Maidstone to Guildford late at night

[infobleep]

Someone has offered me a free ticket to go to a concert in Maidatone but I need to get home to Guildford the same night by public transport.

The last train to show up, when I search, is the 22:13, which is too early as the concert will probably finish around 22:30.

It seems the last train of the night, 23:13, goes to London Victoria and arrives at 0:16, which is 1 minute after the last train from London Victoria departs. If only it went to London Bridge.

Any suggestions? I thought about catching this and walking or busing it to Vauxhall to pick up the 0:37 to Guildford but what happens if I get delayed? I would surely be left high and dry as I've not followed any official connections.

Does anyone have any ideas? I can't stay over as I need to be in the office the next day and I don't wish to be charged a load more just to travel early the next morning, just so I can get to the office because I can't get home. I would probably have to buy a separate ticket too.

It only takes 1 hour 22 minutes to get from Guildford to Maidstone by car. Not that I drive. My train the last journey of the night is 2 hours 37 minutes. I do accept it's not a route hundreds of people wish to travel.

At least there is a 0:37 from Vauxhall. Some year's ago when I went to a concert Folkestone, I had to get an Uber back from Woking in order to attend it.

 

[JonathanH]

I thought about catching this and walking or busing it to Vauxhall to pick up the 0:37 to Guildford but what happens if I get delayed?

That looks on to me. The bus only takes seven minutes and there seems to be one around 0:23. You can leave from the side entrance to Victoria, assuming it is not locked up.

I appreciate you could get delayed. It might be worth looking at how often the Maidstone train runs late. (That said, I see it arrived at 0:23 last night.)

I note in passing that it is possible to leave Maidstone West at 2300 and get to your other stamping ground of Haywards Heath by 0044, the time you would otherwise be at Clapham Junction.

 

[PGAT]

What day is this? If it’s on a weekend or a strike day that will throw a spanner in the works

 

[infobleep]

That looks on to me. The bus only takes seven minutes and there seems to be one around 0:23. You can leave from the side entrance to Victoria, assuming it is not locked up.

I appreciate you could get delayed. It might be worth looking at how often the Maidstone train runs late. (That said, I see it arrived at 0:23 last night.)

I note in passing that it is possible to leave Maidstone West at 2300 and get to your other stamping ground of Haywards Heath by 0044, the time you would otherwise be at Clapham Junction.

I've just realised the Any Permitted ticket includes the tube so I could tube it from Victoria to Vauxhall. I would need to make the 0:26 tube though and arriving in at 0:23 would be cutting it fine.

The issue with Haywards Heath is that I would need to leave the next morning on a more expensive train ticket. I no longer travel often enough to have a season ticket that is local to me. I would be travelling to Surbuton.

I would also need a train ticket from Guildford to Maidstone and one from Maidstone to Haywarsds Heath or a combination of a return and some singles to covers parts not covered by the return.

No such thing as an advances purchase ticket for my travel.

What day is this? If it’s on a weekend or a strike day that will throw a spanner in the works

It's Tuesday 26 September. I can book late so would know in advance.

 

[30907]

If the train runs slightly late I think I would go for a taxi to Vauxhall. The question is, what happens if there is a rather longer delay?

 

[telstarbox]

Maybe an Airbnb room in the Vauxhall - Clapham Junction area would be cheap on a midweek night?

 

[infobleep]

Maybe an Airbnb room in the Vauxhall - Clapham Junction area would be cheap on a midweek night?

That's a good point I has not thought of, although I wouldn't be at the property until late. Plus it does add further costs.

There again owning a car has running expenses and I have none of those costs throughout the year. This must far outweigh any accommodation costs for one night.

 

[infobleep]

If the train runs slightly late I think I would go for a taxi to Vauxhall. The question is, what happens if there is a rather longer delay?

Then I am high and dry as I didn't allow the minimum connection time.

 

[infobleep]

That looks on to me. The bus only takes seven minutes and there seems to be one around 0:23. You can leave from the side entrance to Victoria, assuming it is not locked up.

I appreciate you could get delayed. It might be worth looking at how often the Maidstone train runs late. (That said, I see it arrived at 0:23 last night.)

I note in passing that it is possible to leave Maidstone West at 2300 and get to your other stamping ground of Haywards Heath by 0044, the time you would otherwise be at Clapham Junction.

They dawned on me. I could do a return trip from Haywards Heath. Via Tonbridge coming home is just 1 hour 44 minutes.

Going via Tonbridge to keep costs lower 2 hours 31 minutes. If I go via London it's still 2 hours and the price goes up to £30 instead of £17 but they are doable.

Depends on costs the next morning to Surbiton. I shall research it all.

 

[infobleep]

So an update. I ended up travelling to and from Haywards Heath.

Going I got the 14:42 to Gatwick Airport. I arrived at around 14:22 and 20 seconds. This is important. So over 10 minutes before the 14:32 to Redhill departed.

Originally we get in at 14:23, so stupidly in my opinion, the 14:32 is not a valid connection.

Technically I should have been on the 14:31, caught an earlier train to Redhill and waited 31 minutes.

This way though I saved 11 minutes on my overall journey.

I must at this point, point out that the fastest journey is one via London Bridge that takes 2 hours and 10 minutes but is not permitted. You must take a different journey via London that takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. One is also paying roughly an extra £15 to go via London, excluding discounts. It's about £25 to go not via London.

So I made the 15:30 to Tonbridge. Once at Tonbridge, I boarded the 16:11 to Paddock Wood and then the 16:19 to Maidstone West.

Delightful old station. Surprised it's not barriered.

After a fantastic gig seeing Francis Rossi and meeting him beforehand, I then headed home.

I thought about going to Maidstone Barracks but I wasn't sure how well-lit the rough would be so decided to just go to Maidstone West.

All my trains were on time at this point. Noice to see the disabled loo unlocked too. I got the 23:00, which got to Tonbridge on time.

Alas, my train to Redhill was 4 minutes late. Not to worry a member of station staff said, they will hold the connecting train at Redhill. I was thinking really? I didn't voice any decent though.

So we gained some time on route but then lost some. Officially we got into Redhill two minutes late but actually, we were slowed at the junction and went very slowly into platform 0 at the very far end, arriving over 4 minutes late.

As I got off the train my connection was departing.

I wasn't happy as the next train from Redhill to Haywards Heath wasn't until 01:46, although I see it's since been cancelled.

However, after talking to a member of staff, who was very nice and helpful, turns out there was a 0:20 to Gatwick Airport and I could change there for a train to Haywards Heath. Phew.

I will be back about 20 minutes late so I will get 12.5% back if I get around to putting in my claim.