London Victoria to Portsmouth with Southern.

I bought myself a Southern DaySave ticket so I could spend a day riding around the South East on Southern's trains. Here's the first ride from London Victoria to Portsmouth.
There's time to have a look at Victoria, a station that was TWO stations until they both came under the auspices of the Southern Railway in 1923. And 100 years later, it still looks and feels like a "game of two halves".
Departure: London Victoria, England, UK
Destination: Portsmouth & Southsea, England, UK
Distance: 138 km / 85.5 miles
Duration: 1 hr 57 mins
Average speed: 71 km/h 44 mph
Example Costs:
Standard class advance single: £9.50 / €11,00
Standard class off-peak single: £36.30 / €41,90
I was travelling on a Southern Daysave: £23.50 / €27,10
Date of Travel: November 2023
Operator: Southern Railway
Motive power: Class 377/4 4-car electic multiple unit. Built: Bombardier, Derby (2004-2005)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@barrygower6733]

My journeys to Portsmouth back in the day were usually from Waterloo. The Nelsons sped down to the Harbour in well under two hours and always seemed to have a buffet car. It was a comfortable way to travel, in corridor stock, for the crossing to the Isle of Wight then on for a day in sunny Shanklin.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I have it on my list to repeat the trip all the way to the harbour from Waterloo. Maybe travelling on to the Isle of Wight too! Thanks for watching 👍

[@erniepeters1695]

Why do they care if you make a video, as long as you aren’t interfering with other passengers?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

They didn't like me pointing the camera upwards so much, which is where, of course, they have all their security cameras. Anyway i got most of what i needed and my train was due anyway 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for watching 👍

[@ampersand.]

Have you ever visited the Amberley Industrial Heritage Museum - it has some lovely old buses and little trains, amongst a gazillion other delights. Thanks for today`s vid; am not well and it cheered me up :)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I shall add Amberley to the lengthening list of places to go! Sorry to hear you are unwell, but pleased this little video helped to cheer you up. Next week I have a closer look at Portsmouth station and then we head off along the coast to Brighton.

[@henryatkinson8639]

Great video as always Johnny. Slight caveat regarding journey times. Southern journey time to Victoria is c. 1 hour 45 mins. Whilst the quickest SWR train takes 30 mins less. During Off Peak hours the express is at 1tph leaving at xx:30, but this doubles as early as 3pm. Agree that if you’re leaving London on the hour off peak though, it is very much a toss up in terms of journey time. Would always choose SWR for me as the 444s are much nicer trains than the 377s, but if it’s a 450 - then that’s a decision! Look forward to you trying the PDL on a 444 soon!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

thank you so much for that very helpful clarification. I definitely will be doing the SWR route some time soon - and continuing onto a ferry I reckon! Best wishes to you 👍

[@GodAtum]

When i was asked to stop filming, I politely declined. The security guard then left me alone. You shouldn't back down!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I may try that next time! Thanks 👍

[@sueweston502]

As a child (& more recently also) that journey was always a means to an end. We used to go on to the end of the line, Portsmouth Harbour& then get the ferry across to Ryde, Isle of Wight

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes indeed. I have a plan to go from Waterloo to Portsmouth harbour and then hop across to the Isle of Wight - but I think I'll wait for better weather! Thanks for watching 👍

[@georgeantony9339]

Another great video! Did you know that platform 2 at London Victoria is the London Terminus of the Belmond British Pullman?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I did not. but that makes perfect sense. I have an old suitcase that still has a "London Victoria boat train" sticker on it - someone was throwing it out!!

[@lorenzohermoso1085]

Great movie. Thanks. You say Thameslink as far north as Bedford and Cambridge but TL makes it even further north to Peterborough. Southern Daysave is a great ticket. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@lorenzohermoso1085 thanks! Yes , Thameslink does have a very big spread, as you say. Next instalments are all there already as this was released a while ago. Portsmouth to Brighton with Southern. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqDKpoecjKeCnKM Brighton to Eastbourne - a Southern route, a Gatwick Express train! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWbZkJKAZrKNp5Y

[@fmcb269]

Ah, Ford: - A mecca for model railway enthusiasts, as Gaugemaster's wonderful and extensive shop lies immediately behind the station buildings!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Oh. Thanks for that! I did not know that. 👍

[@thebestspork]

Not sure where you're getting your timing info from - the SWR service from Portsmouth to Waterloo via Guildford is far faster at around 90 minutes. It's also more expensive than the Southern route, but far more reliable.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@thebestspork my apologies if i have been inaccurate. I shall be doing Waterloo to Portsmouth sometime soon as i fancy a ride in the ferry from Portsmouth too! Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@FlyingPhysicist]

On what basis did security ask you to stop filming? it's all public domain and precedent is set for filming being allowed at National Rail-managed stations, at the very least...

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

firstly, I must say they were extremely nice about it... one of the chaps explained that it was how I was recording that was the problem. I said, "well I'm trying not to record people too much, I'm really interested in the architecture above people's heads". He replied, "yes, that's the problem, because up there is where we have all our security cameras, therefore what you appear to be doing is recording the locations of all our cameras!"... I suppose he had a point...

[@FlyingPhysicist]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels each to their own, but I would've argued with him on that point. what you appeared to be doing isn't too relevant... unless you were taking specific close-ups of the security equipment there's really no basis for his intervention. anyone with pretty much any modern phone camera could be capturing the security equipment in their wide-angle, high pixel-count shots...

[@robsimpson1991]

Found southern terribly unreliable so will always take the waterloo swr train from havant if i can

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@robsimpson1991 Yes, i have heard that said before. I will definitely be reviewing the other route in the future. Thanks for watching 👍

[@PaulGodfrey]

Great video but I would probably favour SWR from Waterloo. Sadly planning permission has just been granted to redevelop Chichester bus station into flats.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I will do Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour one day soon, so after that I may agree! Sorry to hear about Chichester bus station...

[@leneeanderson4848]

Nice to see your team did so well in the flag football tourney!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you. Mostly down to the rest of them. But I did enough... 😉

[@videocloset5278]

Great video. I was stop by security not to film at the Station He creeped on me from behind. -:)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, well. They do always seem to appear behind you. I suppose they don't want to make it on to the video!

[@gregepps4710]

Job’s worth security! What reason were you given not to film?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Firstly, I must say they were extremely nice about it... one of the chaps explained that it was how I was recording that was the problem. I said, "well I'm trying not to record people too much, I'm really interested in the architecture above people's heads". He replied, "yes, that's the problem, because up there is where we have all our security cameras, therefore what you appear to be doing is recording the locations of all our cameras!"... I suppose he had a point...

[@gregepps4710]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels my wife and I travelled across the USSR from Moscow to Khabarovsk on the Trans Siberian in 1985. Never at any point were we stopped from photographing anything over the 10 day trip. Never imagined that Victoria station would be a problem. Thanks for the videos, keep up the good work.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@gregepps4710 Thanks for the kind comment. I shall endeavour to keep up the work, and lets hope it's mostly "good" 😉

[@Andrewjg_89]

Such a shame that Southern used to operate the Class 313 from Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour. But the Class 377 are still very nice trains.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes they are fine. But not startling good however...

[@colinriley123]

Good video! Shame you were interrupted at Victoria. Victoria is the London terminus I know least of, and the video was going well. I agree the development looks awful. I remember the station best, for the London to Brighton in 4 minutes film on the BBC, and of course the Golden Arrow, on which i never travelled. I had never associated the station with journeys to Portsmouth, so that too was something new. Fridays are always worth looking forward to!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, the Brighton side got sat on by a shopping centre... Like you I spent little time at Victoria before this. So at least I've now had a good look!

[@ozgirl45]

Another entertaining video! Nice countryside.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you. It was a pleasure! 👍

[@send2gl]

Why on earth is filming not allowed?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

What they _said_ was that I was shooting upwards (which i was to enjoy the architecture) which therefore was construed by security that i was recording the placement of their cameras. I'd just about got enough and the train was boarding so I saw no big reason to argue 🤷‍♂️ There was somebody on a state visit that day, they might have been twitchy?

[@Battismore-Blue]

5.54 leaving East Croydon is like the beginning of Ghost Town , video , by The Specials

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

haha! - you are sooo right. good shout 👍

[@tonycook603]

Will look forward to watching this later. Travelled that line so many times, it's the longer of the 2 links between Pompey and London but the Waterloo line is invariably dearer. Shame you never made it to the end of the line at Portsmouth Harbour, or is that still to come?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I wanted to feature Portsmouth's station in this series, so stopped there on this run. But yes, I plan to repeat the journey from London leaving from Waterloo all the way to the harbour... and probably carry on to the Isle of wight too. But that will have to wait for better weather and more light later in the year.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Thanks for this, it took me back many years, (60 ) going to & fro joining ships & home on leave etc. cheers from Oz.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Oh yes. no surprise that you know all about visiting the Portsmouth area! best wishes from Devon 👍

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Brilliant video as always!! Hope all is well, take care

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Doing good thank you. Disappearing off into Europe next week to ride a few trains, so looking forward to that. I hope you are ok too. Thanks for the kind words. 👍

[@petermoll6130]

Wow, did not know about the second half to Victoria, although like you I've always had to go from the dingy part (or just join at Clapham Junction) Nor did I know that there was a Southern DaySaver. Factual and enjoyable. Cheers!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

well yes, if you walk into the Brighton side to catch your train, why would you ever both looking through that hole in the wall? There's a handy rail rovers website at www.railrover.org/index.html that is a good way of seeing what's on offer round the country. thanks for the kind words 👍

[@petermoll6130]

Haha yes, why indeed! Cheers for the link @@JohnnyHooverTravels

[@phronsiekeys]

Now I understand why I've been so confused at Victoria Station(s) on the rare occasions I needed to use it on trips to the UK.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Before the Southern Railway combined the two, I understand they had their own platform numbering systems ie, they both started at "Platform 1" - how confusing that would be, given they were both still called London Victoria!

[@matthewodwyer3615]

Interesting - for years that route was always much slower between London and Portsmouth as it stopped everywhere between Three Bridges and Barnham and they split the train there. Guess they feel they want to compete for some end to end customers now? Did your train not go on to Portsmouth Harbour? Maybe SWR are using that trick to keep customers captive...

[@breltransport]

some do go to portsmouth harbour, i dont really know how the system works but you mostly get a Harbour and Bognor and then after it is a Southsea and bognor. But ive seen more southsea trains then harbour ones so not really too sure

[@s125ish]

Southern also go to Southampton

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@s125ish yeah, I was looking at going on to Southampton, but I would not have been able to do quite so much before it got dark, so I've left that one for another day.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Mine terminated at the town station. which was fine for me as I wanted to start the next journey there so we could have a look at the architecture. I plan to get one all the way to the harbour sometime in the future and probably then hop over to the Isle of wight.

[@John-qq8he]

You missed out Portsmouth Harbour. The actual end of the line!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well my train terminated at the town and I wanted to start my next journey there as it is an interesting old station (with some 1980s thing stuck on the side). So it was deliberate. Also, I do plan to return to Portsmouth Harbour using the Waterloo train and then go on to the Isle of Wight on a future trip. So you can be assured that it will pop up on the channel. Thanks for watching 👍

[@John-qq8he]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Look forward to it. The Harbour used to be the end of my ( not missed ) daily commute to Victoria. Occasionally interspersed with SWT to Waterloo!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@John-qq8he that sounds a tough commute. Hooray for retirement or remote working 😀

[@GodAtum]

FYI your cost is wrong. An off-peak day return is £24 so you might as well get that instead of a single

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It's what i saw on my booking app (Northern) but more than happy to accept I could've got it wrong. My apologies if I did.

[@AymanTravelTransport]

​@JohnnyHooverTravels I think either you have actually been looking at the anytime fare, they're quoting a super-off-peak fare, or railcard discounted fare. Either way, there's no reason to just buy a single for flexible anytime/off-peak tickets, as a return is usually just marginally higher so you might as well get that to avoid paying almost double.

[@john07973]

Good video and a bargain trip on the DaySave ticket 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You know, I love a bargain 😉 Heading off from Portsmouth to Brighton on next week's video 👍 (gotta rinse that Daysave ticket!)

[@tonys1636]

Was there a buffet car on the Bognor section or are they a relic of history now, they were always on the Bognor 8 cars the other 4 the Worthing service. The Portsmouth services ran from Horsham, they always waited for the feeder if delayed. Everything has changed since BR was privatised.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@tonys1636 nothing to be had anywhere on Southern's services when i was out that day 🥲 Thanks for watching 👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

Haven't been to Havant but a very enjoyable video

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

haha - you are going to enjoy when I go back through Havant on the next video... 😉

[@send2gl]

With the title thumbnail saying 3rd rail travel with Southern I was actually expecting some discussion about pros and cons of 3rd rail or overhead wires. Pleasant video though.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

That's a bloody good point. I'm away travelling for 10 days right now. When I get home I will change the text on the thumbnail, as I agree it is a little misleading 👍

[@kieronwillans4038]

Another excellent video. I hadn't been through Victoria station in ages, but having travelled earlier this year to Canterbury West on HS1 from St Pancras, I decided to return to London on the classic route from Canterbury East into Victoria. A nice afternoon out. I have always travelled to and from Portsmouth via Waterloo but the Victoria route looks a nice alternative.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, the route was very pleasant and I was surprised that the journey time was so similar.

[@neilcrawford8303]

Interesting video. I live in Merseyside now, but used to live not far from both Southern and SWT now SWR services. Compared to the North West and Wales area, there are very few rover options apart from a TfL travelcard available in the London and South East area. It's a different world up here, there are so many Rovers and Rangers available, especially if you buy an additional ticket stations like Manchester or Crewe. I can't drive anymore and I like to use a Rover or Ranger ticket for the flexibility and the ability to make a journey up as you go along. Add to that, tickets like Manchester's Wayfarer ticket, or Merseytravel's Saveaway. I have noticed there are new GWR + SWR tickets for limited routes out of Paddington and Waterloo, but the fares are eye watering, and the railcard discount is about 10%, not 34%.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I agree there's a great selection up in the North and all great value for a day (or more) of riding around where the fancy takes you. Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@Kulla1berg]

Great video Not very often seen pictures from this area I have actually some plans to visit Chichester and have it for a base when doing some hikings around that area and ending in Arundel

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I had a week in Chichester camping and it was lovely. Obvs Arundel is very interesting too. 😄

[@robinparkes9]

It’s been several years since I’ve flown into Gatwick and taken the train to London but I’ve always enjoyed the EMUs. Quite a change from what I’m used to at home.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I would say they are serviceable but not flashy! But, in a different country I agree that all trains are a little exotic 😄 Thanks for watching 👍

[@Sidewinder863]

Loved this video as it reminds me of visiting family in the UK. Thanks Johnny Hoover.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No problem at all. So pleased you enjoyed it 👍

[@nuinmarnuinmar5321]

Great journey and a good price on that day ticket! Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes indeed, it was a decent price. I managed to get three trips in the series, before the light failed me and I returned to London in the dark. Two more to go! Portsmouth to Brighton next Friday. 👍

[@brianmorrison9168]

I’ll be travelling to/from Godalming in a couple of weeks time, leaving actually from Waterloo. It’ll be a Southern rail train hence this question. I was going to buy two advance tickets, but a friend mentioned ‘evening out’ tickets, which are a fair bit cheaper. He is not too sure how they worked though. Do you just buy these on the day of travel, say from a ticket machine or ticket office or do they have to be paid for in advance, like an advance ticket. My firend says they are valid on any train after 12:30 and for any return train .. is this correct ?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I've seen them mentioned on my ticket apps. Just have a look yourself on ticket apps is my advice 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for watching 👍

[@georgeantony9339]

Kind of unrelated but they're building HS2 bevause they wnat high-speed trains right? Cant they use the Intercity 125 trains since Wikipedia says they're high speed?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I think we have a new definition of "high speed" since the 1970s...

[@minimaxi802]

I always thought Waterloo is the London station for Portsmouth.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

There are two routes as you say. I will return to do Waterloo - Portsmouth in the future Thank you for watching 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

Southern does have the best trains including mostly their Class 377 Electrostars that I have been on. Including to Brighton, Horsham, Gatwick Airport, East Grinstead and East Croydon. Haven’t been on Southern to Lewis, Hastings, Eastbourne, Seaford, Littlehampton, Ford, Portsmouth Harbour and Chichester.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

High praise for the Electrostars there. Not sure I'd say they were the best trains. But I'm happy everyone has their own opinion 👍

[@francois738]

Perhaps not the best, but they're not bad. I tend to prefer using Southern (because of the 377s_ over any of the South Western Railway options. I mostly end up on a 450 which has awful seats but if I'm lucky I'll get a 444 which is much better but the 377 removes that gamble, as long as you stick to the first or last carriage of each set :)

[@Andrewjg_89]

Totally agree 👍

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Interesting.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you 👍

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Hi anyone remember the car race film ,John gregson ,. London to Brighton?🚙🚉🛤️

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yep. I loved Genevieve 👍

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Thanks J.H. for reply Any Trips To Wales or Yorkshire?🛤️🚉🛤️

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Hi J Gregson also n ol' dvd I have. ,,The T-tfield Thunderbolt , must go now

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@hiworldstephensonultranate290 yes - have a look at the channel - I've done trips in both Wales and Yorkshire. Even took in a bit of narrow-gauge steam when I was in Wales! Still on my list is Settle & Carlisle and the Heart of Wales line. but I will hopefully do both in the coming year. thanks for taking the trouble to watch and comment