Cross London

[whole diary]

[GBM]

Note to mod- not sure if this in the correct area, please move as necessary - thanks.

Hi,
Returning to the far so'west on 6th April from Brighton via London.  Intending using First Capital from Brighton to London, then FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to the far end.
Arriving St Pancras 11h18, leaving Padding 11h35..
Perusing TfL^» (Transport for London - about) suggest perhaps alighting at Farrindon (11h14), then Hammersmith & City to Paddington being quicker than Kings Cross to Paddington.
Not sure we'd make it anyway with such short transfer times. 
Suggestions appreciated please.
I also note "hot buffet" on train, meaning no pullman service from Paddington (just the express cafe)?

On part way up we arrive Plymouth 07h42, change trains to depart 07h48.  This seems a very quick change, especially when arrive platform 8 to depart platform 7 (or are these the two sides of the same platform).  Please bear with me - with rubber wheels, we don't have this quandry........

[jester]

You don't say what day the 'up' journey is, if it is mon-fri, the 07.42 arrival is the 07.48 departure.
Train sits in platform for a few minutes...

[JayMac]

That cross-London transfer, whether from Farringdon or St Pancras is well below the minimum official connection time. From Farringdon you should allow 39 minutes to reach Paddington and from St Pancras, 45.

If your onward travel from Paddington is on an Advance Purchase ticket I strongly suggest you leave Brighton earlier. If you are travelling on a through walk-up ticket then you can of course attempt to make that cross London transfer, but it is a bit tight time wise and if you miss the 1136 then you'll have an hour wait for the next direct train, or possibly the 1142 changing onto CrossCountry at Bristol Parkway.

The 'hot' symbol in the timetable/journey planner means there's a Travelling Chef. Just a basic selection of freshly prepared hot food on a Saturday though.

[bobm]

I am guessing the up journey is either Good Friday or Easter Monday when there is a revised service due, in part, to the Reading blockade.  As jester says the usual Monday to Friday service is the same train - but on these two days it involves a change and goes to Waterloo not Paddington.  The good news is platforms 7 and 8 are adjacent and it is shown as a booked connection so you should be fine.

Coming back I assume you are looking to use "First" services, in which case I would suggest your planned connection is going to fail.  If you left Brighton a few minutes earlier and got a Southern service to Victoria I think you would stand a better chance of reaching Paddington in time.  There are no Pullmans at weekends and very few Travelling Chefs.

[Southern Stag]

The 07:48 from Plymouth will normally be held if the 07:42 arrival from Penzance is running a couple of minutes late, and the platform staff will make sure everyone has transferred across before it departs.

[GBM]

Apologies one and all.
Yes, the 'up; is Easter Monday, and was concerned about the 6 minutes transfer time as they are  two different trains. Only going as far as Castle Cary on the up, so hoping a travelling chef from Plymouth.  Will need something to keep us awake with such an early start.
'Down' is with First all the way on Saturday 6th, so it seems the 12h36 would be good, and forget the 11h36.  Just a shame as the later train is a stopper.  All trains (up & down, will need to be with First).

Many thanks for your help, very much appreciated.

[bobm]

Think you will be out of luck with a Travelling Chef on Easter Monday.  Looking at the special timetable booklet I cannot see any trains with one.  You'll have to make do with one of those microwaved paninis. 

[GBM]

 

[SandTEngineer]

My recent experiences of Farringdon to Paddington via the H&C suggest you need to allow at least 45 minutes platform to platform.  The best I have ever done Victoria to Paddington is 20 minutes.

[GBM]

Better with Circle line then?  Thought Farringdon would be quicker to Paddington rather than St Pancras (Kings Cross) - i.e less people from Farringdon.
Thanks for that, appreciated.

[JayMac]

Whether you end up on a Hammersmith & City Line or Circle Line service is of little concern time-wise. They both go from Farringdon or King's Cross/St Pancras to Paddington.

Interchange will be far far easier at Farringdon. It's a long walk from the St Pancras Thameslink platforms to the Underground H&C/Circle platforms.

Bear in mind also that at Paddington you will arrive on the H&C platforms and they are some way from the main line station concourse, although you could locate your west country bound service from the overbridge.

[GBM]

Well!
A rather tatty train from Brighton to Farringdon.  Had to search out a ticket officer there for tube tickets to Paddington (no Oysters^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services)).  Having purchased tube tickets realised no way would be 11h35 be caught, so took our time and went for the 12h35 (especially with heavy case & heavy bags). Train announced with usual passenger surge towards platform & long journey back to Penzance.
Two excellent TM^‡(resolve)'s for trip (Paddington-Exeter; Exeter-Penzance).  Couldn't fault them - always smiling, chatting with passengers.  A real credit to First. Thanks guys if you happen to be reading this.  And yes, warm coffee (but hot tea!) and sandwiches!

[bobm]

Glad you got back ok.  I'm sure if the actual TMs^‡(resolve) aren't reading this thread one of their colleagues will see it and pass it on....   

[GBM]

Saturday 6th....

[Super Guard]

Well!
A rather tatty train from Brighton to Farringdon.  Had to search out a ticket officer there for tube tickets to Paddington (no Oysters^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services)).  Having purchased tube tickets realised no way would be 11h35 be caught, so took our time and went for the 12h35 (especially with heavy case & heavy bags). Train announced with usual passenger surge towards platform & long journey back to Penzance.
Two excellent TM^‡(resolve)'s for trip (Paddington-Exeter; Exeter-Penzance).  Couldn't fault them - always smiling, chatting with passengers.  A real credit to First. Thanks guys if you happen to be reading this.  And yes, warm coffee (but hot tea!) and sandwiches!

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