Train times on some South West Trains routes will be subject to change from 1 October. This is to allow for trains that may run at a slightly reduced speed to account for leaf fall. Leaves that fall on the track can become compressed by the weight of the train which can in turn make the tracks more slippery than usual, giving the effect of black ice. The leaf fall period lasts from October through to early December.

Most trains on the Guildford via Cobham route will start from Guildford three minutes earlier, running three minutes earlier at all stations prior to Surbiton, where their booked timings are regained. This change is detailed with the letter ‘c’ on the timetable. Those running to Guildford via Cobham will arrive three minutes later but no other intermediate station times will be affected.

Changes are occurring on the Windsor line where trains from Windsor will start two minutes earlier, running two minutes earlier at all stations until they reach Staines, where booked times are regained. Trains running to Windsor will arrive there two minutes later, with intermediate station times remaining as now. These changes are indicated on timetables by the letter ‘v’.

On the Portsmouth direct route the 04.30 and 05.18 from Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo, detailed with the letter ‘v’ on the timetable, will both start five minutes earlier, and run five earlier from all stations prior to Guildford, where booked timings are regained.

On the Weymouth line, the 05.54 and 06.24 Weymouth to Waterloo, detailed with the letter ‘c’ on the timetable, will start five minutes earlier, and run five earlier from all stations prior to Poole, where booked timings are again resumed. The 05.00, 05.26 and 06.11 services from Poole will all depart three minutes earlier from stations until Bournemouth, where booked times will resume.

Richard Davies, the Company Operations Manager said: “On the few routes which are affected we have made some slight adjustments to the timetable. This is to help reduce the impact the leaf fall season will have on these services.”
All changes are indicated within the timetable, dated 11 June to 9 December 2006.