Does anyone do a daily London commute, c2c and tube???

Does anyone do a daily London commute, c2c and tube???

Author
Discussion

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Just an idea at mo and looking at costs etc.
My new job sees me commuting daily by car from Basildon to Notting Hill. Now I know its not the nicest but I can put up with it for various reasons. My start and finish times vary daily due to the nature of the job so some times I win commuting outside the rush both ways, other times I lose.

The best I've done the journey is 1 hour and 5 minutes, but on 1 particularly bad day it took 3 and a half hours eek no matter what I tried rolleyes
Bear in mind this is an 06 plate Mini, uncomfortable and a manual box. Once I get on my feet I could change the car and get something more ideal, small, comfortable and auto.

The other option is the train/tube from Basildon to Fenchurch Street then tube from Tower Hill for 1 stop, change to central line which would take me all the way to Queensway and its a 2 minute walk from there. I have no idea yet what the journey time would be, and the 'chances' of getting a seat? Doubtful I guess?
I would obviously do a trial of a week or month before deciding which way to go in the long term.

Cost wise, the train/tube look the cheaper option but not by a huge amount, it would mean though we could get rid of 1 of our cars as it would no longer be needed.

Thoughts and opinions please?

Yex 450

4,583 posts

219 months

Friday 11th August 2017
quotequote all
I commute from Chafford Hundred to Fenchurch Street every work day and it is quite pleasant. I get a seat each way and the trains are heated nicely in the winter and chilled nicely (some rather more so) in the summer thumbup

You may struggle to get a seat on the journey up but with a bit of moving about the length of the train when it arrives at Basildon you will find out where the spaces are. Check the train times and stopping patterns before they reach Basildon as some start at Leigh on Sea and can have more seats available. If possible can you get a train from Laindon as some start there and you will always get a seat.

On the tube you will have to lump it with everyone else I'm afraid. If you are able to add a bit of time into your journey you could get the district line from Tower Hill round to Nottinghill Gate and walk from there. There are a few district line trains that start from Tower Hill so you can get a seat if you are lucky and are there when one is ready to go. A lot of people get off at Tower Hill from so you may be lucky and get a seat more often than you think.

One thing to remember is the C2C line has very few issues compared to other lines in the UK but when it goes wrong it can go totally wrong and delay you for hours. In which case I recommend the East India Arms just outside the station smile

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Sunday 13th August 2017
quotequote all
Thanks very much for the info, I have to be honest I didn't even think of the Laindon option and its a very good idea as I'd really like a seat for that part of the journey, not to worried about a seat on the tube as wouldn't expect to get 1.

I could walk to Basildon from home in 10 minutes, Laindon prob more like 25 but could always hijack the Mrs for a lift biggrin

My concern was always what if it went belly up due to delays/problems but guess there is just as much chance of the same on the roads. I'm a bit anal and always leave extra early just in case and when I have really good runs in I go for an early breakfast near work. I suppose if I went down the train/tube route and the c2c line was screwed I could go via the Liverpool street line on odd occasions.

Certainly food for thought, I'll prob make the most of the quieter roads right now due to half term but think I'll give some different routes a trial in September, see you in that pub wink

generationx

6,641 posts

104 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Mrs GenX used to do Billericay to Notting Hill daily for a few years, always on public transport.

The train (Greater Anglia creaky steam-powered ste) was generally ok but the Underground section of the journey used to drive her mental, to the point that on the warmer summer days she would avoid it altogether and use busses due to oppressive heat and encroaching claustrophobia, plus high passenger volume and generally rude, selfish, pushy people.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Yex 450 said:
I commute from Chafford Hundred to Fenchurch Street every work day and it is quite pleasant. I get a seat each way and the trains are heated nicely in the winter and chilled nicely (some rather more so) in the summer thumbup

You may struggle to get a seat on the journey up but with a bit of moving about the length of the train when it arrives at Basildon you will find out where the spaces are. Check the train times and stopping patterns before they reach Basildon as some start at Leigh on Sea and can have more seats available. If possible can you get a train from Laindon as some start there and you will always get a seat.

On the tube you will have to lump it with everyone else I'm afraid. If you are able to add a bit of time into your journey you could get the district line from Tower Hill round to Nottinghill Gate and walk from there. There are a few district line trains that start from Tower Hill so you can get a seat if you are lucky and are there when one is ready to go. A lot of people get off at Tower Hill from so you may be lucky and get a seat more often than you think.

One thing to remember is the C2C line has very few issues compared to other lines in the UK but when it goes wrong it can go totally wrong and delay you for hours. In which case I recommend the East India Arms just outside the station smile
Let me know when you fancy a beer Ian. I prefer the Windsor though smile

C2C Is a breeze compared to all other lines. Minimal issues. I come in from Ockendon to FST every day and can count on one hand how many issues I have had in the last year.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
I did around 5 months in London, in 2012, Laindon to Fenchurch Street.

Only delayed twice, in that time, and only once was by about an hour.

Going from Laindon you can get a seat and read the Metro on the way, trains being air conditioned as well it wasn't a bad journey.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Thanks all for the info its much appreciated.

Train from Laindon is sounding like the best bet, and best bit, from there i'll have a go at trying a few different options to see which pans out best? Prob give it a go in September.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
chilistrucker said:
Thanks all for the info its much appreciated.

Train from Laindon is sounding like the best bet, and best bit, from there i'll have a go at trying a few different options to see which pans out best? Prob give it a go in September.
Get stuck in now whilst the kids are off. Even quieter.

12TS

1,806 posts

209 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
generationx said:
...but the Underground section of the journey used to drive her mental, to the point that on the warmer summer days she would avoid it altogether and use busses due to oppressive heat and encroaching claustrophobia, plus high passenger volume and generally rude, selfish, pushy people.
District and Circle trains now air conditioned. New signalling system in a couple of years will also speed these trains up.

Central line not air conditioned however.

Personal preference, but the car would be a non starter for me. A13 would do my head in.

generationx

6,641 posts

104 months

Friday 18th August 2017
quotequote all
12TS said:
District and Circle trains now air conditioned. New signalling system in a couple of years will also speed these trains up.

Central line not air conditioned however.

Personal preference, but the car would be a non starter for me. A13 would do my head in.
Unfortunately London Liverpool Street -> Notting Hill Gate = direct on Cental Line frown

12TS

1,806 posts

209 months

Friday 18th August 2017
quotequote all
If it's the Central Line that's the problem, one option would be to walk the 5 mins from TH to Aldgate and then Met/Circle round to Royal Oak. May take another 5 to 10 mins, but whenever I've used this bit it's more civilised.

Jefferson Steelflex

1,428 posts

98 months

Thursday 31st August 2017
quotequote all
Sorry for being a bit late on this, but just in case it's still an issue it's advisable to stay above ground as long as possible.

To that end, come out of Fenchurch Street at the main entrance and walk to Bank - only 5 or 6 minutes walk - and take the Central. Trains are busy (and hot in summer) but not too bad. If it's raining, you have the option of going via Tower Hill to Monument and using the tunnel to Bank instead.

Alternatively, change at West Ham, take District or H&C to Mile End and jump on the Central Line there.

C2C is ok. I get on at Upminster so hardly ever get a seat but it's not a bad journey and is one of the better lines, but they only have a few routes to manage so not difficult to achieve the punctuality they do.

It's nice to have some different options, so you could always drive at certain times and use the train at others. I'm not going to encourage it, but a lot of people drive to Upminster and park up somewhere, that way they can use Oyster and the fare is capped at £12 a day. However parking is very restricted now.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Sunday 3rd September 2017
quotequote all
12TS said:
If it's the Central Line that's the problem, one option would be to walk the 5 mins from TH to Aldgate and then Met/Circle round to Royal Oak. May take another 5 to 10 mins, but whenever I've used this bit it's more civilised.
Passed Royal Oak the other day, and it would only be a 10 minute walk to the house so worth considering smile

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Sunday 3rd September 2017
quotequote all
Jefferson Steelflex said:
Sorry for being a bit late on this, but just in case it's still an issue it's advisable to stay above ground as long as possible.

To that end, come out of Fenchurch Street at the main entrance and walk to Bank - only 5 or 6 minutes walk - and take the Central. Trains are busy (and hot in summer) but not too bad. If it's raining, you have the option of going via Tower Hill to Monument and using the tunnel to Bank instead.

Alternatively, change at West Ham, take District or H&C to Mile End and jump on the Central Line there.

C2C is ok. I get on at Upminster so hardly ever get a seat but it's not a bad journey and is one of the better lines, but they only have a few routes to manage so not difficult to achieve the punctuality they do.

It's nice to have some different options, so you could always drive at certain times and use the train at others. I'm not going to encourage it, but a lot of people drive to Upminster and park up somewhere, that way they can use Oyster and the fare is capped at £12 a day. However parking is very restricted now.
Thanks for the ideas. Bank is another idea I'd consider as is changing at West Ham.
I did toy with Upminster but think all in costs over the year would be a bit more expensive than a annual ticket.

Certainly got plenty of food for thought now, thanks all thumbup

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

150 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
quotequote all
The roads finally got the better of me and I finally gave it a go this week.

Tried a few of the routes suggested, Basildon when on an early start or Laindon if I can make it fit.

At first I thought Laindon to West ham, then tube to Mile end and change onto Central line Tube to Queensway was best. It seems ok when early but a bit different trying to get on at Mile End when busy and those Central line tubes do get a bit warm, bet they're fun in the summer.

Like the Div that I sometimes am, I picked a trial week with a tube strike on the cards and was unaware of the evening engineering work on the Fenchurch Street line, luckily only got caught out the once.

On Friday I did Laindon to Fenchurch, walk to Tower Hill and then got on the Circle line to Bayswater. Have to say that route is by far my fave as I get a seat at Laindon and was amazed how quiet the Circle line was from Tower Hill at 7.45am. Anyone know if that's normal or did I just fluke it, it was exactly the same in reverse.

On the whole it seems a much better option than the daily drive.