Greater Anglia bash 2nd August

[Kite159]

Evening all

I'm planning a Greater Anglia bash on the 2nd August, basically all the branch lines between Shenfield & Mainningtree (the stuff not covered by either the Anglia Plus Rover or a London Zones travelcard) (Southend Victoria, Southminster, Braintree, Sudbury, Clacton-on-sea, Walton-on-the-naze & Harwich town).

Good news in doing a rough plan, it seems (currently) there be no replacement buses.

I have a rough plan & rough price guide, so any known tricks to get the price down:

Grateley 05:27 Waterloo 06:49
Waterloo Oxford Circus (Bakerloo)
Oxford Circus Liverpool Street (Central)
Liverpool Street 07:30 Manningtree 08:31
Manningtree 09:00 Harwich town 09:22
Harwich town 09:28 Manningtree 09:50
Manningtree 10:02 Colchester 10:11
Colchester 10:16 Thorpe-le-Soken 10:35
Thorpe-le-Soken 10:37 Walton on the Naze 10:49
Walton on the Naze 11:00 Thorpe-le-Soken 11:12
Thorpe-le-Soken 11:35 Clacton On Sea 11:44
Clacton On Sea 12:05 Thorpe-le-Soken 12:13
Thorpe-le-Soken 12:17 Colchester 12:52
Colchester 13:43 Marks Tey 13:49
Marks Tey 14:01 Sudbury 14:21
Sudbury 14:26 Marks Tey 14:45
Marks Tey 14:49 Witham 15:00
Witham 15:34 Braintree 15:50
Braintree 16:00 Shenfield 16:38
Shenfield 16:59 Southend Victoria 17:34
Southend Victoria 17:50 Wickford 18:11
Wickford 18:16 Southminster 18:47
Southminster 18:56 Wickford 19:26
Wickford 19:31 Liverpool Street 20:10
Liverpool Street Bank (Central)
Bank Waterloo (W&C)
Waterloo 21:20 Grateley 22:43

Tickets:
Grateley Harwich Town 35.9 (which will be 'broken' a few times, although not leaving the station with it if I can help it)
Colchester Walton on the Naze 4.95
Thorpe-le-soken Clacton on Sea 2.95
Sudbury Colchester 4.3
Braintree Witham 3.15
Wickford Southminster 5
Shenfield Southend 5.7

(prices are for a network railcard)

Any suggestions for improvements or price cuts, and does anybody else fancy a day out in Greater Anglia land? (Yes I know I'm mad planning trips for August time)

 

[306024]

Sorry, can't help with fares, but your plan should work fine if GA and NR are having a good day, and it isn't too hot. Just a few comments.

You'll find you can catch the 09.53 Manningtree to Colchester rather than the 10.02, that will give you more time at Colchester where you will need to use the subway (get in the back at Manningtree). You get a 90 rather than an EMU too.

At Wickford you will need to use the footbridge both times. If you do the Southminster line first that avoids the footbridge but will take 20 minutes longer overall. The Southminster train shares the same track as down Southend trains, so connections are more guaranteed in that direction.

There are buffets at Manningtree and Colchester where you have breakfast and lunch breaks timed.

I've found the quickest way between Waterloo and Liverpool St is Drain to Bank and walk. I'd do that in the morning when you are tighter for time. On second thoughts, ignore that, just realised the Drain doesn't start until 08.00 on a Saturday.

Good luck, be interested to hear how it goes if you get around to doing it.

 

[Kite159]

The drain is the quickest way from Waterloo to Liverpool Street (probably is quicker to walk on the surface than going around the complex of tunnels to the central line platforms)

Thanks for the hint with the 9:53 to Colchester (I've got the 12:17 change at Thorpe-le-Soken as that service goes via Colchester Town)

I will make sure to pack enough drink (having 2 and a bit hour stuck on a 317 almost got to me on Saturday, thankfully it had 'windows' which could be open to bring the temperature down).

It's a rough plan, I only threw it together last night using NRE so I'm unsure of what connections at the stations are like.