"MLD" wrote in message
...

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:18:29 -0400, "MLD" wrote:

Will be arriving at Heathrow early AM and plan to take the tube to
Euston. Will be burdened with the usual luggage to cart around. Need some
opinion on the degree of difficulty traveling with luggage on the train.
Can I purchase an Oyster (Pay as you go) pass at Heathrow? Comments
appreciated.
MLD

You haven't indicated the day on which you will be travelling but
generally the tubes are not too busy if you are on one of the early
arrivals (e.g. 0500 at Heathrow). Once you get to 0630 onwards then the
trains will be very busy as you head in to town and all the way through
the centre. You can buy an Oyster card at Heathrow - either at a travel
information centre or at a ticket office. You may even be able to order
one from abroad before you set off - look at the Oyster part of the TfL
website.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1067.aspx

You should make sure you check if there are any engineering works if you
are travelling at a weekend.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravel...e/default.html and
use the "this date" function on the screen to check.

You have to be able to carry your luggage yourself and not be so laden
down that you have to leave it unattended at the top or bottom of stairs
or escalators. If heading for Euston then I would suggest either of the
following two options.

From Heathrow take the Piccadilly Line to Green Park and follow the way
out signs (NOT the Victoria Line signs). This takes you to an escalator
to the ticket hall where you can then descend down an escalator to the
Victoria Line platforms - take any train from the Northbound platform on
your right. No stairs involved. At Euston you have escalators on each
stage from the tube platform to street / main line station level.
Euston is a bit of warren but follow the "Way Out" signs and you'll be
fine.

Alternatively go to Kings Cross and again follow the way out signs (NOT
the Victoria Line signs) and once in the ticket hall you will see the
escalators down to the Victoria Line on your left. Go down the
escalator and take any train from the southbound platform (on your
left).

*Do not go through the ticket gates at either Green Park or Kings Cross
when making your interchange.*

These are the only two step free routes I can think of for the journey
you suggest. I've certainly done the Kings Cross interchange before
with luggage and it's much better than dragging bags up the short but
cumbersome stairs on the advertised connecting corridor.

Have a safe journey.
--
Paul C - works for LUL

Paul
Thank you for your excellent comments, they will be put to good use.
Scheduled to arrive at Heathrow at 6:30 am on a Saturday--Does this
changes things much? Clarification needed on the following:
Euston is a bit of a "warren"--another way of saying "can be confusing"?

yes

"Engineering works"--Do you mean--"construction or the like going on??

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravel...offset=weekend

Note that you can change the date to the one you want

Got another question--after about 6 days in London will be heading to
Wigan, again on a Saturday morning with a return on the following Friday.
Plan to take a train out of Euston station. How much in advance do I need
to purchase tickets?

If you want an advanced purchase ticket, the earlier you buy it, the cheaper
it will be. But if you do buy an AP (actually you need 2 APs as they are
one way tickets) they are valid only on the exact train(s) that you booked
for and are worthless if you don't catch that train (unless this is because
you were delayed by a *national rail* connection).

Alternatively, you can buy an "off peak" return ticket for 66.40 GBP. This
will be valid on any train on the Saturday but is not valid for early
morning trains for return on Friday.

Also, as asked before, will luggage be much of a handicap? Thanks again.

Same as before. If you can carry it, it won't be a problem.

tim