On 2009-02-12 11:46:54 +0000, Mizter T said:


SNIPPED my original


Of course it ultimately depends on where in the City they're heading
to (really obvious point!).

The journey time by Southeastern from Woolwich Arsenal to London
Bridge is between 21-24 minutes, with a frequency of better than every
10 mins in the peak (pretty good off-peak too). By DLR from Woolwich
Arsenal to Bank it's a 31 minute journey (direct service), so maybe a
minute or two less to Tower Gateway (though not sure if it'll get a
direct service from WA though?), with a frequency of every 10 minutes
throughout the day.

Cost wise going by Southeastern is cheaper - a weekly rail-only season
from WA to London Terminals is £96.00, whilst a month's travel on DLR
using Oyster PAYG is £112.00 - that's two peak z1-4 fares of £2.80
(£5.60) x 20 days (cheaper than a monthly z1-4 Travelcard at £141.40)
- though people travelling outside the PAYG peak times of 0630-0930
and 1600-1900 will pay the lower £2.20 fare.

Those starting from stations other than Woolwich Arsenal (e.g. Abbey
Wood) will obviously be limited to going to London Bridge if they only
hold a cheaper rail-only season ticket, unless they're willing to
splash out on a Travelcard.

The prices of rail-only season tickets will rise a bit last year -
since 2007 there's been a programme to gradually equalise the cost of
all rail-only season tickets in London and price them on a zonal
basis, and 2010 is when this will be completed. How much of a
difference this makes remains to be seen.

Arriving at London Bridge doesn't mean one has to take a bus into the
City of course - it's a 15 minute walk or so from London Bridge to the
Tower and it's quite a pleasant stroll along the river front on either
bank.

Absolutely - in the spring / summer and autumn. Always lots to see in
the Pool - a constantly changing window on history. In the days when
walking was a pleasure for me rather than a pain the walk over Tower
Bridge en route to work was a great start to the day.

But I don't think "pleasant stroll" is how my wife described it
recently when buses from Bishopsgate to London Bridge were unwell. I
think "wet and windy, grizzly drizzly" were the words she used.


Indeed if people are prepared to walk they can save a bit of money by
alighting their DLR train at Shadwell in zone 2 and walking along
Cable Street into the City - it's around a 12 minute walk to the
Tower. A months commute would cost £80.00 - that's two peak z2-4 fares
of £2.00 (£4) x 20 days - whilst paying out £82.20 gets one the added
flexibility of a z2-4 monthly Travelcard.

Or of course the 100 bus from round the corner or walk up through
Watney Market for the 15.

The key for contented commuting is to have two or three alternatives,
so that when your "favourite" route is poorly - don't mention the
S-word - there's another way in or out.

--
Writer / editor on London's River