What's the fastest way to get from Waterloo to Thameslink northbound?

[miklcct]

I'll travel on a through advance purchase ticket to the northern part of Thameslink, with a Maltese Cross on the ticket. The official itinerary is to take the Tube from Waterloo to St Pancras.

The Thameslink train is an unreservable train, and the only reservation on my ticket is to Waterloo.

What's the fastest way to make the connection?
1. Bakerloo to Oxford Circus then Victoria to St Pancras
2. Northern to Tottenham Court Road then Elizabeth line to Farringdon
3. Walk to Blackfriars
4. Southeastern to London Bridge

Many thanks.

 

[JonathanH]

There is also
5. Bakerloo or Northern to Embankment then District to Blackfriars
6. Waterloo & City to Bank then Northern
and in time will be
7. Jubilee to Bond Street then Elizabeth to Farringdon

I think going via Oxford Circus probably does work out quickest. Farringdon is a bit too far out of the way. Thameslink cross London isn't that quick but may reduce interchange time. That said, running, the Southern entrance of Blackfriars could, I imagine, be reached in about six minutes.

 

[Kite159]

There is also
5. Bakerloo or Northern to Embankment then District to Blackfriars
6. Waterloo & City to Bank then Northern
and in time will be
7. Jubilee to Bond Street then Elizabeth to Farringdon

I think going via Oxford Circus probably does work out quickest. Farringdon is a bit too far out of the way. Thameslink cross London isn't that quick but may reduce interchange time. That said, running, the Southern entrance of Blackfriars could, I imagine, be reached in about six minutes.

You might be waiting a while if you did option 7 as Bond Street isn't open yet for Crossrail.

Another option (depending if allowed and where the OP is travelling to) would be Jubilee to West Hampstead for the short walk to West Hampstead Thameslink

 

[JonathanH]

You might be waiting a while if you did option 7 as Bond Street isn't open yet for Crossrail.

Yes 'in time'. I appreciate the OP is hoping to travel in the near term.

 

[JonathanH]

Another option (depending if allowed and where the OP is travelling to) would be Jubilee to West Hampstead for the short walk to West Hampstead Thameslink

Unambiguously valid for travel north of West Hampstead Thameslink I think as West Hampstead is listed as an interchange for a Maltese cross ticket - https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/Travelling-to-london.aspx

Probably not a bad choice if travelling to one of the stations with regular services to West Hampstead Thameslink.

Northern to Kentish Town is another option and with a shorter interchange, but lower frequency from Waterloo.

 

[miklcct]

Unambiguously valid for travel north of West Hampstead Thameslink I think as West Hampstead is listed as an interchange for a Maltese cross ticket - https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/Travelling-to-london.aspx

Probably not a bad choice if travelling to one of the stations with regular services to West Hampstead Thameslink.

Northern to Kentish Town is another option and with a shorter interchange, but lower frequency from Waterloo.

It seems that Jubilee to West Hampstead will be the best transfer for me. Unfortunately this isn't suggested by National Rail journey planners as there is no fixed link between London Waterloo and West Hampstead Thameslink. Similarly for Kentish Town as well.

From what I have seen journey planners usually suggest:
- Waterloo - St Pancras by Tube
- Waterloo - Tottenham Court Road by Tube then Elizabeth line to Farringdon
- Waterloo - Blackfriars by Tube (which I will talk it)
- If the train to Waterloo stops at Clapham Junction, Overground to West Hampstead

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Bald Rick]

Having done this journey for years, it’s much of a muchness, with all in the region of 25 minutes from the Waterloo main line concourse to departing St Pancras on a TL service.

However the most consistently reliable was to walk to Blackfriars. No interchange, no gaps in service, and guaranteed a seat on the TL. By product benefit is that you always have a phone signal to view Open Train Times and can adjust walking pace as necessary.

 

[Magdalia]

I usually arrive/depart London going from/to the Fens. I hate cross London journeys going via Waterloo, and usually try to find a way to avoid it. Much depends on how mobile you are and how much luggage you are carrying.

If you are young and fit, the weather is good, and you don't have luggage on wheels, then the walk to/from the South Bank entrance at Blackfriars is the best. If you have time take a slight detour and walk along the river from Hungerford Bridge.

If you are in a hurry the quickest route is Bakerloo/Victoria via Oxford Circus to Kings Cross/St Pancras, because it is a cross platform interchange at Oxford Circus. If your train stops at Vauxhall get off there for the Victoria direct. But it is a long walk from the Victoria platforms to the Thameslink platforms at Kings Cross/St Pancras. Just about the only advantage of the old Kings Cross Thameslink station was its proximity to the Victoria line.

If I have a travelcard I use the 26 bus to/from Waterloo which stops outside City Thameslink.

If you have heavy luggage, but plenty of time for changing trains, the best way is to use the Thameslink to/from Wimbledon.

Unfortunately the Clapham Junction/Overground option doesn't work for going to/from the Fens.

 

[xotGD]

How about Waterloo East to London Bridge?

 

[pdeaves]

How about Waterloo East to London Bridge?

That would seem to be the obvious choice for me, too, for 'quick and easy without knowing where you're walking'.

 

[Ken H]

Why not leave your train to Waterloo at Clapham Jct and hop on a train to Victoria. Then its a through Victoria line tube train to KX/St Pan. Thats if your train stops at Clapham Jct, of course!

 

[miklcct]

Why not leave your train to Waterloo at Clapham Jct and hop on a train to Victoria. Then its a through Victoria line tube train to KX/St Pan. Thats if your train stops at Clapham Jct, of course!

If my train stops at Clapham Junction why not go direct on the Overground to West Hampstead compared to going to St Pancras? I see journey planners and Google Maps suggest avoiding London will be faster than going through London if the train stops at Clapham Junction.

 

[Bald Rick]

Why not leave your train to Waterloo at Clapham Jct and hop on a train to Victoria. Then its a through Victoria line tube train to KX/St Pan. Thats if your train stops at Clapham Jct, of course!

that’s swapping a cross platform interchange at Oxford Circus for a (usually busy) footbridge or subway interchange at Clapham.

 

[miklcct]

that’s swapping a cross platform interchange at Oxford Circus for a (usually busy) footbridge or subway interchange at Clapham.

and swapping for 3 interchanges (Clapham, Victoria, St Pancras) for 2 (Clapham, West Hampstead) instead

 

[telstarbox]

That would seem to be the obvious choice for me, too, for 'quick and easy without knowing where you're walking'.

Two problems I can see:

At Waterloo East the down trains depart from two non-adjacent platforms so you can just miss one

At London Bridge although it's a great station, it won't be cross-platform and you have to go down a long way to the concourse and back up.

In the other direction it would be a bit easier because Charing X trains go from one island pair (8 and 9) at London Bridge.

 

[telstarbox]

Having done this journey for years, it’s much of a muchness, with all in the region of 25 minutes from the Waterloo main line concourse to departing St Pancras on a TL service.

However the most consistently reliable was to walk to Blackfriars. No interchange, no gaps in service, and guaranteed a seat on the TL. By product benefit is that you always have a phone signal to view Open Train Times and can adjust walking pace as necessary.

There are also several great pubs in this area.

 

[Bald Rick]

There are also several great pubs in this area.

several pubs, I wouldn’t say any were “great”

 

[43066]

several pubs, I wouldn’t say any were “great”

Certainly not the God-awful “Blackfriar”.

 

[30907]

Two problems I can see:

At Waterloo East the down trains depart from two non-adjacent platforms so you can just miss one

True, but you can wait at the top or read the board. At least everything calls at LBG these days
It still wouldn't be my first choice, but if I disliked deep tubes AND were mobility-restricted, I would consider it.

 

[gazr]

Boris Bike from Waterloo to Blackfriars - if you have balls of steel.

 

[miklcct]

I used the Jubilee today and arrived half an hour earlier compared to the official itinerary.

Surprisingly my Southampton - Cricklewood ticket didn't work the barrier at both West Hampstead Thameslink and Cricklewood (showing error 105).