M25 commute...how bad, really?
Discussion
Currently, I live in Berkshire and work in central London. After six years of practice and an encyclopedic knowledge of the railway timetable, I have got the commute down to 90 minutes.
My contract is up in a couple of weeks and I'm looking at a new role near Hatfield. According to Google, it's 50 miles each way. M4, M25, A1(M). The cost isn't terribly important, I reckon about £500 quid a month on petrol so I'll just factor that into the rate, but I don't want to spend any more time than I currently do commuting. If the roads are clear I know I can do Hatfield in under an hour, but obviously this won't be the case - so does anybody do this route on a regular basis? Am I mad for even thinking about it?
My contract is up in a couple of weeks and I'm looking at a new role near Hatfield. According to Google, it's 50 miles each way. M4, M25, A1(M). The cost isn't terribly important, I reckon about £500 quid a month on petrol so I'll just factor that into the rate, but I don't want to spend any more time than I currently do commuting. If the roads are clear I know I can do Hatfield in under an hour, but obviously this won't be the case - so does anybody do this route on a regular basis? Am I mad for even thinking about it?
deckster said:
Currently, I live in Berkshire and work in central London. After six years of practice and an encyclopedic knowledge of the railway timetable, I have got the commute down to 90 minutes.
My contract is up in a couple of weeks and I'm looking at a new role near Hatfield. According to Google, it's 50 miles each way. M4, M25, A1(M). The cost isn't terribly important, I reckon about £500 quid a month on petrol so I'll just factor that into the rate, but I don't want to spend any more time than I currently do commuting. If the roads are clear I know I can do Hatfield in under an hour, but obviously this won't be the case - so does anybody do this route on a regular basis? Am I mad for even thinking about it?
Clockwise M25 is ok up to the M40, best place to be is to cruise at 56mph with the lorries as you get some room and 60mph at rush hour is about top speed. My contract is up in a couple of weeks and I'm looking at a new role near Hatfield. According to Google, it's 50 miles each way. M4, M25, A1(M). The cost isn't terribly important, I reckon about £500 quid a month on petrol so I'll just factor that into the rate, but I don't want to spend any more time than I currently do commuting. If the roads are clear I know I can do Hatfield in under an hour, but obviously this won't be the case - so does anybody do this route on a regular basis? Am I mad for even thinking about it?
Then it becomes a total nightmare up to J21, there are a succession of mandatory lane merges (including one in the fast lane!) which really slow down the traffic.
One accident anywhere near the A404, A41, A312 or A1, the M25 is toast.
As for M4 to M25, it queues badly at J8/9, J6-J4. Especially as they have totaly f-d up the bridgeworks on J5 which was a real accident blackspot.
Personally from Berks to Hatfield is a big ask at rush-hour, for sanity's sake I'd look at flexi-hours, leave at 7am, arrive about 8.30am.
But I think you are mad to consider it, London-bound traffic at some point, it's not going to be quick.
One of the worst sections of the M25 IMHO.
If I'm going from home (north of Hertford) to Farnborough (M3) and have a clear road I can make the journey in about 75 minutes at reasonable leptons. After 6am it becomes 90 minutes, if someone has a bump and the rubberneckers are true to form up to 3 hours.
If I'm going from home (north of Hertford) to Farnborough (M3) and have a clear road I can make the journey in about 75 minutes at reasonable leptons. After 6am it becomes 90 minutes, if someone has a bump and the rubberneckers are true to form up to 3 hours.
Thanks guys, I'm getting the impression that it's really not something I want to be doing!
I'd be joining the M4 at J10 so yes would have to get past Slough somehow, either that or head up the A404 to Wycombe but that's hardly likely to be great either. Still at least I get a choice of traffic jams
Motorbike is certainly a tempting option, my wife has previously vetoed the idea but who knows, the prospect of knocking an hour off the commute might change her mind!
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
I'd be joining the M4 at J10 so yes would have to get past Slough somehow, either that or head up the A404 to Wycombe but that's hardly likely to be great either. Still at least I get a choice of traffic jams
Motorbike is certainly a tempting option, my wife has previously vetoed the idea but who knows, the prospect of knocking an hour off the commute might change her mind!
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
Timmy35 said:
deckster said:
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
Why not just get some digs over that way and do the commute once a week?ETA: from his missus at least
Edited by Taita on Thursday 18th September 17:03
Taita said:
Timmy35 said:
deckster said:
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
Why not just get some digs over that way and do the commute once a week?ETA: from his missus at least
Edited by Taita on Thursday 18th September 17:03
deckster said:
Thanks guys, I'm getting the impression that it's really not something I want to be doing!
I'd be joining the M4 at J10 so yes would have to get past Slough somehow, either that or head up the A404 to Wycombe but that's hardly likely to be great either. Still at least I get a choice of traffic jams
Motorbike is certainly a tempting option, my wife has previously vetoed the idea but who knows, the prospect of knocking an hour off the commute might change her mind!
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
The A404 is well worth avoiding too... Tried it once!I'd be joining the M4 at J10 so yes would have to get past Slough somehow, either that or head up the A404 to Wycombe but that's hardly likely to be great either. Still at least I get a choice of traffic jams
Motorbike is certainly a tempting option, my wife has previously vetoed the idea but who knows, the prospect of knocking an hour off the commute might change her mind!
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
Taita said:
Timmy35 said:
deckster said:
It's a six month contract so in the worst case I can gracefully bow out after that. You can take anything for six months, yes?
Why not just get some digs over that way and do the commute once a week?Besides, is that really any better? Stuck on the M25 for half the day, or spending every night in Hatfield? Maybe when I've been out of contract for three months and the 911 kitty is getting low, but I'm not that desperate yet!
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