Commuter q: trains that come off the loop to Woodford w/b

Good question, well answered by Chris M.

I'm usually on one such train when I have 9 am lectures. From Roding Valley they are much more preferable because the trains you refer to usually enter service from Hainault depot at Grange Hill and run through. (I can check, but I'm not sure if any come from Hainault station, some may do, I don't know. I remember last year, back when we had Working Time Table 66, a train was cancelled and had apparently gone defective in one of Hainault's platforms, so some may). This means they're relatively lightly loaded having only passed through fairly lightly used Grange Hill and Chigwell. By the time they leave Roding Valley, though, most seats have been taken and then there's always loads of people at Woodford so come South Woodford - in my experience - they're pretty busy. I'd be surprised if they were much quieter, really, than trains which start out at Loughton. I wouldn't advise waiting around. Chris M's advice on how to get on those trains is good, though, if you really want to. I'm happy to be convinced it's better, but I'd honestly be surprised if the difference was worth waiting for.

Also did you mean e/b or w/b? In the current timetable there's only one train per day (weekdays only) which runs through to Grange Hill via Woodford and stables in the depot and that departs Woodford at, um, 17:43 I think.

Do you think so? I'll have a check of the time table. I'm more than happy to be corrected - frankly that'd be a piece of good news for me! But I'm pretty sure there aren't any per timetable.

I hate to disagree, but I really can't see hide nor hair in WTT 67. As I say, I'm more than happy to have them pointed out to me, but are you sure they aren't Woodford via Hainaults? (Not a sleight on your eyesight, of course! Just an easy mistake to make.) Naturally, of course, there could be a little Hainault via Woodford chucked in for late running, service disruption, delays or any number of causes, but I really can't see any in the timetable - just that lone Grange Hill via Woodford, which departs Woodford platform 3 at 17:43 (arrives 1 minute earlier saith the timetable)

Naturally Whereas I am relatively unconcerned whether or not its a Loughton that takes me to Woodford!

Only very recently in the public domain, but yes - it was a nice surprise for me too to find them up there. I think someone on here mentioned it when there was a discussion about the new website - yes it was domh.

Errrrm, South Woodford as you know the entrance is right at the very front of the platform, actually in front of where the train stops if I recall. At Woodford it's about three cars from the front, give or take. Buckhurst Hill it's right at the front. (This is on the eastbound, you understand, westbound it's the other way round.) Um Loughton's about half-way up isn't it? I dunno about Debden or Theydon Bois - I don't remember - Epping is a few cars down, maybe three or four?

Yes re-reading your post I suppose I should have done this from the westbound so:

Epping is about five cars from the front, Loughton about halfway (I think), Buckhurst Hill right at the back, Woodford westbound there's an entrance right at the back and also a bridge (leading from the eastbound platform where there's another entrance) about half way up the platform. South Woodford it's obviously right at the back.

Oh and at Roding Valley (Inner Rail) it's about halfway or so, probably five cars back. The waiting room's five or six cars down, roughly, I don't tend to count, I just go to the bench I always go to which positions me perfectly to be able to read the destination board at Woodford, or if I know it'll be busy I'll wander up to the end to be in the front for the change at Liverpool Street (otherwise I walk up at Woodford when I see the train coming). I really need to sort out my priorities in life at some point

Saw a Hainault via Woodford train on Saturday afternoon.

They do crop up occasionally. Could be a very late running Woodford via Hainault service which has been sent round the loop the other way to get back on time. I've also seen them when there has been a problem on the inner rail I.e. trains cannot get to Hainault via the Newbury Park direction.