Glasgow area - Raynes Park 4th Nov

[alxndr]

I absolutely have to get from Glasgow to Raynes Park on the 4th November no later than 14:00 for a hospital appointment, and ideally get back the same day, leaving probably around 16:00. I'd normally not be too concerned about it, even though it'll be a very long day, but the strikes the day before and potential for things to go wrong make me wonder whether I'd be better off facing getting an overnight coach.

Tickets don't seem to be released for some trains yet and I'm not sure whether to expect late notice timetable changes as well.

The reasonable options I see available are:

Newton option

dep Newton 0723 - arr Cambuslang 0727
dep Cambuslang 0730 - arr Motherwell 0746
dep Motherwell 0746 - arr Euston 1236
Euston - Vauxhall via tube
dep Vauxhall 1321 - arr Raynes Park 1336

dep Raynes Park 1610 - arr Vauxhall 1626
Vauxhall - Euston via tube
dep Euston 1709 - arr Motherwell 2147
dep Motherwell 2216 - arr Newton 2234

In a perfect world this would be idea as I can walk from the house, but I'm wary of how close I'll be cutting it to get to my appointment and there's not much room for things to go wrong. Don't particularly feel like I want to risk this.

Motherwell option

dep Motherwell 0645 - arr Euston 1134
Euston - Vauxhall via tube
dep Vauxhall 1216 - arr Raynes Park 1231

dep Raynes Park 1610 - arr Vauxhall 1626
Vauxhall - Euston via tube
dep Euston 1709 - arr Motherwell 2254

Gives me a decent amount of leeway in the timings and is easier to get to than getting the train where it starts at Glasgow Central. Could go even earlier if people think it's possibly necessary and get the 0548 from Motherwell, but I'd naturally rather not if I can help it.

Garrowhill option

dep Garrowhill 0615 - arr Edinburgh 0713
dep Edinburgh 0730 - arr Kings Cross 1150
Kings Cross - Vauxhall via tube
dep Vauxhall 1240 - arr Raynes Park 1255

dep Raynes Park 1628 - arr Vauxhall 1644
Vauxhall - Kings Cross via tube
dep Kings Cross 1730 - arr Edinburgh 2208
dep Edinburgh 2223 - arr Garrowhill 2335

Gives me an hour of leeway, bit less driving, but I'm not sure if the Motherwell (ex Glasgow Central service) would be more likely than this to run and if an hour is enough to leave or not. This is also the only one that I can currently find any tickets for.


If there's any better suggestions let me know, I'll drive anywhere within reason (bearing in mind it's going to be an extremely long day). Any advise on what people think might be the most sensible option to go for is or if I should give up on the train idea altogether and bear the coach? Price doesn't matter too much, getting stranded on the way back isn't ideal but I'll deal with it, I just have to be at that hospital for 2.30pm.

 

[Gloster]

How far have you got to go from Raynes Park station to the hospital and how much wandering about the hospital might you have to do? To my eyes none of the times you have quoted provide anything like the minimum buffer necessary to allow for problems for something so important.

 

[JonathanH]

I think the issue faced here is whether services actually run as early as you need to travel of 4 November given strikes either side. Taking a coach southbound does look like a more reliable option, particularly given the importance of making the appointment.

Strikes have typically meant a late start for services the next day. Strikes either side of a given day have sometimes meant a limited service on the intermediate day.

 

[realemil]

I think the issue faced here is whether services actually run as early as you need to travel of 4 November given strikes either side. Taking a coach southbound does look like a more reliable option, particularly given the importance of making the appointment.

Strikes have typically meant a late start for services the next day. Strikes either side of a given day have sometimes meant a limited service on the intermediate day.

This is the exact issue you will face.

I’d recommend an overnight coach, or flight, as the chances of these services running are slim.

 

[alxndr]

How far have you got to go from Raynes Park station to the hospital and how much wandering about the hospital might you have to do? To my eyes none of the times you have quoted provide anything like the minimum buffer necessary to allow for problems for something so important.

The only sooner option I can see is departing Motherwell 0548 arriving Raynes Park 1136.

It's a 26 minute walk or 7 minute bus to the hospital, and the hospital itself is pretty small so should be fairly straightforward when I get there.

I think the issue faced here is whether services actually run as early as you need to travel of 4 November given strikes either side. Taking a coach southbound does look like a more reliable option, particularly given the importance of making the appointment.

Strikes have typically meant a late start for services the next day. Strikes either side of a given day have sometimes meant a limited service on the intermediate day.

That's what I'm worried about, I'm not sure how services have tended to look the morning after strike days. Just trying to avoid what will be a 24 hour journey if I can help it...

[EDIT]: They all ran in the August strikes that followed the same pattern, but does still feel a bit risky as you can't guarentee the same will happen again this time round, and I don't think TSSA was out at the same time then either.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2022 ==

This is the exact issue you will face.

I’d recommend an overnight coach, or flight, as the chances of these services running are slim.

Thanks for the frank reply, I think I'll have to grit my teeth and face the coach, I've been delayed enough times on flights not to particularly want to trust them either.

 

[glasgowniteowl]

Local scotrail services didn't restart till after 7 on day after strike and that was slowly, first avanti service south I believe was after 0800 may even have been after 0900

 

[Hadders]

06:55 Easyjet flight from Glasgow to Luton (arriving 08:10) is what I'd be looking at. Currently £61.99.

 

[duncanp]

06:55 Easyjet flight from Glasgow to Luton (arriving 08:10) is what I'd be looking at. Currently £61.99.

I would second this.

From Luton you can get the Thameslink train to Wimbledon, from where it is one stop on the train to Raynes Park.

There are also buses and taxis available at Wimbledon.

There is also an Easy Jet flight from Glasgow to Luton departing 10:45 arriving Luton 11:55.

Other than that, you could look at flying from Glasgow to Gatwick (Easyjet) the night before, staying in a hotel in Gatwick, and then travelling from Gatwick to Raynes Park the next morning.

Travelling down from Glasgow by train on the same day as your appointment leaves too much opportunity for things to go wrong.

 

[alxndr]

06:55 Easyjet flight from Glasgow to Luton (arriving 08:10) is what I'd be looking at. Currently £61.99.

I would second this.

From Luton you can get the Thameslink train to Wimbledon, from where it is one stop on the train to Raynes Park.

There are also buses and taxis available at Wimbledon.

There is also an Easy Jet flight from Glasgow to Luton departing 10:45 arriving Luton 11:55.

Wish I'd seen noticed this myself last night before booking a coach ticket, I'd stupidly forgotten how much cheaper airlines can be if you look directly with them (I'm not a regular and quite reluctant flier). I'll probably go for the earlier flight if I do just to make sure I get there.

Do you think the trains likely to be fairly OK by this time in London? If so I'll write off the £20 I spent on the coach and fly down as as much as I dislike flying, I think an 8 hour coach might be worse.

I've booked a seat on the sleeper to get back up as according to the website they're intending to run with a slight time adjustment, but getting back isn't such a concern to me right now.

Other than that, you could look at flying from Glasgow to Gatwick (Easyjet) the night before, staying in a hotel in Gatwick, and then travelling from Gatwick to Raynes Park the next morning.

I can't leave before 7pm the night before because if the strikes happen to be called off last minute I'll be due in work.

 

[spyinthesky]

I can't leave before 7pm the night before because if the strikes happen to be called off last minute I'll be due in work.

This seems rather ironic, without knowing your circumstances.
Good luck with your journey.(And appointment)

 

[Snow1964]

I would take the airline option morning after a rail strike as services can be a very patchy start, depending on where you are anything from 7am to nearer 10am before service is anywhere near normal

If flying to Luton, might be quicker to get first train to St Pancras, then Victoria line to Vauxhall and train to Raynes Park. No point in waiting for next Thameslink to Wimbledon if you have just missed one.

Might be easier to get a day travelcard if you are racing round London, although contactless with capping should also work (but not so easy if starting outside the zones)

 

[Gloster]

If the appointment is that important, I would take a day’s leave on the Friday, if it is permitted to take leave on a strike day. Even if it is unpaid, you may be able to save a fair bit on the fare as you have more chance of shopping round. (I would probably have done this myself and I was notoriously parsimonious with odd leave days.)

 

[alxndr]

This seems rather ironic, without knowing your circumstances.

Saves me from getting frustrated about the train situation though, as it's my fault there is no trains!

Good luck with your journey.(And appointment)

Thanks—unbelievably it's for a blood test My GP is absolutely refusing to help and I've not got time to argue before the deadline for getting it done. Its do this or risk delaying a surgery I've already waited 2+ years for.

I would take the airline option morning after a rail strike as services can be a very patchy start, depending on where you are anything from 7am to nearer 10am before service is anywhere near normal

If flying to Luton, might be quicker to get first train to St Pancras, then Victoria line to Vauxhall and train to Raynes Park. No point in waiting for next Thameslink to Wimbledon if you have just missed one.

Might be easier to get a day travelcard if you are racing round London, although contactless with capping should also work (but not so easy if starting outside the zones)

A day travelcard is probably sensible for me as I have a railcard. Depending on flight arrival times and how the trains are looking I might have a fair bit of time to kill so I'll probably plan the finer details of the London end in the moment depending on how services/weather is looking.

Would the Luton Airport Parkway - Z1-6 Off Peak Day Travelcard includes the tram? I'll be stopping by a friend's house for a bit while waiting for the sleeper back up and thinking I might as well go via the tram if I can, make the journey a bit more worthwhile.

If the appointment is that important, I would take a day’s leave on the Friday, if it is permitted to take leave on a strike day. Even if it is unpaid, you may be able to save a fair bit on the fare as you have more chance of shopping round. (I would probably have done this myself and I was notoriously parsimonious with odd leave days.)

I'm off on the Friday (the day of the appointment) but rostered to work Thursday day and Saturday night so have to assume I'll be there just in case they're called off at the eleventh hour. Unfortunately I have no way of proving I dropped the leave form off a few hours before the strikes were announced and they won't grant leave on strike days once the strike has been called so I'm stuck with the narrow window that I've got.

 

[Gloster]

I'm off on the Friday (the day of the appointment) but rostered to work Thursday day and Saturday night so have to assume I'll be there just in case they're called off at the eleventh hour. Unfortunately I have no way of proving I dropped the leave form off a few hours before the strikes were announced and they won't grant leave on strike days once the strike has been called so I'm stuck with the narrow window that I've got.

Sorry, my confusion. I though that the appointment was on Friday: in #12 read Thursday for Friday. (Although it is irrelevant.) Memo to self: check back before writing.

 

[Snow1964]

Yes Z1-6 travel cards include tram

 

[100andthirty]

it looks like the OP may be in luck. RMT have announced they are suspending strike action on 3rd November because it's the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy day. Look out for confirmation, but if correct then the early trains the OP is relying on might be running

 

[Haywain]

it looks like the OP may be in luck. RMT have announced they are suspending strike action on 3rd November because it's the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy day. Look out for confirmation, but if correct then the early trains the OP is relying on might be running

Or out of luck, having already booked a coach and, possibly, a flight!

 

[JonathanH]

Or out of luck, having already booked a coach and, possibly, a flight!

The train times were still tight, even on a non strike day.

 

[Hadders]

Do you think the trains likely to be fairly OK by this time in London? If so I'll write off the £20 I spent on the coach and fly down as as much as I dislike flying, I think an 8 hour coach might be worse.

Strike or no strike I would not trust anything involving Avanti at the moment for anything remotely important.

 

[alxndr]

Or out of luck, having already booked a coach and, possibly, a flight!

Both unfortunately, and both non-refundable. But I've a way of getting there, so that's the main thing.

The train times were still tight, even on a non strike day.

There was one earlier train that I didn't type out that I'd have explored had people not so thoroughly warned me off trying early trains that day that would have got me there at 1013 which is only a few minutes different to when I could reasonably possibly get there having landed in Luton. A shorter journey (by rail, certainly not time) admittedly, but planes aren't flawless either. The last flight I caught from Glasgow was 2 hours late.