Fastest/best train commute from West Sussex?

[CAPP0]

Having spent some time there recently, we'd seriously consider living along the West Sussex coast, broadly Worthing to Littlehampton (Angmering/East Preston/Rustington/etc). I currently commute into London from Kent by motorbike, and if we moved I could do that in the summer but winter might be a bit of a stretch. But the trains from, say, Angmering into Victoria are 1:45-ish, which is just too long, and I'm not quite ready to retire yet.

Are there any (much) faster services from other stations in the general vicinity? Excluding Brighton, which I suspect would be too much of a faff to drive in there and park every day and would end up matching the total time commuting anyway.

[schmunk]

The Arun Valley line, which goes up through Horsham, is slightly faster, but getting to the station at Arundel (the closest to Angmering) will add back all of the journey time you've saved on the train.

[Pheo]

Haywards Heath, but I think it’s probably too far.

You’re aware of all the problems on BML presumably?

another option would be Horsham, but I wouldn’t live on the coast, I’d live in Horsham cos it’s nice.

[miniman]

I grew up in Hassocks which is about 12 miles north of Brighton. Circa 60 minutes to Victoria, also on the Thameslink route to Farringdon / Kings Cross. But please don't abandon your car outside my mother's house as so many people do

[CAPP0]

Yes, aware of the Brighton line problems, another reason not to go there. I was hoping that someone would say "ah yes, use XXX, great parking and 55 mins into London"

Thanks all anyway.

[maccas99]

There are no magic shortcuts when it comes to commuting in from the South Coast. The fastest route is from Brighton but like you say, would be a bit pointless if you're looking at Worthing/Littlehampton area.

I live up near Horsham and drive up to Three Bridges when I need to get into town, lots of fast trains as it's on the main line. I only go from Horsham if I'm out for a beverage in the evening as I find there are often delays going on that route.

[Tempest_5]

I live in the Chichester area a bit further along. My neighbour used to commute to Westminster everyday, driving to Havant then up to Waterloo on the train. He reckoned it was 2 hours each way, though he didn't mind as he used the time to study for the Architecture course he was doing.

He pointed out it was only about 1/2 hour longer each way than his colleagues who lived in the 'burbs and he got to take his small boat out on the sea fishing when he got home. The lower mortgage here offset a fair bit of the rail season ticket.

[nomadics2k]

I moved to Haywards Heath for the sole reason that it was the best compromise I found for living vaguely close to the coast - but then be in Central London within 50 mins.
I commuted from Hove to Richmond for nearly 9months before I broke, missed train connections and nearly 2hrs sometimes one way.

[CAPP0]

Tempest_5 said:

I live in the Chichester area a bit further along. My neighbour used to commute to Westminster everyday, driving to Havant then up to Waterloo on the train. He reckoned it was 2 hours each way, though he didn't mind as he used the time to study for the Architecture course he was doing.

He pointed out it was only about 1/2 hour longer each way than his colleagues who lived in the 'burbs and he got to take his small boat out on the sea fishing when he got home. The lower mortgage here offset a fair bit of the rail season ticket.

Yeah, I get that, I'm all about quality of life really. Havant is a bit of a stretch from where we were thinking; it's a shame they don't run a couple of fast trains from somewhere like Worthing.