Commuting through Dartford Crossing

Debt_Free_Chick

I'm soon to be commuting to a new job in Hertfordshire (A10ish) from East Sussex (A21).

I've done the trip already for interviews and, on a good run, it's only an hour an half. This works for me as I've been commuting by train to London and that takes at least 2 hours.

However, I have to contend with the Dartford Crossing :eek:

Two questions on which I'd appreciate views

1) Would aiming to be at the Crossing (Tunnel, travelling North) at 7 am be better than 7.30am?

2) As I can work one day a week from home, would Monday be a good day for this (already at home on Friday)? Is the Crossing worse, going north, on a Monday morning or is that just a myth?

Any views on other things I've not considered also welcome e.g. is Blackwall Tunnel, A13 & N Circular any better?

Thanks

NBLondon

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Any views on other things I've not considered also welcome e.g. is Blackwall Tunnel, A13 & N Circular any better?

Shorter and no toll but a lot more unpredictable. Unless you are leaving at 0530 you're going to hit the traffic through Orpington/Bromley and up the A2 since the Tunnel is a bottleneck. One problem and you'll be stuck. North of the river you'd probaly pick up speed - A12 and head due North through Tottenham.

If you've got the right car for the motorway run, you'll do more miles but not much more fuel and less stress.

Taadaa

I agree I normally use the Blackwall Tunnel daily and you can never tell what it will be like. Although a clear run is a rare occurence, a breakdown causes absolute havoc.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Where on Earth do you live in East Sussex that takes 2 hours to get to London?

Where in Hertfordshire are you going to be working?

Have you looked at other modes of transport?

Debt_Free_Chick

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Where on Earth do you live in East Sussex that takes 2 hours to get to London?

Where in Hertfordshire are you going to be working?

Have you looked at other modes of transport?

Live near Bodiam. Leave the house at 6.30am to get the 6.55am from Etchingham. Arrive Waterloo East at 8.05am (ish!!), drop down to Southwark for the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf. Arrive at desk at 8.30am. It's normal for this part of the South East and plenty do it. An eight carriage train is more than 75% full when I get on and completely full at Tunbridge Wells, when another four carriages are added. Many commute from Hastings, which is a further 20 mins down the line!

I'll be going to Cheshunt, so the alternative is to leave the house at 5.30am get the 6.10am to London Bridge, then Northern Line to Moorgate, going on to Liverpool Street and then a train to Cheshunt. At best, it's getting on for three hours :eek:

I've been doing the train commute for more than 10 years, having previously lived and worked in a Midlands City where I drove to work - door to door - in less than 30 minutes! Did that for 20 years. So, I'm reasonably adaptable, I think :j

Driving has the added advantage that I'm "under my own steam". I suffered, along with many others, on the train when the weather was bad, including one memorable journey when it took me 5 hours to get to Tunbridge Wells (a 25 min journey, normally) where the train was terminated! Have also spent £90 on a taxi from Orpington when the line was suspended due an electrical fault.

But it's a great job with fantastic pay and real prospects - even for a fifty-something has-been!!! :rotfl: :j:j

But, truly, I'm open to other suggestions.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you can cope with this daily commute and still put in a full days work without screaming blue murder after a few weeks i'll doff me titfer to you and no mistake, i couldn't do it.

The journey involved is simply dreadful, getting home on a Friday afternoon in particular i wouldn't wish on anyone, might well find that Blackwall via M25/M11 makes the journey slightly better then, though midweek is debatable.

I think all you can do is make a point of checking the HA site and Google maps for traffic before you depart, morning and evening, and make your decision which of the routes you will take, then keep your radio on with ''traffic'' option set and duck and dive round any hold ups as best you can.

The very best of luck with the new job however you get there.

My daughter works regular contracts for her company, so is often outbased at customers premises for up to 12 months at a time.

When a journey involves similar travelling times to yours, she travels out Monday, stops locally Mon night, travels home Tues night, stops out Weds night and travels home Thurs, she usually manages to work from home on Fridays..could such a system work for you if the travelling proves too much?

EDIT...idiot GS read the flamin OP...you're already home based Fridays, brilliant.

I find Mondays not too bad a day for travelling, if you're already off Fridays then i'd be inclined to work from home Thursdays too, in my experince Thursday afternoons are getting nearly as bad as Fridays on the road.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I'll be going to Cheshunt, so the alternative is to leave the house at 5.30am get the 6.10am to London Bridge, then Northern Line to Moorgate, going on to Liverpool Street and then a train to Cheshunt. At best, it's getting on for three hours :eek:

According to the journey planner its only 2H22 for that journey - but I guess its how long it takes you to get to Ethcingham..

I really wouldnt like that sort of drive you are proposing every day either and you think 5 hours to get to Tunbridge is bad - you wait until your snarled on the M25 for a few hours before you have even crossed the river..

Id plump for the train every time or as someone has said find a room for mon-fri rental (even if you dont stay there on a friday)

vikingaero

I sometimes travel North through the Dartford Tunnel. My times vary from 6am to about 9.15am (after dropping the kids off at school 30 mins away at 8.45am) Generally there are minimal queues at any of these times and there may be queues on the M25 around the A12/M11.

If anything the main problems occur after 10am when all the morning ferries have disgorged the HGVs a few hours earlier and they arrive en mass leading to tailbacks.

vikingaero

Don't forget to get a Dart Tag.

Debt_Free_Chick

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

According to the journey planner its only 2H22 for that journey - but I guess its how long it takes you to get to Ethcingham.

Yup - drive to Etchingham is 20-25 mins. And the trains are never on time. That attachment at Tun Wells is a nightmare as is the congestion at London Bridge. Jubilee Line is brilliant, when it works. When it doesn't, well .... it just doesn't bear thinking about.

In my time here, I've worked in Paddington, St James's, The City and Canary Wharf. All roughly 2 hours "door to door".

As for this commute ...? ask me again in 12 months time :rotfl:

Debt_Free_Chick

vikingaero wrote: »

Don't forget to get a Dart Tag.

Cool

Didn't know about that, but looking at the website now. Thanks for that :beer: