Hi,
Just a curious question really... As per the Theme Park thread am going to be moving from where I live with my parents (in Bexleyheath) to live with my fiance (in Gravesend), looking at the prices to get into London have noticed that a train will cost up to £400 per month whilst the commuter coaches that drop you off around Canary Wharf / Embankment etc... will only cost £220 (and they'd drop off / pick up pretty much outside my door).
Of course the huge risk using the Coaches is that if there is an accident I could be screwed getting into the office, whilst at the same time what with SouthEastern's reliability you could also say the same about them (i.e. at least with the coach you'd be guaranteed a seat, nor would you be packed in like a sardine).
Quite simply am curious to know if anyone already does this and if they're able to offer their opinions on the service etc...?
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The coach (an early one) would be how I did it if I had to. Kings ferry are the dearest but have the nicest coaches to get you napper down on
I hate being late so would drive me crazy if the Coach made me late every day
Coming home different issue. Would leave around 4pm. Coach was on average 30 minutes late every day. I mean every single day. It would then take over an hour or longer home.
If you got the money, get th high speed to stratford and dlr it.
I totally hear what you are saying about being late. I hate being late but I drive. If you have got your arse on the coach at a sensible time and the A2 is being a prick, you shouldn't have that held against you by your employer however it would still nark me being late not by my own doing. The coach drivers are lethal too. They undercut on local traffic lanes and generally seem to care about getting their passengers to work on time. Their road behaviour annoys the shit out of me but if I was on a coach I'd appreciate the driver doing stuff like that.
Until the inevitable collision happens!
Can't say a train driver would be able to do stuff like that to get you where you need to be. Not that they'd have the inclination
They always say they are much more reliable than the trains, plus they are cleaner and have free wifi.
The only problem they have is if the Blackwall tunnell is screwed, but even then it just means more time sleeping/reading/working on the laptop.
I guess with technology now if the traffic is really bad due to an accident one day I can just avoid the coach and get the train home.
Do the school holidays have much of an impact on them?
And something to always keep in mind is the seats on an early morning train were being used by a babble of mindless drunks a few hours earlier. Mindless drunks who lose control of their bladders and bowels on the seats. I'm not all that fussed about a seat then!
If I was you, I'd definitely give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how you get on. South Eastern Trains are a f@%king disgrace, have a look at the South Eastern Trains thread on here. Unless you thrive on constantly feeling angry and bitter, and enjoy standing for prolonged periods on freezing cold station platforms, then having your face wedged into someone's armpit, listening to the sound of your fellow passengers coughing and spluttering, and arriving at your destination 20 minutes later than planned (on a good day), I would say it's well worth trying every possible alternative (including walking, buying a jet ski, buying a skateboard, etc) before you start using the train.
I'd give the coaches a try, much more comfortable
As people have said the journey home may well be horrible most days but what I didnt want to see happen was for it to be so bad I wouldnt be getting home till 9-10pm
A season ticket from chatham into town is 5000 quid though.