Office relocated and now commuting is a nightmare - anything I can do?

pickled_cabbage

This is my first time posting here so I'm not sure if I've put this in the right place.

I used to work in central London (Oxford Circus) and live in Surrey - it used to take me just over an hour to get to work and an hour back home, giving me a total commute of 2:12hrs daily.

Last month our office relocated to north London, but there was no consultation with staff about this (which is understandable, I guess), but now it's made the commute a total nightmare.

Now, I'm having to change trains and my commute has gone up to 1:57hrs to get in, and 1:23hrs to get home, so a total commute of 3:20hrs daily.

So, overall my commute has increased by 1:08hrs every day, which adds up to a whopping 32 working days extra every year!

I like my job and don't want to leave, but the commute is killing me and I can't cut it down any further. All of the above is on a good day, so if there are delays and I miss my connection it automatically adds on an additional 30 minutes. I only live 24 miles from my office, but it's taking 2 hours to get in!

Any idea of anything I could do in this situation? Are there any rights employees have in terms of office relocation? I don't want to leave, but I just can't go on spending 3.5 hours a day on a train (standing up).

You might say it's my fault that I live where I live, but the point is that before my journey was manageable at 2 hours daily - now the move has made it impractical.

Oldernotwiser

Can you relocate for an easier commute?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

where in surrey do you live and where in North London have they moved too? It may be possible that you can get the Thameslink train straight through london and out the other side which could cut donw on your commuting time. here is a line map. But i doubt there is anything else you can do apart from change jobs

McKneff

Learn to drive?..............

Oldernotwiser

McKneff wrote: »

Learn to drive?..............

You don't live in the south east do you?:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Could you maybe ask to change your working Hours so you can travel slightly off peak. I did this when I was full time prior to having my Son. I used to work 9 - 5 which meant an hour on the bus am + pm, I changed my day to 8 - 4 which immediately halved the travel time. I work part time now 9.30 - 3.00pm and it only takes 20 mins each way now, I'll never work 9 - 5 again (hopefully) :-)

pickled_cabbage

Thanks for all of your responses and for the suggestions given.

I am already using First Capital Connect (Thameslink) sadly and they are the main problem - they are so slow and unreliable!

Basically, my journey before I used to work Oxford Circus. So, I could go to Victoria (direct) and get the tube 2 stops, or I could go to London Bridge and change to get a train to Charing Cross and then walk from there (which I normally did to cut down costs).

Now though, the office is in Farringdon so the best option (in fact, pretty much the only option) is for me to get the train to East Croydon, change there and wait for 24 minutes for the next FCC train to Farringdon, where I then walk to the office. I could go to London Bridge or Victoria and then get the tube, but a) this adds on £50 - £70 a month in fares, and b) it's not really any quicker as the tube station is packed at that time of the day it can take ages to get onto a tube, and then it's a pretty nightmare experience with your head in someone's armpit (as anyone who gets the tube at that time in the morning can confirm!).

Im leaving the house at 7:20 and I'm getting into the office at 9:20 (pretty much on the dot if there are no delays).

I can't really relocate as I moved to where I live only quite recently - on the basis it's equidistant between my job and my other half's job, so that's not an option. I am thinking quite seriously about looking for another job as I just don't think it's reasonable to be commuting for that long (and all without a seat, whereas before I got a seat every time in both directions).

I'm not sure what other people think though - am I just being a wimp or is this sort of commute unreasonable? I really like my job but I'm not sure I can carry on.

Just to clarify for others: I've already shuffled my hours and it's still not working. My hours should be 9:30 - 6, but I moved then to 9am - 5pm (reducing lunch break to 30 mins) but I'm not even working these because I don't get in until 9:20am. I can't get in for 9am unless I get a train before 7am which is a bit ridiculous. Fortunately no-one's noticed yet but I'm pushing it slightly - if my boss noticed he could make me stay later as I'm working less than I should already.

Metranil_Vavin

I don't know if you're a wimp, but I've commuted from SE London to Windsor for the past 6 and a half years. It takes me just over an hour and a half each way, so 3+hours per day.

I'm 7 months pregnant now too, so it's a bit of a struggle, but at the end of the day, the job is where it is, so if you can't hack it, then you'll have to find something nearer to home.

Star1

You can get to Farringdon quite easily from London Bridge. Either
1. FCC from London Bridge to Farringdon - 14 min
2. Get 2 tubes (northern line to moorgate then across) - 15min
3. Get a train to cannon street then walk - 20min
4. You can easily walk straight from London Bridge to Farringdon in less than 1/2 hour.
It shouldn't take any longer at all than your old route to Oxford Circus via London Bridge

HTH

geordieracer

Im guessing its the getting to east croydon that is taking you a while as there are a few trains that only take 40 mins into farringdon..

pickled_cabbage

Star1 wrote: »

You can get to Farringdon quite easily from London Bridge. Either
1. FCC from London Bridge to Farringdon - 14 min
2. Get 2 tubes (northern line to moorgate then across) - 15min
3. Get a train to cannon street then walk - 20min
4. You can easily walk straight from London Bridge to Farringdon in less than 1/2 hour.
It shouldn't take any longer at all than your old route to Oxford Circus via London Bridge

HTH

Hi star1, thanks for this.

I agree with all of this, but it's the timings that make it difficult. It's only 14 minutes from London Bridge to Farringdon but the connection I have to make means I have to wait for ages for that train in the first place.

Getting the tube at that time of the morning is also just a nightmare - believe me I have tried all the options (been here a month since moving) - it's so busy that you can be waiting 10 - 15 minutes just to get onto a tube train, that's if they don't close the barriers to prevent overcrowding.

I'm not trying to make excuses, but in practice I've tried all these and it's not working out like that, because often you have to wait a while for the FCC trains (for example). Changing at East Croydon is the best option because more trains go to Farringdon via Tulse Hill than they do via London Bridge, for example.