13 replies to this topic

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Wounderful planning.

The Met line has no service Northwood to Wembley Park on 30 June and 1 July. This means trains go via Watford to Northwood and then a bus - takes ages, we had to do it last Sunday.

If that is not bad enouch, Maryleboen is closed too!

From Chiltern railways -



Aylesbury Vale Parkway - Amersham - London Marylebone:

• Aylesbury Vale Parkway station is closed. A replacement bus service will run between Aylesbury Vale Park Way and Aylesbury.
• One train per hour will run between Aylesbury and Amersham.
• A bus replacement service will run between Amersham and West Ruislip for connecting services to/from London Paddington.
• Chiltern Railway tickets will be valid between West Ruislip and Baker Street via Oxford Circus. Marylebone Underground station will be closed.
• London Underground Metropolitan Line is close between Northwood and Wembley Park.

We have to travel that weekend. Who ever planned this double closure deserves a medal for total brilliance!

[PeterC]

If Amersham trains can't go direct to Northolt that suggests that the fast line is closed between Ricky and Moor Park which would automatically affect the Chiltern service.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Yes the fast lines are closed, so Chiltern can't run, but even if they could they have shut Marylebone and a very reduced service is running into Paddington on the Wycombe line, with a bus from Amersham to Ruislip.

On the Met, if the long bus jounrey from Northwood to Wembley is not bad enough, the trains too and from Northwood go via Watford, meaning you go through Croxley twice, it takes ages with a longish wait at Watford for the train to reverse, a very frustrating journey to have to do.

[cathindia]

Thank goodness we decided on an alternative route on Sunday given Matthew's description of the journey. We ended up driving to Highgate (we know that area) and parking in Highgate Station carpark (£1 on Sunday) and taking the tube from there. I know that part driving isn't an option for everyone, but it made our lives much easier on Sunday travelling into London. (Though it still took a while!)

On the Met, if the long bus jounrey from Northwood to Wembley is not bad enough, the trains too and from Northwood go via Watford, meaning you go through Croxley twice, it takes ages with a longish wait at Watford for the train to reverse, a very frustrating journey to have to do.

[PeterC]

I know that part driving isn't an option for everyone, but it made our lives much easier on Sunday travelling into London.

Once the intitial journey to the station is taken into account I usually find driving quicker for most places North of the Thames unless travelling with the rush hour flow. Its parking once you get there that drives me onto the Met

[jarrod]

Thanks for the "heads up". We're going into London both days of that weekend so looks like I'll be looking for alternatives that involve driving part of the way.

Depending on where you're heading in London, it could be useful to know that Hillingdon tube station (Piccadilly / Met lines ) is right next to the A40 so is easy to get to and station parking is £1 all day at weekends. (quite good for getting to football matches at Fulham & Chelsea on the Piccadilly line )

[jkracing]

After years of getting the train. I drove to London a couple of Sunday's ago. It wasnt to bad and parking was easy. Consider giving driving a go?

[PeterC]

Sundays are usually fine for parking but watch for streets where you can park on a single yellow but where residents parking bays are still active.

[echinosum]

Maybe more convenient to use rail services from Berkhamsted or Slough then.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Annoyingly any car journey to another line is not an option for us.

Very fristyrating to get from leeds to Kings Cross in 2 hour 20, then about the same time to get to Amersham! Mind you, even when there are no engineerign works, getting to Amersham off peak these days takes way to long!

[Fran]

Maybe more convenient to use rail services from Berkhamsted or Slough then.

Possibly, but two caveats: firstly, it's much more expensive than from Amersham and secondly, there are more trains to/from Hemel than Berko, and the driving time to them is about the same.

[ianbartlett]

Possibly, but two caveats: firstly, it's much more expensive than from Amersham and secondly, there are more trains to/from Hemel than Berko, and the driving time to them is about the same.

True, it can be. but remember that if you are an annual season ticket holder from Amersham (or anywhere else on LU) you get 33% off the price of main line train journeys in the south east. Seems not many people know about that.

[Eaton]

True, it can be. but remember that if you are an annual season ticket holder from Amersham (or anywhere else on LU) you get 33% off the price of main line train journeys in the south east. Seems not many people know about that.

How do you go about getting that 33% off? I certainly never knew about it and I presume my husband doesn't either!

[Mark]

How do you go about getting that 33% off? I certainly never knew about it and I presume my husband doesn't either!

In the leaflet with my (Chiltern) season ticket it says "Up to a third off most off-peak rail fares around London and the SE for you and up to 3 adults". This is under "Gold Card Benefits". A monthly or longer season ticket also entitles you to "FREE weekend travel across our entire network. Some resrictions apply". I assume you have to show you season ticket to get these benefits.

Also here: http://www.chilternr...pecial benefits