London Banter - View Single Post - Getting an early morning train at Euston from Putney

[email protected] · November 7th 08, 09:47 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article
,
(Mizter T) wrote:

On 7 Nov, 01:26, wrote:
I'm planning to get the 06:20 to Manchester next Thursday.

The best way to get there appears to be to get a 14 from Putney
Station at 05:03 or 05:18 and walk from the Warren St stop or N10
at 05:21.

The bus running times at that time of the morning seem to be much
better than standard, according to the TfL journey planner. Anyone
done that sort of thing and agree or otherwise?

Maybe the District & Circle Lines from East Putney to Euston Square
would be better? First train at 05:03 gets me to Euston Square at
05:44, a very similar time to the bus, if not slightly later.

I'd have no qualms at all about getting the bus at that time of day.
Early morning buses are quick thanks to the lack of traffic and
relatively light loading, and I've always found buses around that time
of day to be reliable and to broadly keep to timetable. Another plus
in the reliability stakes is that the 14 starts just up the road at
the Green Man so one can be even more confident about the stated time
for its arrival at your stop on Putney High Street. (If anything I'd
advise that you are there 5 minutes early, just in case.)

The Underground might be fine, but there is the added factor of it
involving two different trains courtesy of a change from the District
to the Circle at High Street Ken. The sub-surface lines, as we all
know, do have a tendency do get the hiccups rather easily, especially
the Circle line - also I might be wary of problems with the first
trains of the day, though perhaps my wariness is unjustified.

Yes, I did wonder if it wouldn't be safer to stick on the District to
Edgware Road to give a choice of H&C and Circle for a bit more resilience.
But I didn't check the early morning H&C timetable.

Nonetheless the bus is timetabled to be quicker that the Underground
so I reckon I'd go with that.

I think you've convinced me to go for the bus. The bus is also cheaper, of
course (I'll probably be using Oyster PAYG). ;-)

--
Colin Rosenstiel