Train commuting from Herts - Tips for newcommer

[MadProfessor]

Hello all -

We're looking to move out of London to Hertfordshire. So far we've been looking at villages either side of the A10.

I would love to hear any advice or tips on commuting from that area as that may rule in or out certain areas. People seem to drive to a range of Hertford North, Bishop Stortford, Ware, Harlow Town, St Margaret's and Bayford. I'm thinking about things like parking, chance of getting a seat and traffic to the station. Obviously the internet can tell me journey times etc.

I think we would be looking to interchange to the Victoria Line at Finsbury Park or Tottenham Hale and commuting in maybe 3 times a week at most.

Thank you!!!

[lemmingjames]

Basically;
West Herts (think M1) - im lead to believe St.Albans has a 24 hour line but not sure what stops are on it. Not sure on the frequency of trains
Central Corridor (think A1m) - has 2 lines and more variety of trains to get, last train during the week is 2/3am, Weekend is 1am During peak times, if your at a main commuting station, theres a train every 15 minutes
East Herts (a10) - one line, takes fking ages to get anywhere

I commute in from Hitchin but live nearish the station (10 minute walk), car park gets full pretty quick early on, people have started parking in the side streets but the nearest ones are all 'controlled' zones so commuters have been parking out where i live though not in my road/cul-de-sac.

Pending on train time but most likely end up standing 7-9am, but i head to the bendy join area as nobody tends to like to stand there.

I believe Arseley car park isnt full but its becoming busier, likely to get a seat from there. Hitchin to FPK is 25 minutes so an easy standing journey unless your frail and better for your health

Edited by lemmingjames on Tuesday 10th September 09:27

[Greshamst]

The best line (arguable) but in terms of modern trains, speed and frequent trains is the thameslink one, so st.albans, Harpenden, Radlett, borehamwood etc. Not the same area you’re looking but plenty of nice villages dotted about near them.

The line that Welwyn north etc is on are old smaller trains, less frequent, not as reliable. But Finsbury Park etc is a good place to come in to.

I would consider moving your search closer to a thameslink station

[lemmingjames]

The central line (going by my analogy) is thameslink as well, so theres both sets of trains on the line

The quicker flyers are the modern bendy trains with the stoppers getting the older trains

[Spindoctor]

The Thameslink trains on the Bedford via St Albans to St Pancras (and beyond) line are all new with aircon and 12 carriages (Class 700 trains). The trains that run through north and central Herts from Cambridge or Peterborough via St Pancras to the south coast are also Class 700 and usually 12 carriages.

The Hertford North to Moorgate line has even newer trains, also aircon (Class 717). The very nasty 40-year old trains on that line are an increasingly rare sight and will disappear completely soon.

There are also newish, aircon trains that run on the Great Northern line from Kings Lynn to Kings X through north and central Herts (Class 387). Even the 1990s Class 365 trains on that route have aircon, although people open the windows so it doesn't work.

So basically, all those routes have decent trains with functioning aircon, more space than before, and more destinations. The line into Liverpool St through east Herts is not (yet) so blessed.

PS I don't work for GTR and I'm not a train nerd, honest. I just happen to spend a lot of time and money travelling on them.

And obviously the introduction of shiny new trains does not guarantee they will run on time, or at all.

[itcaptainslow]

Spindoctor said:

The Thameslink trains on the Bedford via St Albans to St Pancras (and beyond) line are all new with aircon and 12 carriages (Class 700 trains). The trains that run through north and central Herts from Cambridge or Peterborough via St Pancras to the south coast are also Class 700 and usually 12 carriages.

The Hertford North to Moorgate line has even newer trains, also aircon (Class 717). The very nasty 40-year old trains on that line are an increasingly rare sight and will disappear completely soon.

There are also newish, aircon trains that run on the Great Northern line from Kings Lynn to Kings X through north and central Herts (Class 387). Even the 1990s Class 365 trains on that route have aircon, although people open the windows so it doesn't work.

So basically, all those routes have decent trains with functioning aircon, more space than before, and more destinations. The line into Liverpool St through east Herts is not (yet) so blessed.

PS I don't work for GTR and I'm not a train nerd, honest. I just happen to spend a lot of time and money travelling on them.

And obviously the introduction of shiny new trains does not guarantee they will run on time, or at all.

365’s don’t have air con, well, in the passenger saloon anyway, and it’s debatable in the driving cab

Hertford services are semi fast half the time-Bayford is quite often a station missed on these, so has a less frequent service.

There’s a service to Kings Cross every half an hour from WGC/Hatfield, plus a couple per hour to Moorgate on weekdays, increases in frequency during the peak. Eventually...the KX services will run through St Pancras & London Bridge to Maidstone.

South of Hadley Wood & Crews Hill are in the Oyster card zones, although I understand this may be extended to WGC at some point.

Edited by itcaptainslow on Wednesday 11th September 14:15

[designforlife]

Thameslink is the fastest and most frequent, with 24h trains, very convienient, although not without issues with delays etc.

I've lived in St Albans/Harpenden/Radlett for 9 or so years, and have used the trains a lot over the years. The thing I like most about the line is the direct link to Luton airport, ease of getting into central london, and also a direct train to Brighton from St Albans, which has been good for some weekends away.

For commuting into London purposes, it's worth looking at the actual train fare costs, it gets very very expensive.

When I lived in St Albans and worked in Radlett, I could have used the train as both home and work were 5 mins from the respective stations, but train ticket prices were about double the daily cost to drive, so i drove 25 mins instead of taking the 5 min train!

[MadProfessor]

Thank you all. Very helpful and knowledgable.

[designforlife]

Oh yeah you can also get a direct train to Gatwick from St Albans with no changes... Stansted is pretty much the only time I have to resort to using the car.

Let us know if you make the move!

[MadProfessor]

Somebody at work is promoting East Bucks as well in terms of relative value for money.....

[MadProfessor]

If anybody has any tips on the availability of parking at any of the main stations in the area, or which stations are a pain to commute to. For example, is the A10 or A414 a complete nightmare?

[Wonderman]

MadProfessor said:

Somebody at work is promoting East Bucks as well in terms of relative value for money.....

Don't mean to be nosey but I presume you are child free/ not planning on having children? Just a few friends had to move again to hit the school catchment, not sure about Bucks but in Herts I know how many metres my home is from the secondary school that eldest goes too...just a consideration.

Brighton/ Bedford line seems to have a lot less issues than Hertford/ WGC side which I use more at w/ends when it's not a bus replacement service as alot of work going on it at the moment.

[MadProfessor]

We have three children, but we were considering private schools as we were thinking of moving more rural which pretty much rules out decent state school options.

However, very happy to hear of any recommendations. We've looked around the area but an entire county is large!

[Wonderman]

MadProfessor said:

If anybody has any tips on the availability of parking at any of the main stations in the area, or which stations are a pain to commute to. For example, is the A10 or A414 a complete nightmare?

Going through Hertford either way used to be a pita when I worked out that way, best to have a play with google maps and put in your route and set leaving time for time of travel to give you an idea.

WGC/Hatfield/ St Albans have plenty of parking, Potters Bar/ Stevenage less so at station but other option.

When you say rural, will one of you be taking the kids to school (private or otherwise) as I guess for harmony you might want to check public transport if kids getting there themselves (as will be a shock compared to London) or check the school run if not.

[85Carrera]

Parking at Bishop’s Stortford station is a nightmare as the council, in their wisdom, approved development of a good proportion of what was the station car park. It will only get worse as people move into the stty identikit housing estates that are being thrown up around the outskirts of town, a number of whom will presumably be commuting by train.

[anonymous-user]

I commute from Sandy in Bedfordshire. Trains every half an hour and being a Thameslink train, puts you in central London (Blackfriars) in an hour. More frequent trains on the same line (about every 10 mins) can be had to Bedford. So towards Flitwick. Go towards St Albans and you’ll find it cramped and expensive. Take a good look at the Thameslink route. I’d also look at Cambridgeshire which goes the same direction through Hitchin.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 11th September 18:11

[Wonderman]

wormus said:

I commute from Sandy in Bedfordshire. Trains every half an hour and being a Thameslink train, puts you in central London (Blackfriars) in an hour. More frequent trains on the same line (about every 10 mins) can be had to Bedford. So towards Flitwick. Go towards St Albans and you’ll find it cramped and expensive. Take a good look at the Thameslink route. I’d also look at Cambridgeshire which goes the same direction through Hitchin.

Edited by wormus on Wednesday 11th September 18:11

Depends what time you travel, you can also usually get a seat if you want one on the semi-fast/ multi-stop trains and if have to stand on fast it's only 20mins to St Pancras- trains every 15-20 mins, think season ticket is ~£4.5k not sure how that compares to Sandy? Cambridge isn't a bad shout as friend lives out that way and used to do London commute, also check out Midland mainline as often had fast services which skips St Albans/stop before London.

[Spindoctor]

itcaptainslow said:

365’s don’t have air con, well, in the passenger saloon anyway, and it’s debatable in the driving cab

Edited by itcaptainslow on Wednesday 11th September 14:15

You're right, its just blowers on those trains. And heaters that burn your legs. So are you a driver (of trains) then?

[itcaptainslow]

Spindoctor said:

itcaptainslow said:

365’s don’t have air con, well, in the passenger saloon anyway, and it’s debatable in the driving cab

Edited by itcaptainslow on Wednesday 11th September 14:15

You're right, its just blowers on those trains. And heaters that burn your legs. So are you a driver (of trains) then?

I am!

[Spindoctor]

Very cool. I've always had a secret desire to drive trains. Stems from getting a ride in the cab of a Northern Line tube when I was a kid. Hope you're getting to drive the 700s, looks like a great driver experience if you're into ultra modern trains.