London Weekday Exclusives

[Starmill]

So, thanks to London Midland's Great Escape, I've finally found a cheap way to get to London on a weekday. It's a Friday, which I'm not sure is that good really, but there wasn't much choice.

Can anybody please advise me on what I can do on a weekday that is just not possible at the weekend? I'm arriving quite late at 11:49 and departing Euston 18:29, intending a bashing day and nothing else.


I've come up with:

• Moorgate & Old Street National Rail
• More 12-car trains?
• Met Line fast and semi-fast services
• Victoria Line (not sure if it does run more frequently?)
• Plus the obvious lack of track closures

Thanks!

 

[tsr]

Try a Parliamentary or two (if you have time!).

 

[telstarbox]

There are some Kent Coast (ie not suburban) SouthEastern services which only serve Cannon Street Monday-Friday. You might be able to get one of these out in the evening peak.

 

[Be3G]

Another weekday-only thing to try could be a through Northern Line train to/from Mill Hill East, which only operate in the Mon–Fri peaks (OK OK, plus a couple of near-last trains on a Sunday night).

 

[Manchester77]

The extended ELL to Clapham Junction might be worth a visit

EDIT oops didn't read the whole post oh well...

Try the train to Battersea Park I think that's a parliamentary idk when it runs

 

[tsr]

Another weekday-only thing to try could be a through Northern Line train to/from Mill Hill East, which only operate in the Mon–Fri peaks (OK OK, plus a couple of near-last trains on a Sunday night).

An enhanced choice is a Morden-Mill Hill East service!

 

[theageofthetra]

I would suggest the DLR. Get a front seat (Right hand side so you don't get turfed out if it has to be driven manually) and try and do the sections with tunnels. Bank-Lewisham and back would give you the novelty of a drivers eye view of the tunnels under the Thames and on the approach to Bank. Also try the Tramlink from East Croydon to New Addington as it has some very steep sections on the Addington hills. You could get to East Croydon on the Thameslink making use of the very steep section from City Thameslink to Blackfriars. Make sure you get yourself an Oyster if you are paying for each journey, otherwise get a paper one day travel card z1-6 if you want a fixed cost. You could try some of the weekday Parliamentary type oddities like the twice daily Beckenham Junction to Charing Cross via the Hayes line. Have a great trip and enjoy it!

 

[Starmill]

Thanks guys

That piece of advice about the DLR would have been and will be very useful! I had to stand by the front set of doors last time, but I have done Lewisham to Bank.

I think I have been on a Victoria train that's stopped at Battersea Park in the past? On a Saturday? Can anyone suggest any paramilitaries? I can only think of Angel Road - and that doesn't look all that exciting! Think the Beckenham Junction and Mill Hill East ideas are great

telstarbox - any idea where those Canon St trains go to? I've always thought Canon St a bit odd... why is the underground station always closed? Last time I arrived there about half 3 on a Saturday, it was deserted! I had to walk to Bank! Still sounds like a good idea!

The overground extension I have done... but I can't stand 378s! Such restricted view! And Tramlink I made a beeline for last time I was there, love those beautiful trammies (as M77 knows!). Not that I can share the same opinion of Croydon...

 

[cjohnson]

I think I have been on a Victoria train that's stopped at Battersea Park in the past? On a Saturday? Can anyone suggest any paramilitaries?

Most Southern 'Metro' services to Vic stop at Battersea Park!

If you are after a parliamentary, there's the daily Southern Clapham High St/Wandsworth Road-Kensington Olympia service:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W73506/2013/02/22/advanced

Around the same time there's also the once a day Streatham Hill-Tulse Hill track:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W73286/2013/02/22/advanced

 

[tractakid]

London Overground to Battersea Park is unfortunately too early/late for you.

Again, too early, the Southeastern stopper at Wandsworth Road

I really enjoyed alighting from London Midland at Queens Park, but this was 05:32 AM!

If you could arrive and get to Paddington just a little earlier, there's always the Chiltern to West Ruislip.

Loads of the good stuff is outside your time range, which is a shame... one last suggestion though...

The exhibition District service to Olympia may be fun... if it's this coming Friday they're every half hour.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Plus you've got the early morning GOBLIN which don't stop at Gospel Oak

 

[user15681]

telstarbox - any idea where those Canon St trains go to? I've always thought Canon St a bit odd... why is the underground station always closed? Last time I arrived there about half 3 on a Saturday, it was deserted! I had to walk to Bank! Still sounds like a good idea!

I know this isn't aimed at me, but I can answer your questions. There are trains from Cannon St that run in the peaks only to Ramsgate and Broadstairs (4 to each, 8 in all) via Chatham line. They only run in the peaks and use a small stretch of line unused by any other services. However, seeing you need to be back by 18:29 I would say these services are too tight for your schedule. First one leaves at 16:46, but as there's no return service you would be cutting it fine trying to get back to Euston in time.

As for the underground station always being closed, that's normally due to work being done. Because there are a lot of surrounding alternative transport means, and because Cannon St isn't used much on Saturdays, it's seen as not a huge inconvenience to shut it. Cannon St is a bit like the Waterloo and City branch. It's only really used by commuters. It shuts early Monday to Friday, is opened limited times on Saturdays and LU/NR stations are both closed on Sundays as no services run from Cannon St on Sundays (unless diverted due to planned engineering at Victoria or Charing Cross, like this weekend).

 

[Starmill]

London Overground to Battersea Park is unfortunately too early/late for you.

Again, too early, the Southeastern stopper at Wandsworth Road

I really enjoyed alighting from London Midland at Queens Park, but this was 05:32 AM!

If you could arrive and get to Paddington just a little earlier, there's always the Chiltern to West Ruislip.

Loads of the good stuff is outside your time range, which is a shame... one last suggestion though...

The exhibition District service to Olympia may be fun... if it's this coming Friday they're every half hour.

I didn't even realise that there were any platforms on the Mail Line at Queen's Park!? Hahah! West Ruislip might be a good one? But do they only stop there weekdays? Anyway many thanks for the tips, there's nowt I can do to arrive earlier, my current itinerary involves leaving an hour later than usual and still a 45 minute wait at Stoke-on-Trent! Ah well!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I know this isn't aimed at me, but I can answer your questions. There are trains from Cannon St that run in the peaks only to Ramsgate and Broadstairs...

Thank you! It would be so difficult to gather all of that independently, so thank you for enlightening me!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Plus you've got the early morning GOBLIN which don't stop at Gospel Oak

The BLIN train? Please elaborate...

 

[Tomonthetrain]

This one I am on about

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/schedule/L77004/2013-02-19/

 

[Helvellyn]

Again, will be too early/late for you, but SWT have one early morning (Up) and two very late evening trains (One Up; One Down) booked over the East Putney line (i.e. LUL District Line) from Wimbledon to Wandsworth Town. The bit from East Putney to Wandsworth Town is mainly used by ECS trains going to Wimbledon Park, but is also a diversionary route.

 

[telstarbox]

I know this isn't aimed at me, but I can answer your questions. There are trains from Cannon St that run in the peaks only to Ramsgate and Broadstairs (4 to each, 8 in all) via Chatham line. They only run in the peaks and use a small stretch of line unused by any other services. However, seeing you need to be back by 18:29 I would say these services are too tight for your schedule. First one leaves at 16:46, but as there's no return service you would be cutting it fine trying to get back to Euston in time.

There are also some via Sevenoaks to Hastings and Ashford International although again, only in the morning/evening peak. These additional longer-distance services are to shift hordes of commuters from Kent to the City and back again.

 

[AlterEgo]

I would suggest the DLR. Get a front seat (Right hand side so you don't get turfed out if it has to be driven manually) and try and do the sections with tunnels. Bank-Lewisham and back would give you the novelty of a drivers eye view of the tunnels under the Thames and on the approach to Bank. Also try the Tramlink from East Croydon to New Addington as it has some very steep sections on the Addington hills. You could get to East Croydon on the Thameslink making use of the very steep section from City Thameslink to Blackfriars. Make sure you get yourself an Oyster if you are paying for each journey, otherwise get a paper one day travel card z1-6 if you want a fixed cost. You could try some of the weekday Parliamentary type oddities like the twice daily Beckenham Junction to Charing Cross via the Hayes line. Have a great trip and enjoy it!

All good advice.

For what it's worth, I would recommend a trip from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank (in this direction, Woolwich Arsenal is a quieter station and less competition with kids for front seats!) on the DLR over the Lewisham section. There are a couple of tunnel sections to be had, and the line side view is more interesting IMO. The line passes under the Thames first, then alongside London City Airport, the spectacular disused Millennium Mills building and along the Thames Barrier.

Tramlink is also another good shout. There's a good mix of street running and "proper track", including a section of unusual gauntlet rail. You can also spot the sections that were cannibalised from old trackbeds, too. I recommend starting from Elmers End which is pretty quiet - again, best pick of seats. Wimbledon is permanently busy.

 

[Starmill]

All good advice.

For what it's worth, I would recommend a trip from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank (in this direction, Woolwich Arsenal is a quieter station and less competition with kids for front seats!) on the DLR over the Lewisham section. There are a couple of tunnel sections to be had, and the line side view is more interesting IMO. The line passes under the Thames first, then alongside London City Airport, the spectacular disused Millennium Mills building and along the Thames Barrier.

Tramlink is also another good shout. There's a good mix of street running and "proper track", including a section of unusual gauntlet rail. You can also spot the sections that were cannibalised from old trackbeds, too. I recommend starting from Elmers End which is pretty quiet - again, best pick of seats. Wimbledon is permanently busy.

Okay... sounds good. Started from East Croydon last time... which was fairly busy Can you see the barrier from the DLR train? I've been dying to see that... and Tower Bridge.. How does one get to Woolwich Arsn. and Lewisham? Will London Bridge do it?