The "I'm trying my normal London commute tomorrow" thread
Discussion
Had to use public transport this morning as meetings in West London this afternoon, so don't want to come back to Central to cycle home.
7am train from Clapham Junction to Victoria, then 38 bus up to Mayfair. CJ was a little bit busier than normal, otherwise it all seems ok, but to be fair, it's early. I suspect getting home will be the issue as it's always busier then anyway. Luckily i'll be going a couple of stops from Gunnersbury to Richmond, then a couple of stops from Richmond to Clapham Junction!
7am train from Clapham Junction to Victoria, then 38 bus up to Mayfair. CJ was a little bit busier than normal, otherwise it all seems ok, but to be fair, it's early. I suspect getting home will be the issue as it's always busier then anyway. Luckily i'll be going a couple of stops from Gunnersbury to Richmond, then a couple of stops from Richmond to Clapham Junction!
I'm at a client site today - but will attempt my regular commute tomorrow.
Eastcoast mainline Grantham to London King's Cross -> Liverpool Street.
I usually get the 06.17 train from Grantham which get's me to KX about 07.30. But for the duration of the games there's an 05.26 train....I consider getting it but not convinced I'll get up in time...
Will let you know what KX and and Liverpool St. are like tomorrow...
Eastcoast mainline Grantham to London King's Cross -> Liverpool Street.
I usually get the 06.17 train from Grantham which get's me to KX about 07.30. But for the duration of the games there's an 05.26 train....I consider getting it but not convinced I'll get up in time...
Will let you know what KX and and Liverpool St. are like tomorrow...
I was on nights last night in Stratford. The journey in at 7pm was fine, quieter than usual for a Sunday evening, but coming back on the A12 this morning at 7am & the traffic was already crawling up to the turn off for the Olympic park headed towards Bow - from there to Bow seemed ok though.
I'm glad I was heading away from Bow.
I'm glad I was heading away from Bow.
DLR Woolwich Arsenal to Canning Town was much busier than usual, with trains holding in stations much longer than normal. Canning Town wasn't too bad, lots of people in orange coats yelling at commuters to go in one direction, got annoyed by another orange coat bod in conversation with someone at the top of the only exit flight of stairs with a full train of people trying to get past.....great idea.
Jubilee Line ok, but no delays, signal failures or train breakdowns (yet), Green Park station really busy, with lots of confused looking tourist checking Tube maps anywhere and EVERYWHERE.
20mins longer than normal but most on DLR.
Not so sure about using that route home, might be a walk to Charing Cross.
Jubilee Line ok, but no delays, signal failures or train breakdowns (yet), Green Park station really busy, with lots of confused looking tourist checking Tube maps anywhere and EVERYWHERE.
20mins longer than normal but most on DLR.
Not so sure about using that route home, might be a walk to Charing Cross.
I drove, as normal, had planned to get up earlier to miss the clusterf
k north of Tower Bridge, but a snooze/sleep/Monday move meant I left home at a more usual 0540 - just in time for Farming Today on R4 
My commute - Eastbourne to London - St. Katherine's Dock.... well, A23/M23 were as normal, M25 looked a bit busy as I crossed it, but nothing unusual in that. A23 into Croydon was normal, then I cut across and head through Croydon, Whitehorse Rd, Beulah Hill, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill - basically parallel to the A23 but missing out Streatham and Brixton, no bad thing
Less cars this morning, just as many buses cutting me up and generally causing an obstruction, and a higher number of the Addison Lee crowd diving in and out of junctions.
A quick cut under the railway to Druid St, past the Classic Porsche place and right turn onto the A100/Tower Bridge - Empty really, compared to a normal day anyway.
Then came the minor diversion so I could get across to the parking at St. Katherine's Dock... this prevents the more usual U-Turn to the north of Tower Bridge so you can effectively head east on The Highway/A1203, then turn right into Thomas More Street to get to the parking - well, U-Turn and Right Turn are not words in the ORN line painter's manual really, so the diversion takes you along Royal Mint Street, then right turn (one at a time usually) on to Dock Street so you can head south, over the A1203 and fiddle about to get to the parking.
This morning, that minor diversion added a mere 30mins to the normal commute, last week it was adding just under an hour, which was nice
In short - could have been better, but not as bad as anticipated
k north of Tower Bridge, but a snooze/sleep/Monday move meant I left home at a more usual 0540 - just in time for Farming Today on R4 My commute - Eastbourne to London - St. Katherine's Dock.... well, A23/M23 were as normal, M25 looked a bit busy as I crossed it, but nothing unusual in that. A23 into Croydon was normal, then I cut across and head through Croydon, Whitehorse Rd, Beulah Hill, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill - basically parallel to the A23 but missing out Streatham and Brixton, no bad thing
Less cars this morning, just as many buses cutting me up and generally causing an obstruction, and a higher number of the Addison Lee crowd diving in and out of junctions.
A quick cut under the railway to Druid St, past the Classic Porsche place and right turn onto the A100/Tower Bridge - Empty really, compared to a normal day anyway.
Then came the minor diversion so I could get across to the parking at St. Katherine's Dock... this prevents the more usual U-Turn to the north of Tower Bridge so you can effectively head east on The Highway/A1203, then turn right into Thomas More Street to get to the parking - well, U-Turn and Right Turn are not words in the ORN line painter's manual really, so the diversion takes you along Royal Mint Street, then right turn (one at a time usually) on to Dock Street so you can head south, over the A1203 and fiddle about to get to the parking.
This morning, that minor diversion added a mere 30mins to the normal commute, last week it was adding just under an hour, which was nice
In short - could have been better, but not as bad as anticipated
Did mine across the weekend. Quite a pain with central London closures. Ended up having to take a very protracted route to Farringdon. On Saturday, coming out was hell - ended up on the A3 (wanted A4/M4!) after being redirected around the road closures for the cycling. Getting in/out of Farringdon from A40/Marylebone/Kings Cross much easier.
SWH said:
I drove, as normal, had planned to get up earlier to miss the clusterfk north of Tower Bridge, but a snooze/sleep/Monday move meant I left home at a more usual 0540 - just in time for Farming Today on R4
My commute - Eastbourne to London - St. Katherine's Dock.... well, A23/M23 were as normal, M25 looked a bit busy as I crossed it, but nothing unusual in that. A23 into Croydon was normal, then I cut across and head through Croydon, Whitehorse Rd, Beulah Hill, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill - basically parallel to the A23 but missing out Streatham and Brixton, no bad thing
Less cars this morning, just as many buses cutting me up and generally causing an obstruction, and a higher number of the Addison Lee crowd diving in and out of junctions.
A quick cut under the railway to Druid St, past the Classic Porsche place and right turn onto the A100/Tower Bridge - Empty really, compared to a normal day anyway.
Then came the minor diversion so I could get across to the parking at St. Katherine's Dock... this prevents the more usual U-Turn to the north of Tower Bridge so you can effectively head east on The Highway/A1203, then turn right into Thomas More Street to get to the parking - well, U-Turn and Right Turn are not words in the ORN line painter's manual really, so the diversion takes you along Royal Mint Street, then right turn (one at a time usually) on to Dock Street so you can head south, over the A1203 and fiddle about to get to the parking.
This morning, that minor diversion added a mere 30mins to the normal commute, last week it was adding just under an hour, which was nice
In short - could have been better, but not as bad as anticipated
That commute sounds like hell.k north of Tower Bridge, but a snooze/sleep/Monday move meant I left home at a more usual 0540 - just in time for Farming Today on R4 My commute - Eastbourne to London - St. Katherine's Dock.... well, A23/M23 were as normal, M25 looked a bit busy as I crossed it, but nothing unusual in that. A23 into Croydon was normal, then I cut across and head through Croydon, Whitehorse Rd, Beulah Hill, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill - basically parallel to the A23 but missing out Streatham and Brixton, no bad thing
Less cars this morning, just as many buses cutting me up and generally causing an obstruction, and a higher number of the Addison Lee crowd diving in and out of junctions.
A quick cut under the railway to Druid St, past the Classic Porsche place and right turn onto the A100/Tower Bridge - Empty really, compared to a normal day anyway.
Then came the minor diversion so I could get across to the parking at St. Katherine's Dock... this prevents the more usual U-Turn to the north of Tower Bridge so you can effectively head east on The Highway/A1203, then turn right into Thomas More Street to get to the parking - well, U-Turn and Right Turn are not words in the ORN line painter's manual really, so the diversion takes you along Royal Mint Street, then right turn (one at a time usually) on to Dock Street so you can head south, over the A1203 and fiddle about to get to the parking.
This morning, that minor diversion added a mere 30mins to the normal commute, last week it was adding just under an hour, which was nice
In short - could have been better, but not as bad as anticipated
Though I guess you avoid the CC?
well the Northern line was actually fine, quieter at Euston and filled up at KCSP
I thought London Bridge was exit-only in its entirety (including Northern/Jubilee) but upon closer inspection it is only certain National Rail service platforms which are, which makes a lot more sense as the alternatives are not that far away.
I think Bank might be hell later though. I also don't want to encourage other commuters to come in, in case they are all working from home and inspired to come in later this week
I thought London Bridge was exit-only in its entirety (including Northern/Jubilee) but upon closer inspection it is only certain National Rail service platforms which are, which makes a lot more sense as the alternatives are not that far away.
I think Bank might be hell later though. I also don't want to encourage other commuters to come in, in case they are all working from home and inspired to come in later this week
7:30 Stansted Express to Liverpool St
Walk to Fleet Street.
Exactly the same as any other commute, apart from lots of 2012 branded people at Stansted, ticket checkers before you get on rather than checking on the train.
Also Stansted Express very vocal and helpful on Twitter. I noticed they were holding trains back at Liverpool St on Friday night to make sure people got to their destination after the opening ceremony. Very impressive, and bodes well for my day at the games on Saturday (for which I've really excited!).
Walk to Fleet Street.
Exactly the same as any other commute, apart from lots of 2012 branded people at Stansted, ticket checkers before you get on rather than checking on the train.
Also Stansted Express very vocal and helpful on Twitter. I noticed they were holding trains back at Liverpool St on Friday night to make sure people got to their destination after the opening ceremony. Very impressive, and bodes well for my day at the games on Saturday (for which I've really excited!).
Working from home today (well, excluding logging on to Pistonheads because the VPN is overloaded with loads of other people also working from home). My train comes into London Bridge - I've no idea if it really will be as bad as they suggest this evening, but I could hardly say I hadn't been warned. I decided to let other people be the guinea pigs today and I'll take a view on whether to go in tomorrow or drive to an "M25 office" where there should be much quicker network access.
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