Peterborough daily commute to London - advice sought
Discussion
PH massive - help would be appreciated if possible.
I am actively considering a family move out of London to the Stamford/E Northants countryside area, which would in turn require me to do a 3/4 times a week daily commute into London (Kings X/St Pancreas and then round to Blackfriars). I would therefore value some advice from any experienced travellers on the fundamentals if at all possible, including the following;
- I know that both FCC and EC Mainline share this route; what is the best season ticket to therefore purchase to maximise the fastest journey times but ideally keep open all options for the inbound/outbound journeys? Cost is not the primary factor - speed and journey availability is.
- travelling at c.6.30-7am in the morning on the fastest service (East Coast mainline?), are there seats always available?
- same question for the return journey on the fastest trains, c 6pm-7.30pm?
- parking at Peterboro appears extensive, but what sort of cost is involved and is the traffic around that area a nightmare at the morning times quoted above?
I have also considered the journey from Stamford to Peterborough (and onto London) which appears quick but regrettably irregular. Any comments from travellers with experience of this specific route would again be very much appreciated.
Craig.
I am actively considering a family move out of London to the Stamford/E Northants countryside area, which would in turn require me to do a 3/4 times a week daily commute into London (Kings X/St Pancreas and then round to Blackfriars). I would therefore value some advice from any experienced travellers on the fundamentals if at all possible, including the following;
- I know that both FCC and EC Mainline share this route; what is the best season ticket to therefore purchase to maximise the fastest journey times but ideally keep open all options for the inbound/outbound journeys? Cost is not the primary factor - speed and journey availability is.
- travelling at c.6.30-7am in the morning on the fastest service (East Coast mainline?), are there seats always available?
- same question for the return journey on the fastest trains, c 6pm-7.30pm?
- parking at Peterboro appears extensive, but what sort of cost is involved and is the traffic around that area a nightmare at the morning times quoted above?
I have also considered the journey from Stamford to Peterborough (and onto London) which appears quick but regrettably irregular. Any comments from travellers with experience of this specific route would again be very much appreciated.
Craig.
I can't offer advice on that specific route, but I commute from Northants, using the West Coast Mainline - and have done for many years now.
Two things which you must consider are:
1) It's hard going. Despite the fact "you just sit on a train" it's hard work, and adds a lot to the daily grind. Some peope doze off, others watch movies / TV or work, or read. However, on a busy service this is not always possible.
2) When something goes wrong (train failure, track issue or a suicide) you are often facing a LONG delay. I've had Mrs Podie come and collect me from Bedford or Leamington in the past. In other cases, I've shared a taxi with other commuters to get back to the station.
Two things which you must consider are:
1) It's hard going. Despite the fact "you just sit on a train" it's hard work, and adds a lot to the daily grind. Some peope doze off, others watch movies / TV or work, or read. However, on a busy service this is not always possible.
2) When something goes wrong (train failure, track issue or a suicide) you are often facing a LONG delay. I've had Mrs Podie come and collect me from Bedford or Leamington in the past. In other cases, I've shared a taxi with other commuters to get back to the station.
Thanks Podie - nice Griff by the way.
Appreciate the feedback on the commute - at the moment, I have about an hour within Central London so am used to some grind; but this new journey would add further time to it clearly. In its widest sense however, do these delays occur very often - such as once a week - as that starts to potentially make the commute much more challenging?
Appreciate the feedback on the commute - at the moment, I have about an hour within Central London so am used to some grind; but this new journey would add further time to it clearly. In its widest sense however, do these delays occur very often - such as once a week - as that starts to potentially make the commute much more challenging?
I don't know the line you'd be using, so it's hard to comment.
Based on my experiences on the West Coast, though it can be a real mixed bag. In some cases you can go months without issues and then you have it day in, day out. Due to the distances involved when things do go wrong, they usually do it in a big fashion. Presently, your London commute will give you other options - tube, taxi, bus, walk... whatever. In these cases you are tuck where you are.
I commute from north of Northampton - and due to the legacy that London Midland inherited, it's not unusual to get stranded at Northampton station. I reckon this happens about 20 times a year.
London Midland use Twitter and that's a great way to find out what's going on. They have an iphone app as well, and offer an email alert service - all of which helps to know what's going on and how to avoid it.
On the occasions where nothing has left Euston, you just accept it, go and have something to eat and then wait for things to calm down.
Scope out the line, do a few test journeys, and look around at other stations. Some smaller stations offer free parking (amazingly!) and this can save a fortune over a year, although most do an annual season ticket for that as well.
As for costs... http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/seasonticket...
Car parking - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/PBO.html
Based on my experiences on the West Coast, though it can be a real mixed bag. In some cases you can go months without issues and then you have it day in, day out. Due to the distances involved when things do go wrong, they usually do it in a big fashion. Presently, your London commute will give you other options - tube, taxi, bus, walk... whatever. In these cases you are tuck where you are.
I commute from north of Northampton - and due to the legacy that London Midland inherited, it's not unusual to get stranded at Northampton station. I reckon this happens about 20 times a year.
London Midland use Twitter and that's a great way to find out what's going on. They have an iphone app as well, and offer an email alert service - all of which helps to know what's going on and how to avoid it.
On the occasions where nothing has left Euston, you just accept it, go and have something to eat and then wait for things to calm down.
Scope out the line, do a few test journeys, and look around at other stations. Some smaller stations offer free parking (amazingly!) and this can save a fortune over a year, although most do an annual season ticket for that as well.
As for costs... http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/seasonticket...
Car parking - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/PBO.html
I haven't used the forum in quite a while as i've been pretty busy with work.
I travel from Corby to Landan M-F but a some fella at work does the daily from P'boro to King's too. I'll ask him for details.
The hardest part of the journey isn't the train from the mids to the south, it's when you're back in central, the underground itself.
A monthly for me is £680 and weekly is at £170.
Most people wince at the £680 cost and to be honest, it is pretty pissy, I feel very annoyed at the charges but in comparison to what friends pay monies for their rent it's still cheaper that my mortgage (+ utility bills) and the travel costs.
You see I used to live in Surrey/London and the commute into London was only 11 miles, this was a bastad. It usually took over an hour to NW1. Just hated the feeling of an hour on the train sniffing some stinky fat man's armpit. Now it's the case where I can relax on the train until I arrive at St P.
It does take it's toll but I work in an industry that is non-existence in the mids therefore I need to travel.
Most problems for me and travelling is when someone gets hit by a train. They have the close the line down, clear it all up and investigate what happened. The worst was recently when there were 3 fatalities in one day.
Living in the countryside is bliss but I have a job of when leaving the office, my work is completely left behind me. I did have the attitude that London was the be all for living, not the case anymore.
I travel from Corby to Landan M-F but a some fella at work does the daily from P'boro to King's too. I'll ask him for details.
The hardest part of the journey isn't the train from the mids to the south, it's when you're back in central, the underground itself.
A monthly for me is £680 and weekly is at £170.
Most people wince at the £680 cost and to be honest, it is pretty pissy, I feel very annoyed at the charges but in comparison to what friends pay monies for their rent it's still cheaper that my mortgage (+ utility bills) and the travel costs.
You see I used to live in Surrey/London and the commute into London was only 11 miles, this was a bastad. It usually took over an hour to NW1. Just hated the feeling of an hour on the train sniffing some stinky fat man's armpit. Now it's the case where I can relax on the train until I arrive at St P.
It does take it's toll but I work in an industry that is non-existence in the mids therefore I need to travel.
Most problems for me and travelling is when someone gets hit by a train. They have the close the line down, clear it all up and investigate what happened. The worst was recently when there were 3 fatalities in one day.
Living in the countryside is bliss but I have a job of when leaving the office, my work is completely left behind me. I did have the attitude that London was the be all for living, not the case anymore.
East Northants villages around Thrapston area are attractive/reasonable value and within striking distance of Huntingdon, which seems to have a reasonable rail service into KC. Can't comment on season ticket costs as I'm an occasional commuter but do normally get a seat and have had no horrendous delay experiences in five years of sporadic use.
Craig
I live in Stamford. If cost is not an issue, then East Coast is much faster than FCC and has better seats. Seats can be in short supply, particularly on the way down in the morning as Peterborough is the last stop before London) but you can book a whole month in advance (free). Travel home is less of an issue, depending on when you go.
There are 3 or 4 trains an hour, but that is effectively only 2-3 as some departure times are only 10 mins apart. With EC tickets you have the option of travelling with FCC as well, which can be useful when there is major disruption, or you hit the big Gap between 10 and 11:30 where the slow train may get you back quicker!
Parking is about £100 per month if you have an annual season ticket. There is a slightly cheaper car park adjacent to the station on a piece of disused ground - good for occasional use, but no CCTV coverage.
The train from Stamford is only hourly. It connects well in the morning, with only a 10 minute wait at Peterborough. It is pretty reliable though.
The journey coming home is less convenient with only one train (17:49 from KGX) that has a reasonable waiting time of 10 minutes. Most of the other trains result in a 30 or 59 minute wait, although you do get lucky sometimes and make the unofficial connections. The other thing to be aware of is that if there is a problem with the connection because EC run late then the staff at Peterborough will lay on taxis to get you back to Stamford. They don't publicise it though!
In practice the wait at Peterborough on the way home is not much of a problem if you have a tablet/laptop and don't mind working while you wait. There is also a rumour that the service may move to half-hourly at some point, but don't hold your breath!
Regards
Steve
I live in Stamford. If cost is not an issue, then East Coast is much faster than FCC and has better seats. Seats can be in short supply, particularly on the way down in the morning as Peterborough is the last stop before London) but you can book a whole month in advance (free). Travel home is less of an issue, depending on when you go.
There are 3 or 4 trains an hour, but that is effectively only 2-3 as some departure times are only 10 mins apart. With EC tickets you have the option of travelling with FCC as well, which can be useful when there is major disruption, or you hit the big Gap between 10 and 11:30 where the slow train may get you back quicker!
Parking is about £100 per month if you have an annual season ticket. There is a slightly cheaper car park adjacent to the station on a piece of disused ground - good for occasional use, but no CCTV coverage.
The train from Stamford is only hourly. It connects well in the morning, with only a 10 minute wait at Peterborough. It is pretty reliable though.
The journey coming home is less convenient with only one train (17:49 from KGX) that has a reasonable waiting time of 10 minutes. Most of the other trains result in a 30 or 59 minute wait, although you do get lucky sometimes and make the unofficial connections. The other thing to be aware of is that if there is a problem with the connection because EC run late then the staff at Peterborough will lay on taxis to get you back to Stamford. They don't publicise it though!
In practice the wait at Peterborough on the way home is not much of a problem if you have a tablet/laptop and don't mind working while you wait. There is also a rumour that the service may move to half-hourly at some point, but don't hold your breath!
Regards
Steve
Forgot to say that commuting from Stamford rather than driving to Peterborough is cheaper - the extra fare is much less than the parking, even before you add on mileage, wear and tear and parking knocks....
If you have a late evening you can always drive down to Peterborough and pay the daily rate for parking (£8-£11) which is less than a taxi (c£25)
Steve
If you have a late evening you can always drive down to Peterborough and pay the daily rate for parking (£8-£11) which is less than a taxi (c£25)
Steve
Like Podie I'm another who commutes on the WCML in to Euston so I can't comment on specifics for commuting from Stamford.
I'd echo everything he says though. The vast majority of the time things run fine and when they do, you'll probably find you can make it in to the office earlier than colleagues who have much more local commutes. And when it goes wrong, you have no viable options other than sit it out.
Excel is definitely your friend. Especially if the line you're using has two train companies on it. I get an "all routes" ticket rather than a specific Virgin or London Midland ticket so I have a bit of flexibility on what trains I can catch (Virgin are less frequent but faster and much higher level of service). I also travel in 1st. Yes more expensive but a much much more pleasant experience (particularly on Virgin) and I always get a seat. The same cannot be said on LM. It's £687 a month and worth every penny. The ticket excludes travel card because my commute from Euston is a walk. The tube is soul destroying but I guess you already know that. I spent three years commuting from Northampton to Canary Wharf every day (4-5 hours) and it will grind you down eventually.
I'd echo everything he says though. The vast majority of the time things run fine and when they do, you'll probably find you can make it in to the office earlier than colleagues who have much more local commutes. And when it goes wrong, you have no viable options other than sit it out.
Excel is definitely your friend. Especially if the line you're using has two train companies on it. I get an "all routes" ticket rather than a specific Virgin or London Midland ticket so I have a bit of flexibility on what trains I can catch (Virgin are less frequent but faster and much higher level of service). I also travel in 1st. Yes more expensive but a much much more pleasant experience (particularly on Virgin) and I always get a seat. The same cannot be said on LM. It's £687 a month and worth every penny. The ticket excludes travel card because my commute from Euston is a walk. The tube is soul destroying but I guess you already know that. I spent three years commuting from Northampton to Canary Wharf every day (4-5 hours) and it will grind you down eventually.
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