Wmbledon to Chester, 3 July

[plannerman]

Hi all

My wife is travelling back to Chester from the tennis on Monday 3 July, and wants to leave as late as possible from Wimbledon. NR gives a 2020 departure from Wimbledon, changing at Clapham Junction and Watford Junction. She is concerned at the 5 minute change which NR gives at WFJ. I won't be with her and so she is a bit less confident than usual.
Does anyone know if a 5 minute connection at WFJ is realistic? What are the chances of the Clapham Junction - Watford Junction train running late? And as she will be on advances, what is plan B? It looks to me like her train from WFJ is the last direct of the night to Crewe (where I could happily come and pick her up)

 

[100andthirty]

If it were me, I would travel via Vauxhall and Euston. Using the Victoria line where at that time of night they run roughly every 2.5 minutes. There are trains from Wimbledon every 3 to 4 minutes. Tbe run time from Vauxhall to Euston is about 12 minutes.

For your specific query, as far as I know there are no direct trains to Chester from Watford Jcn. Last direct train from Euston is at 20.10. The train you have identified leaves Euston at 2110 and requires a change at Crewe.

 

[30907]

There is a later train from WFJ to CRE at 2158 but it's an hour slower

I would therefore second the plan of returning via Euston.

The nearest LU station by some margin is Southfields on the District Line and the TFL journey planner reckons the same journey time to Euston as from Wimbledon.

 

[Hadders]

The OP's wife is travelling on Advance tickets so we need to be careful when suggesting alternative routes as if the ticket has already been purchased alternative routes probably won't be able to be used.

If the ticket hasn't yet been purchased then a ticket via London, or a more flexible ticket appears to be preferable.

 

[Hadders]

If the ticket hasn't been purchased yet I'd aim for the 2110 off Euston (which is the same train as the OP's wife is proposing to catch from Watford. Although it'll probably be cheaper to buy a separate Advance from Euston and use contactless between Southfields and Euston I'd buy the ticket from Zone U123 London to Chester as this makes things a little more straightforward in the event of a delay on the Underground.

TFL's Journey Planner suggests 36 minutes from Southfields to Euston which would allow a later departure from the tennis as Southfields is the nearest station. I don't know how busy Southfields gets during the tennis and whether any crowd management measures operate.

 

[30907]

The OP's wife is travelling on Advance tickets so we need to be careful when suggesting alternative routes as if the ticket has already been purchased alternative routes probably won't be able to be used.

Sorry, should have spotted that. I hope that's not the case, but if it is

(1) if there's a problem on CLJ-WFJ - not unknown! - then IIRC tickets are usually made available via London terminals and tube.
(2) if there's a missed connection at WFJ then it's 80 minutes late into Crewe and a delay claim.

 

[Cantab26]

If the ticket hasn't been purchased yet I'd aim for the 2110 off Euston (which is the same train as the OP's wife is proposing to catch from Watford. Although it'll probably be cheaper to buy a separate Advance from Euston and use contactless between Southfields and Euston I'd buy the ticket from Zone U123 London to Chester as this makes things a little more straightforward in the event of a delay on the Underground.

TFL's Journey Planner suggests 36 minutes from Southfields to Euston which would allow a later departure from the tennis as Southfields is the nearest station. I don't know how busy Southfields gets during the tennis and whether any crowd management measures operate.

Southfields only gives about an extra 10 to 15 minutes and it does not appear to be possible to obtain a National Rail itinerary for this route.

Advance fares are currently showing as follows for the 2110 ex Euston, changing at Crewe:

• Euston to Chester: £27.00 (plus £2.80 contactless from Southfields to Euston)
• Zones U123 to Chester: £30.30
• Wimbledon to Chester: £28.50

So travel from Southfields is also more expensive than from Wimbledon.

If it were me, I would book the £28.50 through fare from Wimbledon to Chester. The Virgin Trains East Coast site (provided that you specify 'Avoid: Kensington Olympia') will give me an itinerary departing Wimbledon at 2017, changing at Vauxhall onto the Victoria Line to Euston for the 2110 departure to Crewe.

At least this way the passenger can demonstrate that she was travelling on a valid itinerary if there are delays en route. It should also be simpler than potentially having to navigate multiple changes of train and line on the Underground as well.

 

[Hadders]

The OP's wife wants to maximise the time at the tennis. Wimbledon station is further away from the tennis than Southfields and if you take National Rail from Wimbledon to Waterloo it will lengthen the journey.

 

[Cantab26]

The OP's wife wants to maximise the time at the tennis. Wimbledon station is further away from the tennis than Southfields and if you take National Rail from Wimbledon to Waterloo it will lengthen the journey.

I appreciate that the lady wishes to enjoy as much of the tennis as she can.

However, it is also quite clear from the original post that peace of mind if things go wrong is also valued.

The question is whether the lady values an extra ten to fifteen minutes of tennis more than the peace of mind of a confirmed itinerary, which will normally lead to fewer problems if there are delays en route. This is something that only she can decide.

I have merely indicated my preference after weighing these considerations and taking into account the various travel options, which I have set out below for ease of reference.

Option 1
VTEC will give an itinerary for this journey on a through Advance ticket.
1952 Depart Wimbledon

24mins Walk to Wimbledon station
Add 4mins contingency​

2020 Depart Wimbledon station
2027 Arrive Clapham Junction

Change at Clapham Junction​

2039 Depart Clapham Junction
2120 Arrive Watford Junction

Change at Watford Junction​

2125 Depart Watford Junction
2258 Arrive Crewe

Change at Crewe​

2330 Depart Crewe
2352 Arrive Chester

Option 2
VTEC will give an itinerary for this journey on a through Advance ticket.
1949 Depart Wimbledon

24mins Walk to Wimbledon station
Add 4mins contingency​

2017 Depart Wimbledon station
2028 Arrive Vauxhall

Change at Vauxhall for Victoria Line
TfL arrival at Euston 2051
Change at Euston for National Rail​

2110 Depart Euston
2258 Arrive Crewe

Change at Crewe​

2330 Depart Crewe
2352 Arrive Chester

Option 3
I have been unable to obtain a through National Rail itinerary for this journey.
2003 Depart Wimbledon

16mins Walk to Southfields station
Add 4mins contingency​

2023 Depart Southfields station

District Line to Earl's Court, then
Piccadilly Line from Earl's Court to Green Park, then
Victoria Line from Green Park to Euston
TfL arrival at Euston 2057
Change at Euston for National Rail​

2110 Depart Euston
2258 Arrive Crewe

Change at Crewe​

2330 Depart Crewe
2352 Arrive Chester

 

[yorkie]

What are the chances of the Clapham Junction - Watford Junction train running late? And as she will be on advances, what is plan B? It looks to me like her train from WFJ is the last direct of the night to Crewe (where I could happily come and pick her up)

Plan B would be a train to Milton Keynes (e.g. 2158 from Watford Jn) then 2240 Milton Keynes to Crewe, arriving 0017, and then either a taxi from Crewe paid by the rail industry or alternatively you could pick her up. Delay Repay compensation would be 100% of the cost of the ticket.

 

[lejog]

TFL's Journey Planner suggests 36 minutes from Southfields to Euston which would allow a later departure from the tennis as Southfields is the nearest station. I don't know how busy Southfields gets during the tennis and whether any crowd management measures operate.

I haven't been to Southfields since I lived there in the 70s, but even then as the nearest tube station there were huge crowds and delays in the evening, even though the fans' departure times are well spread out and many will leave way before 8pm.

From the tournament website it appears that the shuttle bus which used to operate to Southfields has been suspended this year and now only operates to Wimbledon, which seems sensible as it is better equipped for crowds. If OP's wife is okay with the 20minute walk to Wimbldon that would probably be the best option, although I don't know how long the queue for trains would be there.

The shuttle bus to Southfields used to be a bit of a joke at busy times, since you would queue for it, get dropped off the station, then walk half the way back to the Tennis Club to jon the queue for the tube.