Hove to Clapham

[Chiefbadger]

Before I get into the car - does anyone do a similar commute daily? I guess we're talking 60 miles each way. Basically I'm losing the will to live commuting with the current situation with Southern Rail and thinking that renting a parking space at Clapham, buying a diesel commuter and then jumping on the tube to the City will be easier than the commute which is currently taking circa 2-3 hours each way. I am slightly terrified that it will be jumping from frying pan to fire though. I'm also trying to work out whether it makes any sense financially. Season ticket is around £4500 a year so realistically I was looking at a diesel that will do 45mpg that will cost me circa 1-2k a year leaving me with enough for petrol/insurance/servicing etc.

So - Is is a ridiculous idea in the first place and then secondly - do I get a Mondeo/Insignia or could I run a slightly older E class without it costing me too much more a year in consumables etc?

Basically I'm at my wits end with the trains, but is it even more nuts to be thinking of driving?

[anonymous-user]

Absolute madness, if you think your life is misery now just wait until you've tried that drive five days a week for a couple of months. Yes Southern are are possibly the world's worst train company, but even they are preferable what you are considering.

[hkwc104]

I can't say I've ever driven (or commuted) from Hove to Clapham but have driven from Earlsfield to Lewes and vice versa a number of times (so a similar route and distance). Even when it's not rush hour you're looking at a journey that takes the best part of two hours. Factor in rush hour traffic along with a train or tube ride and you're going to be no better off than sticking with Southern.

That said, it's not a bad way to give a two finger salute to Southern.

[Chiefbadger]

Cheers guys. I know it will be horrible. I'm just not sure what's worse. It's regularly taking me three hours each way at the moment and means me checking train apps half the afternoon to work out whether I need to get to LB/Vic/blackfriars etc. Also continual stress overnight of will a train actually be running in the morning etc. I'm trying to weigh this up vs the stress of a not very pleasant (but at least I know that in advance) drive until the trains are fixed.

Also open to any suggestions of other options! Car sharing doesn't work as my days need to be flexible. I work near Bank so just figured get to a zone 2 tube station, but maybe there's a better way?!!

[kurt535]

Chief, I used to need to get on my trading floor for 06:30am. Even 15 years ago, the trains stressed me no end so I ended up getting my motorbike license. it's not for everyone but i calculated i cut morning commute by an hour and evening one by an hour and a half. so, 2 1/5 hours a day x 5 days a week, 15 hours a week up. More importantly, i made the market opening!

It also made me realise what a tw*t i was marrying a wife who sat at home every day spending all the cash. suffice to say we're divorced now!!!

[swindler]

Move to Clapham?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say get a Motorbike/Scooter use that spend 2-3k & you'll have something that can get you to work swiftly without the hassle of the traffic.

If you don't ride then a trike with around 60-70mpg & they're worth a look:

250cc Piaggio MP3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Piaggio-MP3-250ie-Motor-...

125cc MP3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Piaggio-MP3-125-IE-Midni...

300cc MP3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-PIAGGIO-MP3-LT-300-...

Motorbikes:

ER6F

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-ER6F-2008-MODEL...

Suzuki SV650S

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-SV-650-SV650S-/18...

The time you'll save alone will make it worthwhile, I use my bike to go from Brands hatch to Smithfields which takes anything from 30-45 minutes when I have to use the car I can easily double that time.

[Chiefbadger]

I thought about a bike, but although it would be nice in good weather, I don't fancy it in the wind/rain for 120 miles a day. Cheers for suggestions, looks like I'm stuck with Southern for now. . .

[towser44]

I'd say bike too I am afraid or stick to the train. Luckily I work from home at the moment, but as soon as I have to get a job which involves any sort of commuting again I shall be dusting the leathers off. The odd day every 2/3 months I have to commute anywhere at the moment drives me insane in the car, so I can't even bare the thought of that 5 days a week.

[winshent]

Why do you need to get to clapham if you work in the city?

Surely make sense to get to a train station in zone 5 that has far trains to the city?

[ZX10R NIN]

Chiefbadger said:

I thought about a bike, but although it would be nice in good weather, I don't fancy it in the wind/rain for 120 miles a day. Cheers for suggestions, looks like I'm stuck with Southern for now. . .

The rain isn't a problem if you've got the right clothing & equipment (Heated grips/Jacket etc) it's a sinch plus the saving in time really does make it worth taking a closer look at.

[Chiefbadger]

Doesn't have to be Clapham. I just don't think I could afford to run a car and get a zone 5/6 season ticket for the sameish cost as my current season ticket.

I'd kill myself on a bike. Would love it, but I can't trust myself enough. 🙄

[winshent]

Orpington has a decent service to London Cannon Street, which is only a short walk from Bank.. average journey takes around 36 mins..

Might be worth trying for a week.. Season ticket for a year without tube is £1,948..

[V40TC]

Hire a car and try it ?
Autoeurope are cheap on hire you can pick a car that you would consider
or one near MPG wise etc.
see how you get on and see if it is plausible.
train you sit/sleep/read,
car all your attention required,
as bad as the train can be I think it preferable to a car.
Motorbikes are great but
weather/risk etc would put me off TBH

[The Mad Monk]

Chiefbadger said:

Before I get into the car - does anyone do a similar commute daily? I guess we're talking 60 miles each way. Basically I'm losing the will to live commuting with the current situation with Southern Rail and thinking that renting a parking space at Clapham, buying a diesel commuter and then jumping on the tube to the City will be easier than the commute which is currently taking circa 2-3 hours each way. I am slightly terrified that it will be jumping from frying pan to fire though. I'm also trying to work out whether it makes any sense financially. Season ticket is around £4500 a year so realistically I was looking at a diesel that will do 45mpg that will cost me circa 1-2k a year leaving me with enough for petrol/insurance/servicing etc.

So - Is is a ridiculous idea in the first place and then secondly - do I get a Mondeo/Insignia or could I run a slightly older E class without it costing me too much more a year in consumables etc?

Basically I'm at my wits end with the trains, but is it even more nuts to be thinking of driving?

Why don't you:-

Move to Clapham.

Get a job in Hove.

[Spx]

I did Hove - Bank for 15 years in a car, following my old courier routes. Enjoy your own company and like driving. Clapham is easy from Hove. I can let you know some routes if you want.

[UberMeister]

Drive up to Guildford (or another station on that line) and get South West Trains into Waterloo?

[H6Nathan]

Drive to Morden and take the Northern Line to Bank could be a option. Morden is on tha A217 and in Zone 4.

[DanL]

It's pretty much already been suggested, but I would have thought you'd be better off driving to somewhere outside London with a working train service, and going in from there... Somewhere like Leatherhead maybe? No idea if the costs stack up though.

[Chiefbadger]

I work in Bank, Clapham just seemed a fairly sensible option as I've seen a few parking spaces close to the common to rent for circa £100 a month. I had looked at Orpington, but price of season ticket rules it out. Basically I need to get as close in as possible to be zone 2.

Hove would be ace, but I run a business in London, have staff I need to support etc. Just getting the business off the ground so refusing to let Southern ruin it. Funds are tight as it's a new business.