[Travel] Train strike Friday - travel options?

[Happy Exile]

Don't want to get into the politics of it but the impact of the strikes carrying on into Friday is financially, and in terms of stress too, massively inconvenient. Is there a way to get to London Victoria from anywhere round here by 6.30am other than a 2.50am National Express coach from Brighton, which isn't particularly practical? Happy to drive as far as Gatwick if it made any difference. Thanks.

 

[beorhthelm]

Don't want to get into the politics of it but the impact of the strikes carrying on into Friday is financially, and in terms of stress too, massively inconvenient. Is there a way to get to London Victoria from anywhere round here by 6.30am other than a 2.50am National Express coach from Brighton, which isn't particularly practical? Happy to drive as far as Gatwick if it made any difference. Thanks.

there's no strike on the mainline rail Friday, just risk of some disruption to service, should be fine to get to London. however there is a underground/overground strike.

 

[Happy Exile]

there's no strike on the mainline rail Friday, just risk of some disruption to service, should be fine to get to London. however there is a underground/overground strike.

Disruption continues and no early trains unfortunately. Looks like 8.40am is the earliest time it's possible to arrive. I need to be there ideally by 6am, might be able to squeeze to 7am at a push.

 

[timbha]

? Happy to drive as far as Gatwick if it made any difference. Thanks.

Why not drive a bit further and then get a cab/Uber?

 

[Madafwo]

there's no strike on the mainline rail Friday, just risk of some disruption to service, should be fine to get to London. however there is a underground/overground strike.

Late start up to the service and what is running is an amended Sunday service on the Friday. Most areas won't have a service before 7am, likely to be the same on Sunday as well.

Don't want to get into the politics of it but the impact of the strikes carrying on into Friday is financially, and in terms of stress too, massively inconvenient. Is there a way to get to London Victoria from anywhere round here by 6.30am other than a 2.50am National Express coach from Brighton, which isn't particularly practical? Happy to drive as far as Gatwick if it made any difference. Thanks.

Unfortunately you appear to be SoL, even if you drive to Gatwick you're most likely only going to get the same coach that you're trying to avoid from Brighton. Bite the bullet, get on it and try and get your head down I think is the best option. Service will be shutting down from about 1630 on Friday as well, if you need to get back.

 

[Happy Exile]

Why not drive a bit further and then get a cab/Uber?

Mostly because of cost.

 

[beorhthelm]

ah, that early start is a bit of bugger.

 

[The Clamp]

Received this from work today if it’s any help;


Thursday 18 August (national rail strikes):

During the national rail strikes, the majority of TfL's services will continue to run, however some disruption is expected. There will be a reduced service on the London Overground, Elizabeth line and some Tube lines due to the impact of the national rail strike on shared track and assets. Services running are expected to be busy and may not be able to stop at all stations. Customers using national rail services are advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

There will be a reduced service on London Overground between 08:00 and 18:00, with no service outside of these times and no service at all on some sections of the network throughout the day. Further details are available on the TfL website.

The central section of the Elizabeth line will run a reduced train service after 18:00. Customers connecting with national rail services should check before they travel use TfL's real-time travel tools, such as Journey Planner and TfL Go to plan their journeys ahead of time.

There will be no service on the Bakerloo line north of Queen's Park and the Wimbledon and Richmond branches of the District line will only run between 08:00 and 18:00. There is the potential for further disruption due to the strike impacting London Underground staff availability. Customers are advised to plan ahead, check before they travel and leave more time for their journey.

Friday 19 August (London Underground, London Overground and London bus strikes):

Disruption from the national rail strike on Thursday 18 August will continue impacting services into the following morning resulting in a delayed start on 19 August. Elizabeth line and Overground services will start later than usual so customers are advised to check before they travel.

Tube, Overground and bus strikes are taking place on Friday 19 August, which will affect the majority of TfL's services. TfL expects severe disruption on all London Underground lines on Friday 19 August, with little to no services throughout the day due to RMT's strike action. There will also be no Night Tube or Night Overground service from Friday evening. Customers are advised to avoid travelling on the Tube and only travel if essential on the rest of the network.

Unite strike action will impact some routes in west and north west London and parts of Hertfordshire and Surrey, which will not be operating throughout the day. On affected routes, there will be no Night Bus service on Friday 19 August and Saturday 20 August. If travel cannot be avoided customers should check before they travel and leave additional time for journeys. Walking or cycling may be quicker alternatives for some journeys and planning tools are available to plan walking journeys.

Saturday 20 August (national rail strikes and London bus strikes):

Disruption from the London Underground strike will continue into the morning of Saturday 20 August and customers are advised to avoid making journeys before 08:00. The industrial action on London buses will also continue throughout Saturday 20 August and there will be no Night Bus service.

Similarly to Thursday, national rail strikes will impact TfL services due to shared track and assets. Customers using national rail services are advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Services running are expected to be very busy and may not be able to stop at all stations. There will be a reduced service on London Overground between 08:00 and 18:00 and no Night Overground service.

The central section of the Elizabeth line will run a reduced train service after 18:00. Customers connecting with national rail services should check before they travel use TfL's real-time travel tools, such as Journey Planner and TfL Go plan their journeys ahead of time.

Due to shared tracks, there will be no service on the Wimbledon and Richmond branches of the District line before 08:00 and after 18:00. There will also be no service on the Bakerloo line before 08:00 and no service north of Queen's Park throughout the day. There is the potential for disruption due to the strike impacting London Underground staff availability. Customers are advised to plan ahead, check before they travel and leave more time for their journeys.

Sunday 21 August (impacted by previous day's strike action):

Disruption from the national rail and London bus strikes will continue to impact services in the morning on Sunday 21 August. From 08:00, services will resume on bus routes impacted in west and north west London and parts of Hertfordshire and Surrey. Elizabeth line and Overground services will start later than usual, so customers are encouraged to avoid making journeys on affected services until after 08:00.

 

[dazzer6666]

Mostly because of cost.

Rail ticket will cost more than your petrol to/from London won’t it, even with congestion charge etc ?

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Don't want to get into the politics of it but the impact of the strikes carrying on into Friday is financially, and in terms of stress too, massively inconvenient. Is there a way to get to London Victoria from anywhere round here by 6.30am other than a 2.50am National Express coach from Brighton, which isn't particularly practical? Happy to drive as far as Gatwick if it made any difference. Thanks.

This may not be ideal, but during Covid lockdowns, I sometimes drove to Stratford Westfield shopping centre near the Olympic park (A25, Dartford Bridge, A12 I think), Parked in the shopping centre car park there and got a tube in, assuming they are not affected by the strike. A bit of a hassle I admit, but the roads should be clear at that time and the Dartford crossing is free before 6am ( but check that please!) if you really need to get in at that time. You’d probably need to allow 2.5 hours from Brighton though.

 

[Springal]

Dorking is showing a train at 07.16 or 08.04 - given not 100% guarantee if that’s an option.

 

[dazzer6666]

This may not be ideal, but during Covid lockdowns, I sometimes drove to Stratford Westfield shopping centre near the Olympic park (A25, Dartford Bridge, A12 I think), Parked in the shopping centre car park there and got a tube in, assuming they are not affected by the strike. A bit of a hassle I admit, but the roads should be clear at that time and the Dartford crossing is free before 6am ( but check that please!) if you really need to get in at that time. You’d probably need to allow 2.5 hours from Brighton though.

Tended to use North Greenwich tube station when I drove in - shorter drive, less M25, no crossing and quicker tube journey. Plenty of parking and not stupidly expensive

 

[Billy the Fish]

This may not be ideal, but during Covid lockdowns, I sometimes drove to Stratford Westfield shopping centre near the Olympic park (A25, Dartford Bridge, A12 I think), Parked in the shopping centre car park there and got a tube in, assuming they are not affected by the strike. A bit of a hassle I admit, but the roads should be clear at that time and the Dartford crossing is free before 6am ( but check that please!) if you really need to get in at that time. You’d probably need to allow 2.5 hours from Brighton though.

I used to do the same at Westfield Shepherd's Bush.
J9 to Chessington, up the A3 the through Roehampton and Barnes. Not much difference in times but I prefer the drive.