Trivia/Nonsense - what 'inside knowledge' do you use to 'beat the crowds?'

[pokemonsuper9]

When going to Fenchurch Street from Paddington, Marylebone, Euston, St Pancras, or Kings Cross, don't go to Tower Hill, get off at Aldgate and walk from there, it's usually quicker if you're a quick walker.

It also means you won't have to wait as long for a train, since you'll be able to get Metropolitan line trains (except for Paddington and Marylebone obviously)

 

[A S Leib]

Walk. Don't run. Being there two seconds earlier on the platform than you would otherwise have been is no advantage. Easy, Now

It depends on the scenario; running for a train at Newtonmore or Lockerbie where you're unlikely to run into other passengers and where you might have a long wait if missing the train's a different prospect from trying to run between platforms at Farringdon or Stockport, although ideally it's not necessary.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Few stations on tube when doing an interchange, there are short cuts if you don't follow the signs

I used to have a handy little booklet that told you which tube train car to board so as to be right opposite the relevant exit at your destination. It must have saved me hours of time over the years. I've probably still got it somewhere but it will be hugely out of date now.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

A couple of ones for Victoria. If arriving at the station on foot or bicycle, use the Buckingham Palace Road entrance, especially if your train departs from platforms 15-19. Much quicker than the main entrance to the front.
Another one for Victoria: if you need a toilet before your train leaves, use the loo in the Grosvenor Hotel. No charge, and much more salubrious.

 

[magpiespy]

On Manchester Metrolink, you can push the 'door open' button while the tram is moving. It will start flashing, and when the tram stops at the next station the door will open straight away. Handy for late night trams which can have very short dwell times.

 

[Tester]

On Manchester Metrolink, you can push the 'door open' button while the tram is moving. It will start flashing, and when the tram stops at the next station the door will open straight away. Handy for late night trams which can have very short dwell times.

As is the case (with variations) on many trams, and indeed railways, around the world.

But a big no-no on National Rail - why is this?

 

[BongoStar]

In Reading, the fast train to London Paddington is always at Platform 10 or 11.

Also, if coming from further West like Pangbourne or Tilehurst, skip the change at Reading to the fast train and just continue on the stopping service. It might add 8 schedules minutes but you are guaranteed a seat.

 

[A S Leib]

In Reading, the fast train to London Paddington is always at Platform 10 or 11.

Also, if coming from further West like Pangbourne or Tilehurst, skip the change at Reading to the fast train and just continue on the stopping service. It might add 8 schedules minutes but you are guaranteed a seat.

Looking on RTT, staying on the stopper east of Reading gives a same-platform interchange to Crossrail at Slough rather than spending 5-10 minutes changing at Paddington (with slower journeys and a less frequent service being the trade-off for a likelier seat and easier change).

 

[Dave W]

Don't change at Green Park, the corridors are so long.

Largely true although I used to make very light work of the hop between Vic and Jubilee to get to Westminster pre-Covid... But I was fitter and piled up the escalators at Westminster then.

Another double back... When visiting Gaugemaster at Ford the Brighton bound trains don't really offer enough, er, perusal time. So get a more convenient train to Barnham for the return which clatter through Ford not much more than 15 min later!

And then one which evades all journey planners - with the right timing a change at Highbury and then Moorgate can cut the Vic-Northern dog leg. I used to use this gratuitously when I worked near the Monument, I found it quicker even than the cross platform at Euston (the journey took too long to go from King's Cross to King's Cross). Plenty of little shimmies in London involving all transport... Such internalised knowledge was scuppered by changing frequencies and less exposure that Covid caused, mind.

 

[TheTallOne]

I used to regularly use the subway at Birmingham New Street (circa late 1990s) to change platforms to avoid the crowds on the main overbridge, especially in the event of a late-notice platform change. Does the subway still exist?

It still exists, but is staff only now.

I guess it's not needed as much now as there's three routes down to each of the platforms (including the external bridge).

 

[yorksrob]

It still exists, but is staff only now.

I guess it's not needed as much now as there's three routes down to each of the platforms (including the external bridge).

Even though one of those is that incredibly irritating one where you have to go out of the barrier and back in to reach some of the platforms.

 

[Wolfie]

Ignoring the signs at King's Cross for the deep tubes and turning left for the much shorter original route (signed for the Met, Circle, H&C), avoiding the long trek to the Northern ticket hall.

The one way system brought in 'temporarily' at Victoria underground during escalator works and then retained permanently is equally a pain. The easiest way to get to the Victoria line is go through the District and Circle line entrance then follow the signs for the Victoria line on the District/Circle line eastbound side.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

You can hold down the door open button on sprinters (only personally tested 150, 156 and 158) and the doors will start opening as soon as they're unlocked.

Probably works on a handful of other trains too

 

[Harpo]

The one way system brought in 'temporarily' at Victoria underground during escalator works and then retained permanently is equally a pain. The easiest way to get to the Victoria line is go through the District and Circle line entrance then follow the signs for the Victoria line on the District/Circle line eastbound side.

Hopefully, one day, Timmy & Siddy will wobble into that bloody labyrinth under Kings Cross/St Pancras on their mobility scooters and marvel at how we were sent on stupidly long walks under the roads just to let road traffic crawl through London.

 

[Wolfie]

Hopefully, one day, Timmy & Siddy will wobble into that bloody labyrinth under Kings Cross/St Pancras on their mobility scooters and marvel at how we were sent on stupidly long walks under the roads just to let road traffic crawl through London.

I think, to be fair, that it was more the existing stations were overcrowded particularly at entrances/ticket halls (at times it felt dangerously so - try the unmodernised Euston underground station to get a sense of that), and already complex, so it was a matter of how new routes could be squeezed in.

Incidentally if you think that some walking entrance/interchange routes on the tube are long try the Madrid Metro or Seoul Metro some time.

 

[Dave W]

The one way system brought in 'temporarily' at Victoria underground during escalator works and then retained permanently is equally a pain. The easiest way to get to the Victoria line is go through the District and Circle line entrance then follow the signs for the Victoria line on the District/Circle line eastbound side.

YES this is an excellent one. Unless you're in Victoria station itself this is always quicker from the surface than any other. The entrance on the bus station and Victoria St is where it's at.

(Although Cardinal Place and the lift is comparable - that lift is a constant pain in the rear with a buggy (and I imagine those in wheelchairs) because lots of able bodied people have the same idea, so I can't in good faith recommend it)

 

[nw1]

it works, but often costs you an extra hour of travel time, so imo isn't really worth it

It certainly was in the 2010-2014 (ish) era on a Sunday evening given you otherwise had to wait for the 20:xx to get a seat on XC!

 

[CaptainHaddock]

If you're visiting Nottingham and don't fancy queueing at the ticket barriers to get out, there are exits on both platforms 1 and 7 that are barrier free and usually much quieter. Though obviously you still must hold a valid travel ticket.

 

[12LDA28C]

It still exists, but is staff only now.

I guess it's not needed as much now as there's three routes down to each of the platforms (including the external bridge).

It always was staff only. Didn't stop me using it.

 

[gg1]

It still exists, but is staff only now.

How do they access it? The old ramps down from the platforms aren't there any more as far as I can see.

 

[ChrisC]

If you're visiting Nottingham and don't fancy queueing at the ticket barriers to get out, there are exits on both platforms 1 and 7 that are barrier free and usually much quieter. Though obviously you still must hold a valid travel ticket.

Whenever a train arrives in Nottingham towards the centre of the platform, or further down towards the east end of the station, the majority of people seem to exit the station by the central bridge without passing through the barriers. It’s the natural route to take when you get off the train and see the steps in front of you. In my experience it’s actually only a small minority of people who exit by the main station from trains which have arrived down the far end of the platfom. The way out signs directing people to the main exit are not very prominently displayed.

 

[Backroom_boy]

At many stations I go by the platform car stop signs to work out where the front door of the train will be. Everyone else crowds round the platform entrance. I get a seat, many of them don't.

Yes I'm amazed how many people don't notice these

 

[Wolfie]

It always was staff only. Didn't stop me using it.

Based on my knowledge in other areas, if staff are properly following counter-terrorism protocols that likely should merit a police response, very possibly armed police.

 

[12LDA28C]

Based on my knowledge in other areas, if staff are properly following counter-terrorism protocols that likely should merit a police response, very possibly armed police.

Things were different back then (late 1990s). This was before 9/11, 7/7 and so on.

 

[Wolfie]

Things were different back then (late 1990s). This was before 9/11, 7/7 and so on.

A reasonable point but even then there was/recently had been the IRA and Birmingham had definitely been targeted. I certainly wouldn't advise doing that now.

 

[Purple Train]

You can hold down the door open button on sprinters (only personally tested 150, 156 and 158) and the doors will start opening as soon as they're unlocked.

Probably works on a handful of other trains too

It works on most older traction types as well, I think - 165s and 455s are two that I've tested, and there are probably more. It probably doesn't make much difference, but it's hugely satisfying!

 

[CyrusWuff]

Some London Underground ones.
Don't change at Green Park, the corridors are so long.

If doing a Picc <-> Vic change at Green Park it can be just as quick to go up the escalators to ticket hall level and back down again.

Similarly, if changing between the Bakerloo and Northern Line (Charing Cross branch) do so at Embankment rather than Charing Cross to avoid having to walk the length of the Jubilee Line platforms.

 

[Wolfie]

If doing a Picc <-> Vic change at Green Park it can be just as quick to go up the escalators to ticket hall level and back down again.

Similarly, if changing between the Bakerloo and Northern Line (Charing Cross branch) do so at Embankment rather than Charing Cross to avoid having to walk the length of the Jubilee Line platforms.

If boarding the Bakerloo line at Charing Cross use the Trafalgar Square entrances. They pretty much drop you, via an escalator, straight onto the platforms.

 

[TheTallOne]

Even though one of those is that incredibly irritating one where you have to go out of the barrier and back in to reach some of the platforms.

Yeah, change at the B end (for Best perhaps?) or via the footbridge. Don't change via the A end (A for annoying perhaps?!)

It always was staff only. Didn't stop me using it.

I thought it was an accessibility route, e.g. lifts for people in wheelchairs.
But perhaps it was that but only with staff supervision maybe.
I never used it, so can't fully recall. I always went into the main station to hear the clicking departure boards.
Been down there since, but not pre-refurb.

 

[AM9]

If boarding the Bakerloo line at Charing Cross use the Trafalgar Square entrances. They pretty much drop you, via an escalator, straight onto the platforms.

Way back in the '60s I remember the dodge from the NB Northern Line to the EB Central line by going up the escalator, across to the circulating area at the bottom of the main escalators and dropping right at the eastern end of the Central line via the 'No Entry' exit route. It meant that many trains were caught that would have been missed had I followed the official route to descend some way down the platform. I've rarely been through TCR since but I think such a move has been made more difficult now.
Sometimes late in the evenings earlier on those same journeys in the 60's there was a choice to get either the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus instead of the Northern to TCR so I would stand at the bottom of the main escalators at Waterloo and having watched the flow of passengers onto those escalatore, it was possible to decide which route would be first.