Trivia/Nonsense - what 'inside knowledge' do you use to 'beat the crowds?'

[yorksrob]

Yeah, change at the B end (for Best perhaps?) or via the footbridge. Don't change via the A end (A for annoying perhaps?!)

A very logical code

It doesn't help that I can never work out what direction anything ever is there.

 

[Peter0124]

A very logical code

It doesn't help that I can never work out what direction anything ever is there.

A end is the London/Leeds end. B end is Wolves/Bristol.

 

[TheTallOne]

A end is the London/Leeds end. B end is Wolves/Bristol.

Although the station runs east to west doesn't it. To further add to the confusion.

 

[rcsn319]

Tends to also work leaving Liverpool Street for Stansted Airport as well.

It works every time and at stansted you’ll be right next to the lifts to departures which is always significantly quieter than the main escalator/ramp exits.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Not necessarily the quickest, but "pleasant" routes I tend to use from outer bits of London to Euston/Kings Cross:
Feltham/Twickenham/Richmond change at Vauxhall for the Victoria Line (also the quickest). Or change at Richmond for the overground.
Stratford - up to Tottenham Hale, then Victoria Line
East Croydon - for Euston its as easy to get Thameslink to St Pancras and walk. Or get the through train to Watford Jc and avoid Euston entirely

 

[scragend]

One from outside the UK, but if you're in Berlin and arrive at Alexanderplatz station on the main line or the S-Bahn and you're wanting the U2 U-Bahn line it's far quicker to come out of the station and walk across Alexanderplatz itself on the surface and then down the steps which lead straight to the U2 platforms, rather than going to the end of the main station, down a couple of levels, past the entrances to the U8 and U5, then up another set of steps to get to the platform you want.

An added bonus for me is that the steps from outside lead you to the departure end of the Pankow platform, which means that when I get off at Senefelderplatz I'm right next to the exit that I want there as well.

 

[Mr. SW]

Not necessarily the quickest, but "pleasant" routes I tend to use from outer bits of London to Euston/Kings Cross:
Feltham/Twickenham/Richmond change at Vauxhall for the Victoria Line (also the quickest). Or change at Richmond for the overground.
Stratford - up to Tottenham Hale, then Victoria Line

I've done similar.
Also when going from Kings Cross or St Pancras to west London: St Pancras ThamesLink to West Hampstead, out of station, walk to West Hampstead North London Line and down to Richmond. Longer but far pleasanter than the Underchoob.

 

[duffield]

Yeah, change at the B end (for Best perhaps?) or via the footbridge. Don't change via the A end (A for annoying perhaps?!)


I thought it was an accessibility route, e.g. lifts for people in wheelchairs.
But perhaps it was that but only with staff supervision maybe.
I never used it, so can't fully recall. I always went into the main station to hear the clicking departure boards.
Been down there since, but not pre-refurb.

If you've got enough time, the 'A' end is always best now, since you can say hello to Ozzy.

Star guests see Ozzy the bull roar back into Birmingham New Street station

The much-loved centrepiece to last year’s Commonwealth Games – Ozzy the bull – has been officially unveiled in his new home at Birmingham New Street station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[ponponjo]

You can hold down the door open button on sprinters (only personally tested 150, 156 and 158) and the doors will start opening as soon as they're unlocked.

Probably works on a handful of other trains too

This also works on 465/0s and /1s (BREL/ABB built), but not on the /2s, /9s or the 466s (MetCam).

 

[kacper]

This also works on 465/0s and /1s (BREL/ABB built), but not on the /2s, /9s or the 466s (MetCam).

Works on LNER Class 800 trains too

 

[duffield]

Anyone tried this on class 220/221/222 Voyagers/Meridians?

 

[aar0]

Works on LNER Class 800 trains too

Do you mean push and hold until door release or push once before a station stop and they’ll open without another interaction?

 

[trainJam]

At many stations I go by the platform car stop signs to work out where the front door of the train will be. Everyone else crowds round the platform entrance. I get a seat, many of them don't.

The moment I move there, some people decide to follow, so I only move a few minutes before arrival.

On the other hand, you can catch them out by standing at the 6 when a 3 turns up.

 

[trainJam]

You can hold down the door open button on sprinters (only personally tested 150, 156 and 158) and the doors will start opening as soon as they're unlocked.

Probably works on a handful of other trains too

Yes

323s, 172/2 and /3 (don't know about 1s), 350s
Voyagers 220, 221

No
170
196 seems to make a loud high beep when you do it. Doesn't open the door. Seems to break things a bit.
730 completely prevents the door opening (!)

 

[duffield]

The moment I move there, some people decide to follow, so I only move a few minutes before arrival.

On the other hand, you can catch them out by standing at the 6 when a 3 turns up.

I fool anyone who might be watching by constantly walking up and down the platform (for exercise, to keep warm etc.), timing it so I'm in just the right place exactly when the train arrives.

 

[800Travel]

Works on LNER Class 800 trains too

Is that also 801s? And how long to press please?

 

[Fenchurch SP]

For walking between Fenchurch Street and Tower Hill the pavement on the opposite side of the road is wider and less busy. The distance is slightly further but it's easier to overtake people if you walk fast.

 

[route101]

Likewise, getting the train from somewhere on the Airport branch if heading towards Preston for example. Avoids the busy Platform 14.

Also, boarding at Manors instead of Newcastle when wanting to travel along the Tyne Valley during the busy hours.

I have found if you board at Oxford road heading to Preston and Scotland the service can be full and standing.

 

[xotGD]

If joining a huddle to board a train, always stand at the platform edge, parallel to the side of the train, rather than in front of the doors, facing the train.

You get on quicker that way. Something to do with only having other people to one side of you.

Also, you're not in the way of folk trying to get off.

 

[AM9]

If joining a huddle to board a train, always stand at the platform edge, parallel to the side of the train, rather than in front of the doors, facing the train.

You get on quicker that way. Something to do with only having other people to one side of you.

Also, you're not in the way of folk trying to get off.

Additionally, stand on the opposite side of the doors to the direction that alighting passengers will to to exit the platform.

 

[xotGD]

If you are making a journey with a cross-Bradford connection, don't just rely on journey planners, as very often there are unofficial connections that can be easily made if you are able bodied.

Get an extra half hour in bed, rather than festering at Interchange.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If you are making a journey with a cross-Bradford connection, don't just rely on journey planners, as very often there are unofficial connections that can be easily made if you are able bodied.

Same between the two Glasgow stations, the minimum connection time is 30 minutes, but a 10 minute conection is absolutely doable