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

socks_uk

pickled_cabbage wrote: »

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

First of all... I live 4 hours north of London so only know London as a tourist! Please feel free to tell me I know nothing but is it not possible to go direct on the Circle Line from Victoria to Farringdon?

Looking at the underground plan the yellow line on the tube map goes all the way there. No getting on and off at busy stations or catching buses and would there be more chance of getting a seat? Someone may have already suggested that and I've missed it? Of course I don't know the timings or if there is even the chance to get a seat so I'm probably talking rubbish. I bet that journey would be an hour on its own!

p00hsticks

chuckley wrote: »

the contract location has changed

I posted a while back asking the OP what their contract of employment said with regard to work location and I don't think they've replied yet ....

annie123

for it to take you nearly 1/2 hour to get to east coydon, you are either on a slow train or you're deep in surrey, sometimes catching a later train with fewer stops is quicker.
Can you get a train to West croydon? from there you can get the london overground to whitechaple and change there. Its a 45 min journey from west Croydon. My brother does it daily, and its cheaper using an oyster card.

DVardysShadow

annie123 wrote: »

for it to take you nearly 1/2 hour to get to east coydon, you are either on a slow train or you're deep in surrey, sometimes catching a later train with fewer stops is quicker.
Can you get a train to West croydon? from there you can get the london overground to whitechaple and change there. Its a 45 min journey from west Croydon. My brother does it daily, and its cheaper using an oyster card.

OPs journey from home is direct to East Croydon, so West Croydon is not feasible. However, Norwood Junction or New Cross will be possible - change for Whitechapel as described. I believe Overground is coming to East and South Croydon soon.

Fluffi

socks_uk wrote: »

First of all... I live 4 hours north of London so only know London as a tourist! Please feel free to tell me I know nothing but is it not possible to go direct on the Circle Line from Victoria to Farringdon?

Looking at the underground plan the yellow line on the tube map goes all the way there. No getting on and off at busy stations or catching buses and would there be more chance of getting a seat? Someone may have already suggested that and I've missed it? Of course I don't know the timings or if there is even the chance to get a seat so I'm probably talking rubbish. I bet that journey would be an hour on its own!

Yep - very little chance of getting a seat on the Circle Line at rush hour - plus the Circle line is pretty slow and unreliable (its often got delays). So yes as you've correctly guessed from 4 hours away its not the fastest or less stressful route at all.

annie123

DVardysShadow wrote: »

OPs journey from home is direct to East Croydon, so West Croydon is not feasible. However, Norwood Junction or New Cross will be possible - change for Whitechapel as described. I believe Overground is coming to East and South Croydon soon.

Lots of places in Surrey go to east and west croydon, which is why I asked, and its only a 7 min (I'm a middle aged female, my son can walk it in 5) walk between the east and west croydon stations.
I live in the area so know surrey and that bit of london very well.

No plans for the overground to go any further south at the mo, but it does run from west croydon to dalston junction, which is why I suggested it.

Savvy_Sue

Thought I posted last night, but hey ho ...

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I appreciate that but you can't expect a company to offer concessions, much less paying overtime as you suggest.

I believe that for a period of time after moving the offices, an employer CAN pay for travel to work expenses without it being seen as a taxable expense - but the HMRC site will confirm or deny this.

And some employers WOULD pay for increased travel costs or make SOME concessions for a time after enforcing such a move.

But I was also going to ask if a folding bike would help? Cycle some bits, use the train for other bits.

surreysaver

annie123 wrote: »

Lots of places in Surrey go to east and west croydon, which is why I asked, and its only a 7 min (I'm a middle aged female, my son can walk it in 5) walk between the east and west croydon stations.

The only place I can think of that goes to West and East Croydon is Horsham, but that involves a change at Sutton if going to West Croydon (and its in West Sussex!). And rather than walk from East to West Coydon, you might as well just change at East Croydon for a Norwood or New Cross train to catch the Overground. She'd be in London Bridge if she just stayed on the train by the time she caught a train from West Croydon! And how deep in Surrey do you think the OP is? A 25 minute train ride doesn't get you that far on an all stations branch line!

surreysaver

silvercar wrote: »

I think you need to investigate the fares again. If you stick to main line stations, your fare shouldn't alter. So getting to St Pancras should be the same as to Farringdon or London Bridge.

No, it won't. A 'London Terminals' ticket doesn't allow you to cross London - specifically it doesn't allow you to travel to or via Farringdon from the north or south. Front the south it only takes you as far as City Thameslink (the old Holborn Viaduct station).

surreysaver

chuckley wrote: »

two stops on the tube can go from 1 zone to another, therefore the price increase can b significant overtime.

like having a 2-6 card and the new office being in zone 1. Major difference even tho its 'one or 2 stops'.

But the OP's old office was in zone 1, and so is the new one.