Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm on a Railtour on the 26th June doing the newest bit of track on the Network Rail Sytem! Dining!

I need to get from Taplow to Finsbury Park by 0745 returning after 21:15. Plenty of trains to choose from but can't work out cheapest tickest. All day Travel card, two singles or return.

I've also got an offer of free parking at Eastcote what would the fare be from there? Would it have to LUL all the way or could one use surface from KX. Network Rail Routings from Taplow give via KX or Moorgate. TFL from Eastcote gives Victoria line from Met at KX.

The only trouble with the Eastcote option is I'll have to cut down on the wine at dinner.



 

Nice early start from Taplow then! In my experience you may be better off going one stop back and getting a fast train from Maidenhead? Travelcard probably easiest but be warned if you're coming back later on in the evening it's worth checking engineering works as there are often no trains stopping at Burnham/Taplow midweek after about 2130 - bustitution from Slough instead  :(

North Doncaster Chord?

Yep, right did wonder whether Todmorden curve is later than Doncaster. Also doing the loop round Hull avoiding Paragon. So we don't have to run round or be top and tailed.

My goodness .... you folks remind me of this site: http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2014.htm

But I must admit, I got a certain pleasure from doing Swindon -> Oxford without a stop (or change) at Didcot in April.

There are a few Sundays this summer when you can take a XC service from Basingstoke (or Reading West) to Oxford by way of the west curve at Reading and not calling at the main station.

All this month & I think, July, too

Back to original problem.

I think I'm going to drive to my friend in Eascote who is coming with me and travel in by Met line to Finsbury Park as I now need to be there by 07:30.

Without an Oyster the fare will be ^5.70 single or ^11.40 return, but considerably cheaper with Oyster.

Questions:

Can I buy an Oyster PAYG on demand at the Eastcote on Thursday morning the TFL website implies you can but would I be popular?

Can it be linked to my Senior Railcard at purchase time?

Can I get one at Taplow?

How long does on line application require have i left it too late to apply for Thursday?

Also how often does it last?

Would it be worth poping up to West Drayton to buy one?

Can I buy an Oyster PAYG on demand at the Eastcote on Thursday morning the TFL website implies you can but would I be popular?
Yes, at the ticket office and sometimes the POMs have them as well. ^5 deposit.

Can it be linked to my Senior Railcard at purchase time?
Yes but only at a TfL Underground Station, You will need to fill in a form to 'register' the oyster. http://www.oyster-rail.org.uk/railcards-and-discounts/

Can I get one at Taplow?
AFAIK FGW stations dont stock Oyster cards

How long does on line application require have i left it too late to apply for Thursday?
Looking at it now, it suggests 4 days.

Also how often does it last?
Oyster cards last for ever the senior railcard element is only vaild till the railcard expires.

Would it be worth poping up to West Drayton to buy one?
West Drayton station does not stock Oystercards. The ticket stop shop may do

But if you purchase a new railcard you can add it on to the oyster card again. It just means visiting a TfL ticket office each time your railcard expires and you buy a new.

Thanks folks

Will get an Oyster in time for any future tris involving just LUL routes.

Ended up with ^11.40 return purchased at Eastcote. Went via Met and changed at KX onto Victoria. Surprised to find no barriers at Finsbury Park tube but ones onto to teh mainline platforms.

Came back went down to Pic/ Vic found Pic line waitng for Rayners Lane, trundleD round and changed into a Met. Good job i had a return ticket as barriers still working at Eastcote at 23:00!

First run on new S stock, smother and quieter than A60 especialy on the fast bit to Finchley Road. But not sure what it will be like in winter with lots of doors open on a cold day.

Rail tour fantastic. New Chord good good views over the ECML and Shaftholme and Joan Croft Junctions. Trip round Hull envoked little reaction from people in their gardens to a 12 coach passenger train on anormally freight only line.  Food, breakfast lunch dinner excellent.

One draw back saw lots of Drax from various angles. Also saw one of the new bio-mass trains (enty) wating to leave the spur.

AFAIK, barriers at tube stations work until last train?.....

S stock doors auto-close after 45 secs (? about that)....

In my experience they're much much better than the A60/62's when it's cold! The heaters are a lot more efficient (especially if you know where to sit) and also the added bonus of reasonably effective a/c in the warmer months. Much though I liked the A60/62's, it really became apparent just how dated they had become when the S stock trains came along.

Just a shame the signalling on the Met seems to be so unreliable!

Gatelines on LU are in full operation until the last train and from the first train. Full operation means the gates are not left in the 'open' mode.
However at most stations outside Z1, you will find the gates in full operation but without them being manned. (How that doesnt breach H&S and RA beats me).

If you want to see Drax from another angle, there is a long article in the latest RAIL.magazine on the bio-mass trains.

Does anybody know why no barriers at Finsbury Park tube?

Office manned and barriers working at Eastcote at 23:00

Gates have to be 'supervised', not necessarily physically manned.  The supervision can be remote by CCTV, even on the underground.

Paul

I think it is because there is not enough space within the station passageways for the number of barriers required for the expected flows to pass safely.  The NR platforms were only gated a couple of years ago as a temporary solution, as the station overall was a massive hole in the zonal fare area.

There are plans going through at the moment to fully rebuild the LU areas of the station at which time I believe barriers will be fitted at the street entrances.

Paul