting 784561]

im looking to move back to fair sussex, been looking at east side, Battle, Polgate, but want to cut journey time. whats the chances of getting a seat on the morning commuter trains through Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Haywards Heath? id rather sit for longer than stand for 40 min.

I live in Saltdean, and after years of trying diffrerent routes to London, nowadays prefer driving 40 mins to Gatwick, and getting on the Gatwick Express there.

Firstly a bit of a drive, and then a train journey into London breaks up the monotony a bit, and secondly you are always guaranteed a seat on the Express.

Think that could work very well from Polegate or Battle, rather than fighting for limited space with other commuters.

 

[Rookie]

get a FCC from b.hill usually get a seat, unless they decide to run 4 instead of 8 carriages, get to Redhill before most if not all the seats are taken. Coming back is a different story though