People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
What do you class as the sticks? I travelled in from New Cross and St Johns (both Zone 2) for about 6 years, the service was a disgrace. Now travelling in from Catford (Zone 3) and the service is still a disgrace. Don't think you can class any of those locations as "the sticks".
You lot want to be on southern for the foreseeable. 50ft sink hole under track at forest hill opened up y'day, no services going through there either on London overground or southern from new cross through to west Croydon. Basically my route in. On this day of all days. The timing is superb.
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
You lot want to be on southern for the foreseeable. 50ft sink hole under track at forest hill opened up y'day, no services going through there either on London overground or southern from new cross through to west Croydon. Basically my route in. On this day of all days. The timing is superb.
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
Have you tried emailing Katrien to see if she can help?
Heard a Pokemon announcement at Dartford this morning along the lines of:
"We all know you want to catch them all and be great trainers but please be careful on our platforms when looking for Pokemon"
Nearly made me want to jump in front of a train and leave the cruel world!
Tbh I think it's quite right that they warn the numpties.
Going to the Test match on Saturday, there was a bloke in his early 20's, on a very crowded Victoria underground platform, leaning almost infront of the oncoming tube to catch a Pokeman.
I wasn't sure whether to do nothing, suggest he moves backwards or nudge him forwards.
He really was oblivious to the tube about 10 metres from him.
Heard a Pokemon announcement at Dartford this morning along the lines of:
"We all know you want to catch them all and be great trainers but please be careful on our platforms when looking for Pokemon"
Nearly made me want to jump in front of a train and leave the cruel world!
Tbh I think it's quite right that they warn the numpties.
Going to the Test match on Saturday, there was a bloke in his early 20's, on a very crowded Victoria underground platform, leaning almost infront of the oncoming tube to catch a Pokeman.
I wasn't sure whether to do nothing, suggest he moves backwards or nudge him forwards.
He really was oblivious to the tube about 10 metres from him.
You lot want to be on southern for the foreseeable. 50ft sink hole under track at forest hill opened up y'day, no services going through there either on London overground or southern from new cross through to west Croydon. Basically my route in. On this day of all days. The timing is superb.
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Heard a Pokemon announcement at Dartford this morning along the lines of:
"We all know you want to catch them all and be great trainers but please be careful on our platforms when looking for Pokemon"
Nearly made me want to jump in front of a train and leave the cruel world!
Tbh I think it's quite right that they warn the numpties.
Going to the Test match on Saturday, there was a bloke in his early 20's, on a very crowded Victoria underground platform, leaning almost infront of the oncoming tube to catch a Pokeman.
I wasn't sure whether to do nothing, suggest he moves backwards or nudge him forwards.
He really was oblivious to the tube about 10 metres from him.
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You lot want to be on southern for the foreseeable. 50ft sink hole under track at forest hill opened up y'day, no services going through there either on London overground or southern from new cross through to west Croydon. Basically my route in. On this day of all days. The timing is superb.
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
Have a look on tinder and find a bunk up closer to work that you stay with all night and she might cook you breakfast in the morning
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You've must get very lucky. Or maybe the slower trains are more reliable.
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Bromley South to Victoria never a problem 16 mins. Bromley North to London Bridge forget it. Always delayed and an average journey time of about 40 mins, changing at at least once.
You lot want to be on southern for the foreseeable. 50ft sink hole under track at forest hill opened up y'day, no services going through there either on London overground or southern from new cross through to west Croydon. Basically my route in. On this day of all days. The timing is superb.
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
Have a look on tinder and find a bunk up closer to work that you stay with all night and she might cook you breakfast in the morning
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You've must get very lucky. Or maybe the slower trains are more reliable.
I am familiar with the train you get. It is routinely late every single day I can concur
The best way into London from chatham is the high speed service. As you will know though you pay for it. Even if I need to get to somewhere near Victoria I'll get the st pancras train and tube it over. 90 times out of 100 I'll be where I need to be on time as opposed to relying on that poxy 'fast' Victoria train. And I have some southeastern insider informationthat they will always take a hit on that service to keep it slower than the HS1 trains to avoid complaints from higher fee paying commuters
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You've must get very lucky. Or maybe the slower trains are more reliable.
I am familiar with the train you get. It is routinely late every single day I can concur
The best way into London from chatham is the high speed service. As you will know though you pay for it. Even if I need to get to somewhere near Victoria I'll get the st pancras train and tube it over. 90 times out of 100 I'll be where I need to be on time as opposed to relying on that poxy 'fast' Victoria train. And I have some southeastern insider informationthat they will always take a hit on that service to keep it slower than the HS1 trains to avoid complaints from higher fee paying commuters
Yes, its true that some trains are given preference, such as Eurostar used too. Mainly for two reasons 1. They pay Network Rail more for the privilege. 2. As you say, because the passengers pay more, so get a better service.
Also don't forget HS1 trains have a large section of track where they are the only ones using it, so highly unlikely to come across slower trains or other incidents on the line infront.
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You've must get very lucky. Or maybe the slower trains are more reliable.
I am familiar with the train you get. It is routinely late every single day I can concur
The best way into London from chatham is the high speed service. As you will know though you pay for it. Even if I need to get to somewhere near Victoria I'll get the st pancras train and tube it over. 90 times out of 100 I'll be where I need to be on time as opposed to relying on that poxy 'fast' Victoria train. And I have some southeastern insider informationthat they will always take a hit on that service to keep it slower than the HS1 trains to avoid complaints from higher fee paying commuters
Yes, its true that some trains are given preference, such as Eurostar used too. Mainly for two reasons 1. They pay Network Rail more for the privilege. 2. As you say, because the passengers pay more, so get a better service.
Also don't forget HS1 trains have a large section of track where they are the only ones using it, so highly unlikely to come across slower trains or other incidents on the line infront.
I don't think that's what Carter means, he's not saying the HS1 get's priority over Chatham to Victoria trains. They're on different lines for 99% of the journey, what he's saying (I think, so correct me if I'm wrong) is that trains from Chatham to Victoria are artificially delayed simply so the journey time is always longer than Chatham to St Pancras HS1 journeys. If there's any data to back this up I'd suggest getting on to Watch Dog, no amount of embarrassment for SouthEastern can be too much.
stuck at new cross waiting ages for a packed sweat box to arrive and my luck is I always get the person with bad BO next to me to make the journey even better
Dont think I've ever posted on this thread because I rarely use the trains. Only want to go from Barnehurst to London Bridge but it's a complete mare, and in this heat as well.
Train hell again. They shut the barriers at London Bridge because of overcrowding on the platforms. To aid matters they decide to put a mute bloke at the gate entrance to keep everyone informed. Eventually they open the gates but only to the width of a double door to see what kind of crush would occur to keep themselves amused.
Many cancellations later and I'm finally on a train taking me part of the way home. As fortune would have it Southeastern Apologises have got the non air conditioned trains with windows that can only be opened about half an inch.
People used to leave London because housing was cheaper out in the sticks and travel was affordable and generally more comfortable. The quality of life was supposedly far superior. They tended to overlook that out of town there was less work opportunities, less choice if things to do, public transport was otherwise a joke.
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
I would say it depends what "sticks" you move too and live in.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Really? I go from Chatham to Victoria every day. I get the fast train that doesn't stop at sole st or Meopham but my trains are delayed lateor just shit at least twice a week.
Maybe I travel on the three good days then As I said I only travel up once or twice a week so do not consider myself a commuter.
You've must get very lucky. Or maybe the slower trains are more reliable.
I am familiar with the train you get. It is routinely late every single day I can concur
The best way into London from chatham is the high speed service. As you will know though you pay for it. Even if I need to get to somewhere near Victoria I'll get the st pancras train and tube it over. 90 times out of 100 I'll be where I need to be on time as opposed to relying on that poxy 'fast' Victoria train. And I have some southeastern insider informationthat they will always take a hit on that service to keep it slower than the HS1 trains to avoid complaints from higher fee paying commuters
Yes, its true that some trains are given preference, such as Eurostar used too. Mainly for two reasons 1. They pay Network Rail more for the privilege. 2. As you say, because the passengers pay more, so get a better service.
Also don't forget HS1 trains have a large section of track where they are the only ones using it, so highly unlikely to come across slower trains or other incidents on the line infront.
I don't think that's what Carter means, he's not saying the HS1 get's priority over Chatham to Victoria trains. They're on different lines for 99% of the journey, what he's saying (I think, so correct me if I'm wrong) is that trains from Chatham to Victoria are artificially delayed simply so the journey time is always longer than Chatham to St Pancras HS1 journeys. If there's any data to back this up I'd suggest getting on to Watch Dog, no amount of embarrassment for SouthEastern can be too much.
You might want to check out what's known as 'The Working Timeable' for this route. (Google) It's not the same timetable that you get at the station, it's what each train should actually be doing at any point in time on its journey.
I've seen one and it's very comprehensive but never made a good study of it (honest Guv'). From what I saw it covered points where trains are held at signals/junctions where other trains have priority.
I would like to thank southeastern today for ensuring that I do not need to attend hot bikram yoga as a result of being treated to temperatures on my delayed train home well in excess of body temperature and I have had to focus my chakra in order to not die.
Everything delayed from London Bridge so we jump on Erith train, ring missus to get picked up from Slade Green and they divert the train just before we get to New Cross to the Bexleyheath line because of an incident on the Greenwich line.
Comments
I'm in zone 3, in a better served part of town. Admittedly I probably couldn't afford to buy my house now, certainly not if I was starting from scratch, but it's all relative and with regular trains every minute or two and two tube lines to choose from the bleating about trains on here is another world away.
If you don't like it, bite the bullet and move if you can. It ain't going to get any better.
If you work in London and have/would like some semblance of a social life then you really should be living closer to town. Obviously cost is the major factor for most but as Charlton fans there are areas that shouldn't be too unfamiliar to you to have a look at. Realistically you probably don't need the big house and garden that most people use to move out of town for and most likely don't even have that these days. If I was looking to move back to town I'd take a look at the Greenwich peninsular. Those flats look comparatively affordable (to me) and the location is actually superb with the O2 in your doorstep, the jubilee line and the Canary Wharf business district just across the water. An apoartment there could turn out to be amazing value in 10 years time.
Your rail journeys from the sticks aren't going to get better anytime soon. The cost of those journeys are only going to go one way. How would you rather spend your money, on an apartment where you'd have less travel costs, travelling time and more social life or a place out of London and the travelling costs and hassle you have now ?
Yesterday I got the tube home from Aldgate East to Victoria, victoria down to brixton and p4 bus home. This morning I got the 176 to elephant and castle, northern to monument, then district to Aldgate East. This evening I might get an east coast mainline up to Peterborough and then hitch hike back down the a1
Going to the Test match on Saturday, there was a bloke in his early 20's, on a very crowded Victoria underground platform, leaning almost infront of the oncoming tube to catch a Pokeman.
I wasn't sure whether to do nothing, suggest he moves backwards or nudge him forwards.
He really was oblivious to the tube about 10 metres from him.
I moved from Bexleyheath to a litlle place just off of Seven Mile Lane 8 years ago and had to travel into London a couple of times a week. All the trains from there go into Victoria and I can honestly say I have never had a train cancelled, delayed or sat outside a station for hours in the 8 year period and that is going and returning home.
We sold up in January due to downsizing and whilst we search for another property we are living in rented in Meopham. I have been using Sole Street & Meopham stations and once again no problems at all.
Bromley North to London Bridge forget it. Always delayed and an average journey time of about 40 mins, changing at at least once.
The best way into London from chatham is the high speed service. As you will know though you pay for it. Even if I need to get to somewhere near Victoria I'll get the st pancras train and tube it over. 90 times out of 100 I'll be where I need to be on time as opposed to relying on that poxy 'fast' Victoria train. And I have some southeastern insider informationthat they will always take a hit on that service to keep it slower than the HS1 trains to avoid complaints from higher fee paying commuters
Also don't forget HS1 trains have a large section of track where they are the only ones using it, so highly unlikely to come across slower trains or other incidents on the line infront.
'Congestion' ffs!!!
Gonna be late now.
Useless c****.
Many cancellations later and I'm finally on a train taking me part of the way home. As fortune would have it Southeastern Apologises have got the non air conditioned trains with windows that can only be opened about half an inch.
Those flimsy signals again.
It's not the same timetable that you get at the station, it's what each train should actually be doing at any point in time on its journey.
I've seen one and it's very comprehensive but never made a good study of it (honest Guv'). From what I saw it covered points where trains are held at signals/junctions where other trains have priority.
What a load of shit south eastern are!
Feels like they have left the heating on.
Everything delayed from London Bridge so we jump on Erith train, ring missus to get picked up from Slade Green and they divert the train just before we get to New Cross to the Bexleyheath line because of an incident on the Greenwich line.
Crock
of
Shit