Croydon - Tooting Broadway crowds?

[GodAtum]

What's the crowd like on the weekend mornings from East Croydon - Balham - Tooting Broadway?

Would it be easier getting to tram to Mitcham and the 127 bus?

 

[asylumxl]

What's the crowd like on the weekend mornings from East Croydon - Balham - Tooting Broadway?

Would it be easier getting to tram to Mitcham and the 127 bus?

I haven't been that way in a while, but a few years back when I did it was rammed.

 

[mirodo]

Balham - Tooting Broadway is going against the communting crowd so should be fine.

What sort of time were you thinking for ECR - BAL? I travel ECR - CLJ every morning (usually on the non-stopper, but have been on the slow service before now) - the later on in the rush hour you travel, the more bearable you will find it. I certainly have no problem getting a seat at ECR at 9am under normal circumstances.

 

[GodAtum]

It will be around 9-10am on Saturday and Sunday. How long does it take to walk from the Southern platforms to the tube?

 

[Clip]

Is the Tram not running?

 

[GodAtum]

Is the Tram not running?

I could get the tram to Mitcham and the 127 bus?

 

[Clip]

I could get the tram to Mitcham and the 127 bus?

Sorry, I thought you were going to Mitcham!!

 

[ert47]

There are engineering works this weekend make sure you check before you travel! Southern Metro services going towards London Victoria will be badly effected on Sunday.

 

[jimbo99]

I did this journey everyday for about 3 months end of last year - well, central Croydon to St George's Hospital to be precise. I tried various methods including:

1) 264 from Katharine Street (or Park Street)
2) Walk/tram to Church Street, 264 from Church Street
3) Various buses to Purley, 127 from Purley Station
4) Train East Croydon to Balham, Northern Line to Tooting Broadway
5) Tram East Croydon to Mitcham, 280 to Tooting Broadway

The quickest was (2), but the most stress free was (1) because the bus can be quite full at Church Street. The 264 can be held up at peak times, particularly on Mitcham Common. Typically I left Croydon 5pm to 7pm, and left Tooting 8pm to 10pm.

If you're really starting at East Croydon station itself, then (4) becomes a bit more tempting. I was actually starting my journey at an office near Katharine Street so easy for me to arrive at the bus stop just in time to pick up the 264 as it starts.

 

[GodAtum]

I found the 264 the least stressful method - one bus all the way. It starts in Katherine Street, then Park Street. Quite reliable. You can save a few minutes by tramming it to Church Street and picking up the bus there, though it can be rather full by then.

thts a great idea. its not shown on the TFL journey planner (unless you specify exactly stops) so its a hidden route lol.

 

[jimbo99]

I'll add that it is rather nice if you're on the top deck at the front as you go through Mitcham Common.

I've reworded my previous post as I thought it was a bit opaque on re-reading.

 

[GodAtum]

thanks for your detailed post ive always tried to avoid central Croydon because of the abuse ive suffered. maybe its Ok on a weekend morning?

 

[harz99]

thanks for your detailed post ive always tried to avoid central Croydon because of the abuse ive suffered. maybe its Ok on a weekend morning?

Sunday should not be a real problem whichever way you choose except for any engineering works; Saturday morning all the passenger traffic on 264 will be into Croydon at that time, so you should have no problems with the bus from its first couple of stops, and that method will be less hassle.

 

[jimbo99]

Weekends, the 264 can be held up around the Lombard roundabout because of all the traffic going to the Purley Way superstores (especially late afternoon). West Croydon station can get jammed too because of shoppers in cars.

 

[GodAtum]

According to the timetable its about an hour from Park Street to Tooting, would that be about right?

 

[harz99]

According to the timetable its about an hour from Park Street to Tooting, would that be about right?

More like 40-45 minutes from the Sat/Sun timetables I see for the time you asked for.

 

[jimbo99]

It has taken me 40 to 75 minutes to make the journey at various times. But generally Park Street to Tooting Broadway tube would be 45 mins once on the bus on a weekend. The quickest journeys are weekday off peak and very early in the morning or late at night.

Tooting bound, issues are:
1) Incoming bus terminated at West Croydon so you don't even see it.
2) Delays around West Croydon bus station because of shoppers (weekends mainly)
3) Tailbacks over Mitcham Common, particularly from junction with Beddington Lane and Ravensbury Arms (weekday peaks)
4) Mitcham one-way system jammed
5) Tailbacks from the bridge by Tooting station

Croydon bound, issues are:
1) Blackshaw Road jammed (evening peak) meaning departures from start of route unreliable. I would board at St Georges and sometimes it would take 10mins just to get on to Tooting High Street.
2) Mitcham one-way system jammed
3) Mitcham Common - Bedding Lane junction tailbacks
4) Lombard roundabout - tailbacks, particularly weekend afternoons. Sometimes they terminate here if late

That's about it. Generally I would walk to Katherine Street rather than Park Street because then I could see the bus ready to start! (Being prepared to run back if it appears..) The stop is on the "other side" of Katherine Street, adjacent to the Queens Gardens. At Park Street don't trust the countdown indicator if it says 1 or 2 mins. If in a hurry it is better to tram it/walk to Church Street to protect against a bus not appearing because it was turned at West Croydon. Though often pretty full at Church Street, you will always get on.

Not much more to say about the 264 really!

 

[GodAtum]

Thanks for your detailed reply, its very helpful! I will only travel on weekend mornings towards Tooting and weekend evening return. I see the main issue will be shoppers and possible traffic.

I will probably use the KB stop in Katherine Street.