Watford to Stevenage

[clabcon]

I have been offered a place to live in Watford and am wondering if a daily commute to Stevenage would be resonable (normal office hours 9-5).

Routeplanner says 40 mins is this reasonable?

Is the best route M25 then A1(M) at these peak periods?

Thanks in advance.

[anonymous-user]

Very easy journey route wise, but likely to be nearer to 1 ~1.5 hours on M25/A1M at peak times as there are a number of hot spots - and of course Hatfield Tunnel being repaired for next few months.... There are a number of cross-country routes you could take once on the other side of the M25, but you still have to negotiate Watford, St Albans, etc to get to them. Although I guess you are going against the majority of traffic, so that should help some.

I'm guessing it will be consistently 40 mins only if you leave early or late enough.

[tobeee]

I only travel from St.Albans to Luton for work, but decided against sitting in traffic, instead leaving at 5.30 and going straight to the gym which is on our trading estate. I was never into gym stuff, but it's a nice way to justify going early to avoid the queues! Might be an option for you? I get to work around 7.00, so head home by 4.00. If your company allow flexible working hours, it really improves the work/life balance.

[jon-]

I live in hitchin, which is 10 minutes from stevenage. It takes me 35-40 minutes to get to hatfield now the tunnel is being worked on, and another 30 minutes to go on to watford. 40 minutes is fairly optimistic for quiet times, let alone for peak times.

With the tunnel being worked on the safer route might be A505 to luton then M1 to watford (who ever thought the m1 would be recommended as a "safe road") or even a414 / a1.

[tagy]

As said more like 1.5 hours I would of thought.

I go from St. Albans to Watford and that takes about 45 mins

[tonyvid]

So, you'll have the delight of 1.5hrs of traffic slog and end up in Stevenage...can life get any better?

Edited by tonyvid on Tuesday 11th August 14:31

[clabcon]

The problem is the OH doesn't drive and needs to be able to access watford junction train station (up to 30min or so journey allowed) and I need to be able to drive to Stevenage in a resonable time <1hr, I would hate to leave the house at 07:30 and get back at 19:30!

[xsaravtr]

had ham said:

... and of course Hatfield Tunnel being repaired for next few months....

Try saying years! The estimated completion date is June 2011!

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/22479.as...

[tonyvid]

clabcon said:

The problem is the OH doesn't drive and needs to be able to access watford junction train station (up to 30min or so journey allowed) and I need to be able to drive to Stevenage in a resonable time <1hr, I would hate to leave the house at 07:30 and get back at 19:30!

If this is long term, one of you might need to think about changing jobs, being out of the house for 12hrs a day really is no fun

[Jasper Gilder]

It could be quite quick - depending where you are in Watford - don't even think about the M25 - Its A 405 ( North Orbital) to Park Street and then A1M at Hatfield. Whilst the tunnel is being rebuilt you can use the overground route past the Comet and the Galleria. Should be about an hour - depending on when you travel ( I'd aim to be really conscientious and in the office for 08.30!)