Is London commutable?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The thing that used to kill me on long train commutes was the unreliability of trains - cancellations delays etc, but it may have got better (and I'm on a different line).

[dang65]

I did the Wilmslow-London train commute for three months last year. It was fine. I got the WML 06:11 -> EUS 08:07 train, which meant an early start, but I would sleep for most of the journey down in the morning. I bought one of those inflatable neck pillow things and used to finish my night's sleep very comfortably. If you take the early train then you have plenty of time to stroll to work in London (I worked near Goodge Street station - no need to get on the tube, just a leisurely stroll).

It's a beautiful route as well, in daylight. I never bothered with First Class as the morning train had loads of room at that time, and the evening train was fine for the most part, except for Friday. I had a monthly season ticket and would go into the Virgin bookings centre at Euston on a Friday morning and reserve a seat for that evening's return trip. No need to reserve seats for other journeys - you only have to look after hundreds of reservation tickets if you do that.

For the most part I really quite enjoyed it. Time to relax on the way home. I'd sometimes buy a couple of ready mixed G&Ts on a Friday evening at the M&S at Euston for the journey back. Very pleasant. First Class is nice, but most of the journey is taken up with the meal and drinks and coffees etc. A nice treat from time to time, but a bit tiresome every day I would imagine.

[AussieDigger]

I do this commute right now and I can honestly say its not a commute you can do daily, both for cost reasons and time. Costs vary week on week and the timeframe but once you add in the tube stops (and its usual delays) as well as train delays (and this happens every other week), you'll find the daily commute will become a real grind.

if the commute time for Wilmslow were an hour and a half or less it might be doable...

I'd advise against it.

[dang65]

Costs vary week on week and the timeframe but once you add in the tube stops (and its usual delays) as well as train delays (and this happens every other week), you'll find the daily commute will become a real grind.

I hardly had any delays at all in the three months I did. Actually, it was more like four months, because I did a stint at Waterloo as well. Tube was fine too. Occasionally I would get the bus instead if I felt like taking my time and watching the world go by. There are direct buses from Euston to Waterloo, as well as the direct tube.

Not sure how the cost varies? A monthly season ticket fixes that, and it was a lot cheaper than accommodation in London.

Admittedly, when there are delays it's a nuisance, but it was so unusual that I never thought of it as an issue at all. I don't recall a single delay on the way down to London, just occasional 5-10 minute delays coming back.

[SimonMac]

Depends on cost of tickets etc but for 3-6 months I would be ok doing that.

Whats the 1st class traveller deal after doing 8 round trips on FC??

[2BIT]

depends- timewise its about my limit but with first class the journey will be more tolerable (hmm wonder if my train co offers this)

what you may find is the standard daily ticket is equatable to a hotel on a bulk-booking rate (if you can claim as an expense) so you may find you could stay over for some of the week if the commute got too hard and not be too out of pocket

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Depends on cost of tickets etc but for 3-6 months I would be ok doing that.

Whats the 1st class traveller deal after doing 8 round trips on FC??

First Class Traveller - Virgin Trains Loyalty Club | Virgin Trains

Do 8 round trips on first class and you get 1 years free weekend fc travel (All of Friday - Monday Noon). So basically you could go to London FC for free on a Monday Morning and come back for free on a Friday Evening. Then if you did 4 trips during the week (FC or standard) it would come out pretty cheap. Not a bad deal at all if you ask me, especially with breakfast and dinner thrown in.

[oversteer]

First Class Traveller - Virgin Trains Loyalty Club | Virgin Trains

Do 8 round trips on first class and you get 1 years free weekend fc travel (All of Friday - Monday Noon). So basically you could go to London FC for free on a Monday Morning and come back for free on a Friday Evening. Then if you did 4 trips during the week (FC or standard) it would come out pretty cheap. Not a bad deal at all if you ask me, especially with breakfast and dinner thrown in.

That's quite cunning, as they market it as a "free weekend travel" service. I suppose you are, except the wrong way around.

[malvolio]

The thing that used to kill me on long train commutes was the unreliability of trains - cancellations delays etc, but it may have got better (and I'm on a different line).

I was doing the Bath commute immediately post-Hatfield. I lost several days when no train turned up, and was increasingly late home with an all-time record of 23:25 - and that was on the 16:00 from Paddington.

Last few years though, FGW on that route have been remarkably consistent.

[MrRobin]

Your train times don't sound too hideous on paper, but don't forget that travelling by rain (esp into London) can be pretty hit and miss in terms of punctuality. Account for 50% of the time, the journeys will take 10% longer, and 10% of the time, the journey will take 50% longer.

Then you have the delays on the underground...