Cross London during tube strike

[JBuchananGB]

Hello. I'm travelling through London on 23 & 24 April. Have booked and collected the tickets. I note that there is a tube strike. I plan to walk from Euston to Tottenham Court Road for the Elizabeth line to Stratford, onward to Billericay. Will my ticket with a poor replica of a Maltese Cross (†) work the barrier to enter Tottenham Court Road?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hello. I'm travelling through London on 23 & 24 April. Have booked and collected the tickets. I note that there is a tube strike. I plan to walk from Euston to Tottenham Court Road for the Elizabeth line to Stratford, onward to Billericay. Will my ticket with a poor replica of a Maltese Cross (†) work the barrier to enter Tottenham Court Road?

Probably not unfortunately. You might have to buy a separate ticket Tottenham Court Road - Stratford?

However - unless you're very tight on journey time, what about Euston - Willesden Junction - Stratford ( unless the Overground is on strike as well? )?

Whereabouts do you start from before you get to Euston? Your profile says Southport so I'm assuming Liverpool Lime Street?

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm sure there were reports of no issues last time there was a strike. I can't find it now.

 

[wibble]

You could walk from Euston - St Pancras and take Thameslink St Pancras - Farringdon and change there for the Elizabeth Line

 

[Peter Mugridge]

You could walk from Euston - St Pancras and take Thameslink St Pancras - Farringdon and change there for the Elizabeth Line

D'oh - yes - I should have thought of that possibility!!!

 

[yorkie]

Hello. I'm travelling through London on 23 & 24 April. Have booked and collected the tickets. I note that there is a tube strike. I plan to walk from Euston to Tottenham Court Road for the Elizabeth line to Stratford, onward to Billericay. Will my ticket with a poor replica of a Maltese Cross (†) work the barrier to enter Tottenham Court Road?

What's your itinerary?

 

[sprunt]

As a general rule, if someone bought Advances for a journey that included cross London travel, and a tube strike meant that it took longer to cross London to the extent that the passenger was late for the train from their cross-London destination would that entitle them to catch the next train in the same way a delay on a National Rail service would?

 

[NeakPed]

You could walk from Euston - St Pancras and take Thameslink St Pancras - Farringdon and change there for the Elizabeth Line

I tried that last September during a tube strike.
Queue for Lizzy line was very long at Farringdon, so got back on Thameslink to City Thameslink & then 20 minute walk to Liverpool Street.

 

[tram21]

Hello. I'm travelling through London on 23 & 24 April. Have booked and collected the tickets. I note that there is a tube strike. I plan to walk from Euston to Tottenham Court Road for the Elizabeth line to Stratford, onward to Billericay. Will my ticket with a poor replica of a Maltese Cross (†) work the barrier to enter Tottenham Court Road?

You'd be absolutely fine doing this. It will probably work at the barriers but if not just ask them to let you through.

 

[redreni]

You'd be absolutely fine doing this. It will probably work at the barriers but if not just ask them to let you through.

You would hope this would be no problem during a strike. I'm sure it won't be - in case of problems just explain you would normally have used the Northern Line to get here but had to walk because of the strike.

When there isn't a strike, while some staff are undoubtedly unfussed and will just let you through, I'm not convinced they are as relaxed as you're suggesting about Maltese Cross tickets. I've been rejected for entry with a Maltese cross ticket at Tottenham Court Road on a number of occasions (especially before the NRCoT were changed in the autumn and I was validly resuming after a break of journey on the Elizabeth Line).

Because the thing is, the only interchanges for which the signs take you through the gatelines and back in are between the Central and Elizabeth lines, and it is hard to think of a plausible, sensible cross-London transfer between any two NR interchanges where it would make sense to change between those two lines at Tottenham Court Road. Consequently some staff will want to know where you're coming from and where you're going, and might be suspicious that you're trying to resume after a break of journey.

The way to do this transfer absolutely by the book validity-wise would be to walk from Euston to St Pancras and pick up Thameslink there, changing at Farringdon for the Elizabeth Line.

 

[tram21]

You would hope this would be no problem during a strike. I'm sure it won't be - in case of problems just explain you would normally have used the Northern Line to get here but had to walk because of the strike.

When there isn't a strike, while some staff are undoubtedly unfussed and will just let you through, I'm not convinced they are as relaxed as you're suggesting about Maltese Cross tickets. I've been rejected for entry with a Maltese cross ticket at Tottenham Court Road on a number of occasions (especially before the NRCoT were changed in the autumn and I was validly resuming after a break of journey on the Elizabeth Line).

Because the thing is, the only interchanges for which the signs take you through the gatelines and back in are between the Central and Elizabeth lines, and it is hard to think of a plausible, sensible cross-London transfer between any two NR interchanges where it would make sense to change between those two lines at Tottenham Court Road. Consequently some staff will want to know where you're coming from and where you're going, and might be suspicious that you're trying to resume after a break of journey.

The way to do this transfer absolutely by the book validity-wise would be to walk from Euston to St Pancras and pick up Thameslink there, changing at Farringdon for the Elizabeth Line.

I know normally it wouldn't work, but I meant during the strike they'd have to be being incredibly annoying to not let you start your journey there, as its not really possible anywhere else!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I tried that last September during a tube strike.
Queue for Lizzy line was very long at Farringdon, so got back on Thameslink to City Thameslink & then 20 minute walk to Liverpool Street.

I'm just slightly puzzled here as to why you wouldn't have taken the more direct walk to Liverpool Street straight from Farringdon? ( Although that's off topic for this thread, I know ).

 

[JBuchananGB]

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. The itinerary outbound on 23rd is
dep Southport 1236
dep Lime Street 1343
arr Euston 1604.
after that any reasonable route to Billericay, no time pressure.
I will seriously look at the walk to St. Pancras then Thameslink to Farringdon for Lizzie line to Stratford. I hadn't thought of that, but I note that @NeakPed said there was a very long queue at Farringdon.
The return itinerary on 24th is
dep Billericay 1457 (optionally catch the 1437)
dep Euston 1630 (Glasgow train)
arr Wigan NW 1825
dep Wigan Wallgate 1852
arr Southport 1925
Ticket held is Southport to Billericay Off-Peak return.
Backup plan in case of missing the 1630 dep from Euston (on which seats are reserved) is to take the 1643 to Liverpool Lime Street, arr SOP 2019. (Probably earlier, as the walk from Lime Street to Central usually beats the journey planner timing) For some absurd reason Trainsplit has issued counted places reservations on the GA and Northern legs of the return journey!
I would welcome any other comments which might make things easier, as my wife and I are not spring chickens.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Apr 2026 ==

The TfL journey planner, with Tube deselected, suggests walk to St. Pancras, then HS1 to Stratford International, then GA to Billericay. Any thoughts about this, practicality, ticket validity, etc.? It also suggest bus/walk to Tottenham Court Road per my original idea.

 

[redreni]

Last time there was a tube strike it was fine getting into Farringdon the first couple of days, then they managed to manufacture a big queue at the main entrance later in the week (but once you got in, the platforms were really quiet).

None of what they did last time would have affected passengers transferring between Thameslink and the Elizabeth Line as far as I could tell. That all happens within the gatelines.

If you do go by way of St Pancras and Farringdon, board the Thameslink train at St Pancras at the first set of doors at the front of the train. If it's a 12 car train that will put you directly opposite the lifts down to the Elizabeth Line when you alight at Farringdon. If it's an 8 car train you'll have to walk along the platform a bit to reach the lifts, but you'll be in pole position.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If you are OK with some walking, my suggestion would be to walk from Euston to Camden Road (it's about a 20 minute walk, but largely flat) and then take the Overground from there to Stratford. It's likely to be busy but no worse than trying to get into the system at Tottenham Court Road or Farringdon.

That said, only about 50% of tube drivers are in the RMT and it is only the RMT who are on strike. These days it is only when the station staff who go on strike that everything really goes to pot. If you give yourself time you'd probably be OK heading for the Northern Line from Euston to Moorgate then walking to Liverpool Street. The TfL Go app will give you the details of what is actually running when you get to Euston, play it by ear.

 

[dastocks]

I'm just slightly puzzled here as to why you wouldn't have taken the more direct walk to Liverpool Street straight from Farringdon? ( Although that's off topic for this thread, I know ).

Last time there was a tube strike it was fine getting into Farringdon the first couple of days, then they managed to manufacture a big queue at the main entrance later in the week (but once you got in, the platforms were really quiet).

None of what they did last time would have affected passengers transferring between Thameslink and the Elizabeth Line as far as I could tell. That all happens within the gatelines.

It might have been that the queue was actually for the two lifts from the Thameslink southbound platform down to the Elizabeth Line. These can be bypassed fairly easily by going up to concourse level and taking the escalators from there. An alternative would be to exit Farringdon at the west end and then re-enter at the other (Barbican) end of the station for an onward trip to Liverpool Street.

Going to City Thameslink seems a bit weird, but maybe there was a reason to do this.

 

[Hophead]

On your return, you might want to change to the Eliz Line at Stratford or even Romford, so that you are on the train ahead of Central London.

 

[TUC]

I was intrigued and amused when there was a tube strike last year on the same day as we were holding a major national work event in London, that it was multiple Londoners who contacted us to ask if the event was being cancelled whereas those from the rest of the country just got on with it and made their way across London via other means.

 

[redreni]

I was intrigued and amused when there was a tube strike last year on the same day as we were holding a major national work event in London, that it was multiple Londoners who contacted us to ask if the event was being cancelled whereas those from the rest of the country just got on with it and made their way across London via other means.

Doesn't surprise me in the least. It is generally fairly easy to get from places well outside London to anywhere in zone 1 without using the tube, as the train is going to get you into zone 1. Whether it is easy to do so from suburban London really depends where you live.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I really appreciate all the good advice. I think I will do the St. Pancras -> Farringdon -> Stratford route. Have walked Euston to St. P before. In the old days (pre-Crossrail), when I lived in Billericay, the Euston to Liverpool Street route was always walk to Euston Square then Circle to Liverpool Street. Could be done in 25 minutes.
I have only done it once since Crossrail, and that was Northern Line to Tottenham Court Road then Crossrail to Stratford. I don't think I have ever done Thameslink STP to Farringdon on the widened lines before.

 

[Haywain]

In the old days (pre-Crossrail),

Pre-Crossrail was the old days? That must make pre-Thameslink ancient history!

 

[TUC]

Doesn't surprise me in the least. It is generally fairly easy to get from places well outside London to anywhere in zone 1 without using the tube, as the train is going to get you into zone 1. Whether it is easy to do so from suburban London really depends where you live.

All it would mean for many Londoners is perhaps a 45 minute bus journey, together with maybe having to change buses mid-journey, to which the rest of the country says 'welcome to our world'.

 

[Horizon22]

All it would mean for many Londoners is perhaps a 45 minute bus journey, together with maybe having to change buses mid-journey, to which the rest of the country says 'welcome to our world'.

If you can get on the bus of course. This is not guaranteed on strike days, particularly at peak times.

 

[Hadders]

All it would mean for many Londoners is perhaps a 45 minute bus journey, together with maybe having to change buses mid-journey, to which the rest of the country says 'welcome to our world'.

The only certain way of getting somewhere when there's a tube strike is to walk. Yes, there are buses and taxis but they will be overwhelmed.

 

[JBuchananGB]

That must make pre-Thameslink ancient history!

I can still remember some old DMUs ticking over in the platforms at Moorgate. No idea where they had come from or where they were going. Getting off topic now.

 

[JBuchananGB]

What actually happened.

. Departed Southport 12:21 (one train earlier than itinerary) (MerseyRail)
. Walked from Liverpool Central to Liverpool Lime Street
. Departed Liverpool Lime Street 13:43 on time. (Avanti)
. Came to a Stand at Nuneaton 15:05 (unscheduled stop) Avanti service terminated here.
. Departed Nuneaton at 15.51 to Leicester. (CrossCountry)
. Departed Leicester 16.30 to St. Pancras (East Midland Railway)
. Thameslink to Farringdon.
. Unable to access Elizabeth Line from Thameslink platforms. (One-way system in operation)
. Walked through streets to other entrance of Farringdon Station.
. Elizabeth Line to Stratford
. Stratford to Billericay (Greater Anglia) arrived 18.59. (95 minutes later than itinerary)

Return journey:
. Departed Billericay 14:37 (Greater Anglia)
. Service terminated at Shenfield.
. Departed Shenfield 15.03 on Elizabeth Line
. Service 8 minutes late at Farringdon
. One-way system not in operation
. Thameslink train to St. Pancras arrived 16:05
. Walked to Euston.
. Departed Euston 16:30 on time (Avanti)
. Arrived Wigan NW 18:25 on time
. Walked to Wigan Walgate.
. Departed Wigan Wallgate 18:58 (6 minutes late) (Northern)
. Arrived Southport 19:30.
That is the real world.

 

[tram21]

What actually happened.
In accordance with my general policy when travelling intercity, to catch one feeder train earlier than scheduled, we departed Southport on the 12:21 Merseyrail service to Liverpool Central.
Ignoring the journey planner instructions to change at Moorfields to the Merseyrail line to Lime Street we alighted at Liverpool Central and walked to Lime Street where we boarded the intended 1343 Avanti service for London Euston.
At about 1505 this train came to a stand at Nuneaton. By 1520 it was announced that due to an incident north of Watford further progress was unlikely any time soon. The train was soon joined at Nuneaton by another Avanti service (from Manchester). Passengers for London were advised by the Avanti train manager to travel onwards via Leicester.
We boarded the 1551 Crosscountry Service (destination Stansted Airport) for Leicester.
The online journey planner now replanned the journey with an arrival time at Billericay of 18.53 (89 minutes late).
On arrival at Leicester we transferred to the 1630 East Midland Train Service to St. Pancras. Ontime arrival at St. Pancras at 1739. Avoided the need to walk from Euston to St. Pancras. Caught first available Thameslink service (destination Horsham) to Farringdon. At Farringdon a one-way flow system was in operation preventing access to the Elizabeth Line from the Thameslink station apart from by lifts for which there were long queues of people with pushchairs, huge suitcases, children etc. We walk through the streets, including through Smithfield market to gain access at the other end of the station.
Took the second available Elizabeth line train (destination Shenfield) (first one was crush loaded) as far as Stratford. Boarded the next GA service to Southend Victoria, (due at Billericay at 1853 in accordance with replanned itinerary) which having left Liverpool Street on time was delayed at Stratford by a freight train passing towards the North London line, and arrived at Billericay 1859.
Return journey:
Again in line with policy of catching feeder train one earlier than scheduled, departed Billericay at 1437 for Stratford on GA service to Liverpool Street. This train was terminated at Shenfield due to a track fault at Ilford. It was soon joined by a service from Ipswich, which the ex-Southend train passengers, including us, boarded. This train was also terminated. Station announcer recommended passengers transfer to the Elizabeth Line, so we boarded the 1503 service from platform 6. As we departed we saw what we presumed to be the 1457 (ex-Billericay) GA service pass us on the fast line. (Real Time Trains confirms this train ran on time arriving Stratford at 1524). The Elizabeth Line train lost time, passed Stratford at 1542, reached Farringdon at 1554. The one-way system at Farringdon was not in operation, but would have been in our favour. Boarded next Thameslink train (9R52 destination Bedford) arrived St. Pancras 1605. (This was only 5 minutes behind my planned itinerary, had we been on the 1457 from Billericay). Walked to Euston, and arrived at platform 12 10 minutes prior to the departure of the booked 1630 departure to Wigan NW. This service ran on time. From Wigan Wallgate, took the delayed 1852 Northern service to Southport arriving at 1930.
That is the real world.

Oh dear, you didn't have much luck did you!

 

[styles]

I know this journey has already happened, but for anyone stumbling across the thread in the future, I'd recommend grabbing a Santander bike if you're able to cycle. Pretty much all the London connections can be made in < 30 minutes which means the cost is £1.65, which is cheaper than the £1.75 for the bus, and clearly quicker than walking in almost every case. Obviously doesn't work if you've got a suitcase though, unless you carry some very strong bungee cords

 

[Taunton]

It might have been that the queue was actually for the two lifts from the Thameslink southbound platform down to the Elizabeth Line. These can be bypassed fairly easily by going up to concourse level and taking the escalators from there.

These are a challenge at the best of times, the Thameslink southbound platform is an intermediate level for the lifts, and they can arrive from the top level repeatedly full and nobody more from the waiting crowd on the platform can get in.

 

[JBuchananGB]

These can be bypassed fairly easily by going up to concourse level and taking the escalators from there.

In this case, the one-way flow system introduced for crowd control meant that the escalators were up-only and the stairs were closed, hence the walk through the streets to the other entrance. But this walk did not further delay the journey which was already running 90 minutes late. The streets were very crowded and there was quite a queue to enter the station when we reached it. The "Maltese cross" tickets did not work the entry barriers at Farringdon but access was granted without question.
A Delay repay claim has been submitted to Avant for 2 x 50% of Off-Peak return fares based on 90 minute delay. It will be interesting to see what they decide.
The onward Avanti service from Nuneaton arrived Euston at 1817. This would have given an ETA at Billericay at 1944, 140 minutes late.
Postscript: Avanti have awarded 100% Delay Repay for the return fares.