Reply to: Canary Warf

[RichardCranium]

In the meantime, it seems that you'll get the best deal (even booking well in advance) by actually visiting your local station and speaking to the people in the ticket office. They know the system and will always find you the best (or least-bad) option. (This is anecdotal evidence

They changed their ticketing system a couple of weeks ago. They have notices up in Coventry to the effect of:

We have just had a new ticket system installed and some twat forgot about the training. Please bear with us while we confer amongst ourselves on how to make this system issue your ticket.

or words to that effect.

The queue has filled the station some mornings.

[SantaClaus]

Manchester to Euston approx 2hrs
Northern Line to Bank approx 12-15 mins
DLR to Canary Wharf approx 10-12 mins

enjoy

Especially the Northern Line bit

I can almost hear them barking "MOVE RIGHT DOWN INSIDE THE CARRIAGES".

[Spacecadet]

I think it's worked that way for a while - maybe seasonal variations are making the effect more prominent?

Apparently the online system doesn't always manage to find the best deals and they are supposedly going to improve it, although I don't know when. In the meantime, it seems that you'll get the best deal (even booking well in advance) by actually visiting your local station and speaking to the people in the ticket office. They know the system and will always find you the best (or least-bad) option. (This is anecdotal evidence so I offer no guarantee that it reflects reality any more than DP's climate blogs do.)

I just use the thetrainline.com

Speaking to people is so last millenium

[stillooking]

I think it's worked that way for a while - maybe seasonal variations are making the effect more prominent?

Apparently the online system doesn't always manage to find the best deals and they are supposedly going to improve it, although I don't know when. In the meantime, it seems that you'll get the best deal (even booking well in advance) by actually visiting your local station and speaking to the people in the ticket office. They know the system and will always find you the best (or least-bad) option. (This is anecdotal evidence so I offer no guarantee that it reflects reality any more than DP's climate blogs do.)

Thanks, you might be right, but all I know is that there were many more lower priced advance tkts available in the first qtr compared with present.

Maybe I'll go back to speaking with tkt office at the local stn as you suggest, but it can get very annoying standing behind somebody that hasn't made their mind up when/where they're going and the fact that they only go on a train once every 20 years..

[NickFitz]

I'm fairly sure Virgin in the past few weeks have changed the calculation 'engine' behind the booking site. It seems to now work more like an airline demand pricing model, upshot is that it's rip off time.

It's be interesting if any contractors have worked on the Virgin website and can shed any light on this?

I think it's worked that way for a while - maybe seasonal variations are making the effect more prominent?

Apparently the online system doesn't always manage to find the best deals and they are supposedly going to improve it, although I don't know when. In the meantime, it seems that you'll get the best deal (even booking well in advance) by actually visiting your local station and speaking to the people in the ticket office. They know the system and will always find you the best (or least-bad) option. (This is anecdotal evidence so I offer no guarantee that it reflects reality any more than DP's climate blogs do.)

[stillooking]

Your not kidding! So much for booking in advance the single down seems to be 108gbp for std. At those prices it probably is about the same to fly.

That's about what I've been paying, plus I have to pay extra to go onto Essex from L,pool St. Tis a disgrace.

I'm fairly sure Virgin in the past few weeks have changed the calculation 'engine' behind the booking site. It seems to now work more like an airline demand pricing model, upshot is that it's rip off time.

It's be interesting if any contractors have worked on the Virgin website and can shed any light on this?

[Bagpuss]

Your not kidding! So much for booking in advance the single down seems to be 108gbp for std. At those prices it probably is about the same to fly.

Less, I just picked a random monday in January, 6:40 flight gets into Gatwick for 7:40 and costs £50 including taxes. They go down to about £35 if you book a few more weeks in advance.

Heathrow is £51 leaving at 7 and getting at 8:10

[pzz76077]

Ibis Canary Wharf http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-21...ds/index.shtml Car park included.

A delightful 10 minute walk through the marina to your office in the morning.

Discount wine warehouse, restaurant, gym etc next door. Everything else you need a few minutes away.


5 hours train travel every day, you've got to be kidding!

PZZ

[BoredBloke]

I use the train from south of Mcr, it's probably less hassle if you can get somebody to drop you off at a stn.

However Virgin (and indeed the rail regulators) are an evil empire and have ramped up their prices again, it's v. expensive now.

Your not kidding! So much for booking in advance the single down seems to be 108gbp for std. At those prices it probably is about the same to fly.

[chef]

Manchester to Euston approx 2hrs
Northern Line to Bank approx 12-15 mins
DLR to Canary Wharf approx 10-12 mins

enjoy

[Pogle]

I've been travelling from Manchester to London weekly, for most of this year and always use the train. The 7am out of Piccadilly arrives in London at 8.58 and only stops at Stockport - but it is busy.

I've found the trains to be reliable on the whole, only twice has my train been cancelled and twice its been delayed en route.

I travel 1st class and it can be expensive, but I get free tickets now thanks to the Virgin Loyalty thingy.
Book in advance and save money, but you have to go on the train you've bought a ticket for.

I used mondaytofriday.com to find lodgings in Wimbledon and I'm quite pleased with them and It means I can leave stuff over the weekend.

HTH

[stillooking]

Just wondering, but if I had to work in Canary Warf, given that I live near Manchester, what (besides moving house) would be the best way to commute?

There are no Manchester to city airport flights. There are flights to Gatwick but that's a fair distance away. Have any of the other flat cap wearing dripping butty eaters amongst us done a similar journey? I don't really fancy a drive to Canary Warf!

I use the train from south of Mcr, it's probably less hassle if you can get somebody to drop you off at a stn.

However Virgin (and indeed the rail regulators) are an evil empire and have ramped up their prices again, it's v. expensive now.

[Lockhouse]

I'd rent on the Isle of Dogs. I did it for a year. Get a studio in a reasonable development with a gym and pool and it can be very unstressful. Plus it's tax deductable.

[swamp]

Get a boat and sail.

[Spacecadet]

Can you fly to Stanstead easily?

You can get the train to Stratford, then Jubilee Line.

Whatever way you go, it's a hell of a trek to do daily.

This is the map you need anyway...

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...-zones-Map.pdf

The Manchester to Stansted flights (Eastern Airways) were scrapped last year as well.
That was another fantastic business service.