How to get to Southeastern HS platforms quickly from underground?

[BluePenguin]

My train arrives at Waterloo at 20 minutes past the hour and my train from St Pancras International leaves at 37 minutes past the hour giving me 17 minutes to dash across the underground. I know 17 minutes is not much time for a cross London transfer but I have made it in the past.

When coming the other way from St Pancras to Waterloo, I take the two sets of escalators down from the Highspeed platforms to the underground platforms which takes me 2-3 minutes depending on if it is busy. However I can never find my way to them coming from Waterloo.

My question is what route must I take to leave the underground from the Victoria line so that I arrive at the foot of the escators to the Highspeed platforms without having to walk the entire length of the station past the Eurostar checkin, East Midlands Trains escalator and the Thamelink gateline?

When I had a heavy suitcase, I once used a lift which by coincidence took me right to the gateline which I have never found since. My train to Waterloo was 5 minutes late yesterday so I had to wait an hour for the next one. I used the time to retrace my steps and found I saved time turning right and walking to the Kings Cross section, but escalators still did not get much further.

I asked a lady working for Tfl who said something about needing to be in the middle carriage and to get the lift to the top floor, taking me to the right part of the stairs - this is probably the escalator I once found before by chance.

Hopefully somebody can help!

As a side question, what is everyone's quickest route on the underground to get between the stations? The recommended and most popular route seems to be Waterloo to Oxford Cirucus, changing to the Victoria line to St Pancras although the route changing at Green Park or Leister square looks good too. Alternatively the route changing at bank to Stratford and walking through Westfield shopping centre to Stratford International could be an option as the train from St Pancras arrives there at 44 minutes past - is this enough time?


Thanks everyone in advance

 

[Ianno87]

17 minutes - highly ambitious! Definitely change at Oxford Circus.

Exit from the very back of the Victoria Line train, go up the escalators and through the ticket gateline.

Then turn right after the gates, walk along the long corridor until you reach the northern ticket hall. Go diagonally to your left into the subway access to St Pancras, then up the escalators to take you up to the area at the bottom of the escalators to the HS platforms

 

[Hadders]

Bakerloo and Victoria Changing at Oxford Circus is the quickest route. The interchange is cross platform too which non of the other options give.

I agree with the advice above a out being in the very rear carriage of the Victoria Line train. Do NOT follow the signs to St Pancras as these will take you via the 'tourist route'. Use the escalators from the Victoria Line that lead to Euston Road but when you pass through the barriers turn right (note that St Pancras is signposted to the left). Follow the wide passageway towards Kings Cross which will take you to the northern ticket hall, as you get to the bank of ticket machines turn left and you will pick up signs to St Pancras which will lead to the escalators that come out underneath the Southeastern platforms.

 

[bb21]

17 minutes? Forget it. You cannot do so without being a big risk to everyone around you by running in crowded areas.

If your connection was squeezed due to late-running I can understand. This shouldn't be your plan.

 

[paul1609]

17 minutes is too short imho. Where is your final destination? It may be quicker to go to Ashford Int. via Waterloo East

 

[RJ]

I wouldn't bank on it, even as someone with a reasonable knowledge of direction and shortcuts in the Underground. I'd leave 20 minutes as an absolute minimum. There's at least 7.5 minutes of platform to platform walking involved - if you know where you're going and the Bakerloo has a propensity to take almost 3 minutes to turn up.

 

[swt class 450]

You will have to do a lot of running and make sure that you are travelling in quieter off peak times if you want to make a 17 minute connection from London Waterloo to London Kings Cross St Pancras International. It should be just about possible as i have made a 18 minute connection from London Waterloo to London Marylebone successfully last week (although that is a direct train). I would advise having a back up plan to get the next train just in case you do not make the connection.

 

[Kite159]

17 minutes is ultra tight, even by my standards

A 4/5 minute gap on the bakerloo (as does happen) will throw you out.

 

[PermitToTravel]

17 minutes? Forget it. You cannot do so without being a big risk to everyone around you by running in crowded areas.

If your connection was squeezed due to late-running I can understand. This shouldn't be your plan.

This is unnecessarily condescending. The connection is unlikely but not impossible, and I'd hope the OP can realise by themselves what is and isn't appropriate and can prioritise safety over convenience without needing to be babied.

OP, the advice from lanno87 and Hadders is very good. Best of luck

 

[BluePenguin]

17 minutes - highly ambitious! Definitely change at Oxford Circus.

Exit from the very back of the Victoria Line train, go up the escalators and through the ticket gateline.

Then turn right after the gates, walk along the long corridor until you reach the northern ticket hall. Go diagonally to your left into the subway access to St Pancras, then up the escalators to take you up to the area at the bottom of the escalators to the HS platforms

Thanks Ian that is very helpful. Just to clarify is the "subway" the long walk way that is lit up with white lights? next to the blue sign that says Kings Cross?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Bakerloo and Victoria Changing at Oxford Circus is the quickest route. The interchange is cross platform too which non of the other options give.

I agree with the advice above a out being in the very rear carriage of the Victoria Line train. Do NOT follow the signs to St Pancras as these will take you via the 'tourist route'. Use the escalators from the Victoria Line that lead to Euston Road but when you pass through the barriers turn right (note that St Pancras is signposted to the left). Follow the wide passageway towards Kings Cross which will take you to the northern ticket hall, as you get to the bank of ticket machines turn left and you will pick up signs to St Pancras which will lead to the escalators that come out underneath the Southeastern platforms.

Thank you for the detailed reply Hadders, I have copied your instructions onto my phone and will follow them next time I make the journey. Hopefully I will make it for my train from now on
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

17 minutes? Forget it. You cannot do so without being a big risk to everyone around you by running in crowded areas.

If your connection was squeezed due to late-running I can understand. This shouldn't be your plan.

Big risk? Tell that to the countless people who sprint up and down the escalators at rush hour scrabbling past the crowds. Mind you it is impossible to run in crowded area so I guess everyone is pretty safe

My connection IS squeezed because the TOCs aren't proactive enough to think that people might like to use another TOCs trains.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

17 minutes is too short imho. Where is your final destination? It may be quicker to go to Ashford Int. via Waterloo East

My final destination is Walmer although sometimes Canterbury, Dover or Ramsgate depending on whether I am going home or to visit friends.

I can and have in the past gotten on the train from Waterloo East although it is much slower having to go through London Bridge, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Pluckley, Ashford...all the way home.

However IF I am quick enough to make it to St Pancras in the 17 minutes after I arrive at Waterloo then I get home 40 minutes quicker which makes all of the difference sometimes. I can get on at my origin at 30 minutes past the hour but I am not always able to. Plus the cross London transfer and also probably the HS supplement is included in the ticket so I like my monies worth.

 

[BluePenguin]

I wouldn't bank on it, even as someone with a reasonable knowledge of direction and shortcuts in the Underground. I'd leave 20 minutes as an absolute minimum. There's at least 7.5 minutes of platform to platform walking involved - if you know where you're going and the Bakerloo has a propensity to take almost 3 minutes to turn up.

Yes I found that myself out when I was travelling at 17:00 the other day!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You will have to do a lot of running and make sure that you are travelling in quieter off peak times if you want to make a 17 minute connection from London Waterloo to London Kings Cross St Pancras International. It should be just about possible as i have made a 18 minute connection from London Waterloo to London Marylebone successfully last week (although that is a direct train). I would advise having a back up plan to get the next train just in case you do not make the connection.

I am very speedy on those escalators lol. I have made it before although it has often been by chance. I wish I had a direct train like you. I can get the next train although the time I waste waiting for it is not worth the time saving. If I know I am not going to make it I just walk across to Waterloo East and get on the classic train.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

This is unnecessarily condescending. The connection is unlikely but not impossible, and I'd hope the OP can realise by themselves what is and isn't appropriate and can prioritise safety over convenience without needing to be babied.

OP, the advice from lanno87 and Hadders is very good. Best of luck

Yes as much as I appreciate everyone's opinions on how the connection is very tight and that I might cause human dominoes amongst the crowd, that wasn't the question. Very nice to hear people who care about safety though(!)

I am obviously not going to selfishly thrash down the escalator as it if is a matter of life or death. It IS possible as I have done it before, I just wanted advice getting off the underground to make it even more likely to be possible

Thank you PermitToTravel for wishing me luck - I will need it! I have made a note of Ianno87 and Hadders's helpful instructions and by following them will hopefully be able to get home all of 40 minutes quicker from now on.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thank you to those of you who responded to my thread with helpful advice. It has been so frustrating to have missed the train by 30 seconds all this time.

If anyone stumbles on this thread later and has any comments to add, feel free to reply. I will keep an eye on this thread

Have a good weekend anyone

 

[bb21]

This is unnecessarily condescending. The connection is unlikely but not impossible, and I'd hope the OP can realise by themselves what is and isn't appropriate and can prioritise safety over convenience without needing to be babied.

OP, the advice from lanno87 and Hadders is very good. Best of luck

Sorry, but no. It's not condescending. It's called being realistic and considerate towards other members of public.

I have seen enough problems caused by people running in crowded places to be fully against it, most recently Friday night a man running up the stairs from Northern Line to Victoria Line at King's Cross knocking an elderly man over when emerging around the corner despite his best efforts to try and stop.

No way will I be recommending a 17-minute connection, or offering any advice to allow anyone to present unnecessary risks to others. Too many people are oblivious to the consequences of these actions. Either get an earlier train into Waterloo or aim for a later service from St Pancras. To be able to do this in 17 minutes will require very lucky timings of both the Bakerloo (3-minute frequency) and Victoria (1.75-minute frequency), plus a lot of running around.

Victoria Line journey time from wheels moving to wheels stop from Oxford Circus to King's Cross is about 4.5 minutes. Bakerloo from Waterloo to Oxford Circus is 6 minutes. Going from Vic to the northern ticket hall takes about 2 minutes, and going from Waterloo mainline platform to the platform takes about 2 minutes. That is not including any potential waiting time for the train and going from the northern ticket hall to the SouthEastern platform, getting through the barrier and throwing oneself on the train. Alternatively going from Victoria Line up to the tube ticket hall takes about a minute, but then you have to go from there to the SouthEastern platform via either the northern ticket hall or across the whole of St Pancras station. You do the maths how much running is required.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Big risk? Tell that to the countless people who sprint up and down the escalators at rush hour scrabbling past the crowds. Mind you it is impossible to run in crowded area so I guess everyone is pretty safe

That gives me all the confirmation I need how oblivious you are to the potential consequences of your actions.

Your type of running to make such a tight connection is quite different to people "sprinting up and down the escalators".

My connection IS squeezed because the TOCs aren't proactive enough to think that people might like to use another TOCs trains.

Come again?

Please expand further.

Wait, I can guess. There is no service timed for a perfect connection from Waterloo to St Pancras in your opinion, despite there being at least an hourly service.

 

[Ianno87]

Thanks Ian that is very helpful. Just to clarify is the "subway" the long walk way that is lit up with white lights? next to the blue sign that says Kings Cross?

Don't know about the sign, but the long, straight, well-lit walkway is what you're after - as you exit the barriers, head right as you go up the small flight of steps straight in front of you.

Big risk? Tell that to the countless people who sprint up and down the escalators at rush hour scrabbling past the crowds. Mind you it is impossible to run in crowded area so I guess everyone is pretty safe

It is very rare to see anybody "scrabbling" as you desribe in busy tube stations in rush hour - most people realise it simply isn't practical or safe to try and barge through (the saying 'more haste, less speed' applies surprisingly often), and are prepared to be mindful of others and exhibit patience where necessary, even if they are walking somewhat briskly.

My connection IS squeezed because the TOCs aren't proactive enough to think that people might like to use another TOCs trains.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


My final destination is Walmer although sometimes Canterbury, Dover or Ramsgate depending on whether I am going home or to visit friends.

I can and have in the past gotten on the train from Waterloo East although it is much slower having to go through London Bridge, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Pluckley, Ashford...all the way home.

However IF I am quick enough to make it to St Pancras in the 17 minutes after I arrive at Waterloo then I get home 40 minutes quicker which makes all of the difference sometimes. I can get on at my origin at 30 minutes past the hour but I am not always able to. Plus the cross London transfer and also probably the HS supplement is included in the ticket so I like my monies worth.

Think about that for a second. How practical do you seriously think it is for TOCs on wildly different routes into and out of London to coordinate their *whole* timetables around such a specific connection? The HS pattern, for example, is ultimately determined by the flighting of Eurostars and Shuttles through the Channel Tunnel and the Fretin triangle at Lille. The South West Main line is determined by Woking Jn and the single line to Dorchester West.

As you acknowledge, you have a much simpler alternative in walking from Waterloo to Waterloo East already available to you (rare for a 'cross-London' journey as it is. It wouldn't really be right to gold plate your needs over anybody else making a cross-London connection into, say, a VTEC service from King's Cross to Newcastle.

 

[telstarbox]

Does your train into Waterloo call at Vauxhall?

 

[sk688]

I would say stuff the Bakerloo , and take Northern from Waterloo to Euston , relatively easy interchange to Bank Branch , one stop and then the walk is less than if you take the Victoria Line , because of the mind bogglingly long walk from the platforms

Also Jubilee to Stratford

I also agree 17 min is far too short , HS1 trains leave every 15 minutes , is there no way you can take the next one

 

[yorkie]

I would say stuff the Bakerloo , and take Northern from Waterloo to Euston , relatively easy interchange to Bank Branch , one stop and then the walk is less than if you take the Victoria Line , because of the mind bogglingly long walk from the platforms

I'll give you a race one day

Also Jubilee to Stratford

...is never going to make it in the time between trains.

I also agree 17 min is far too short , HS1 trains leave every 15 minutes , is there no way you can take the next one

Not every 15 minutes to all destinations, and the OP already said they can wait, they'd just prefer not to.

 

[Ianno87]

I would say stuff the Bakerloo , and take Northern from Waterloo to Euston , relatively easy interchange to Bank Branch , one stop and then the walk is less than if you take the Victoria Line , because of the mind bogglingly long walk from the platforms

Only mind bogglingly long if you actually follow the signed route...