Online journey planner unreasonable?

[tractakid]

I just typed in Milton Keynes Central to Aylesbury, the quickest option the OJP lists involves the fast LM to Euston, a transfer from Euston to Watford station (no method of travel suggested!), catching the Metropolitan line train (presumably using the North Curve!) to Amersham, then getting the Chiltern to AYS.

How does the planner expect the transfer from EUS to ZWT to be made? TfL suggest LM to Bushey, then getting a bus over, but surely this would just mean a massive and pointless double back. (possibly illegitimate too?)

The sensible option (from Euston) is of course to go to Marylebone and travel via Princes Risborough, suggested by the other OJP option.

But for travel to Great Missenden, EVERY option listed involves the EUS-ZWT transfer. Would travel via PRR be permissable?

What would an unknowing passenger do at Euston, and what advice would they recieve from staff there if they asked, showing the itinerary?

It seems ridiculous that the official journey planner can potentially leave a passenger at least confused, and worst, in trouble for doing something wrong.

 

[Paul Kelly]

I'm not familiar with the area, but according to today's timetable there is a train running once an hour direct from Watford Met to Amersham; it would appear this is confusing journey planners.

 

[Paul Kelly]

How does the planner expect the transfer from EUS to ZWT to be made?

It is just down as a fixed 52-minute tube journey. Add the 15 minutes minimum connection time at Euston and the 5 minutes for Watford and that gives you the 1 hour 12 mins quoted by the National Rail Enquiries (see attached screenshot). It is a fixed, hard-coded link and doesn't take account of the part-closure of the Metropolitan line today.

It seems ridiculous that the official journey planner can potentially leave a passenger at least confused

Yes indeed; I think sometimes when there's engineering work on various LU lines the fixed links in the journey planner data are changed, but clearly that hasn't happened today.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I just typed in Milton Keynes Central to Aylesbury, the quickest option the OJP lists involves the fast LM to Euston, a transfer from Euston to Watford station (no method of travel suggested!), catching the Metropolitan line train (presumably using the North Curve!) to Amersham, then getting the Chiltern to AYS.

On the one occasion I tried this journey, I got the LM stopper to Leighton Buzzard and the Arriva 150 bus...
No problem. Takes about an hour.
The bus actually starts at Milton Keynes, but you gain half an hour by getting to LBZ by train.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=21271&r=UK

 

[Bushy]

Transport direct suggests:
Southern to Leighton Buzzard
18 min walk to Leighton Road (Tesco)
Arriva 150 to Aylesbury Bus Station
Total Journey Time 1h 03m

Looking up the 150 on Arriva's website; it runs from MK station, the journey takes 5 min (correction 15 min) longer but you miss out on an 18 min walk.

Regards

Bushy

Crossed with previous post in the ether

 

[yorkie]

What would an unknowing passenger do at Euston, and what advice would they receive from staff there if they asked, showing the itinerary?

I'd hope they'd be directed to Euston Square station, to take the Met. (and I'd advise that if there isn't a train showing to Watford, then take the first available train and change at Baker St)

Unfortunately, if the journey was to be made this weekend, it would involve replacement buses, as the Met has a part closure.

 

[tractakid]

Ah, of course, I forgot about replacement buses, but would they arrive in time for the connections? Would that have any impact on 'delay repay'?

 

[dzug2]

Delay repay would assume the revised timetable, not the normal one.

 

[John @ home]

My opinion is that Delay Repay operates in accordance with the timetable or itinerary current at the time of ticket purchase.

 

[DarloRich]

I just typed in Milton Keynes Central to Aylesbury, the quickest option the OJP lists involves the fast LM to Euston, a transfer from Euston to Watford station (no method of travel suggested!), catching the Metropolitan line train (presumably using the North Curve!) to Amersham, then getting the Chiltern to AYS.

How does the planner expect the transfer from EUS to ZWT to be made? TfL suggest LM to Bushey, then getting a bus over, but surely this would just mean a massive and pointless double back. (possibly illegitimate too?)

The sensible option (from Euston) is of course to go to Marylebone and travel via Princes Risborough, suggested by the other OJP option.

But for travel to Great Missenden, EVERY option listed involves the EUS-ZWT transfer. Would travel via PRR be permissable?

What would an unknowing passenger do at Euston, and what advice would they recieve from staff there if they asked, showing the itinerary?

It seems ridiculous that the official journey planner can potentially leave a passenger at least confused, and worst, in trouble for doing something wrong.

Just get off at Watford Junction and walk to Watford Met (about 30 mins) or get the bus. No drama.

 

[Mojo]

Just get off at Watford Junction and walk to Watford Met (about 30 mins) or get the bus. No drama.

A ticket from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury has no validity at Watford Met station. As the line is blocked with no Chiltern or Met services via Harrow/Hill then travel should be made via Marylebone and on Chiltern services via High Wycombe.

 

[DarloRich]

A ticket from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury has no validity at Watford Met station. As the line is blocked with no Chiltern or Met services via Harrow/Hill then travel should be made via Marylebone and on Chiltern services via High Wycombe.

Even if it allows for underground usage?

I would just use my Oyster. and go on Tuesday. or drive

 

[tractakid]

Yeah, I have no intention of actually making the journey haha.

Why is the Journey Planner suggesting invalid travel from Watford?