New job in watford junction - reverse commute

verasalvo

Hi all,

I got a new job in Watford Junction, but I am planning to reverse commute and live somewhere in zone 1 or 2 in London. One option is share a flat next to Euston area but I find value for money is not amazing, so considered the overground commute, even though longer, I could think about areas like South Hampstead or Queen's Park. For example queen's park I could even take the Bakerloo line and then the train as well ( suggested by citymapper to get to watford).

As anyone commuted to Watford Junction by overground? any thoughts? It would also be half the price..is it to slow though? I believe average time will be around 40/50 minutes vs maybe 20 by a train from Euston.

Thanks for your help!

Vera

silvercar

Euston to Watford Junction on the fast trains can be tricky as many stop only to pick up passengers going northbound or set down only going southbound. So you route would prevent you taking trains that do the journey in ~17 minutes. The Euston station barriers are at platform level, so even if you were inclined to hide in the toilet on the train, you would be caught out at Euston.

verasalvo

There seems to be a couple of trains that go through Harrow & wealdstone or wembley, but even just the overground from either South Hampstead or Queen's Park go directly to Watford Junction.

My question is to understand if anyone here commutes by overground and if itr feels really long? Or any other tip regarding commuting to watford and where to live in London.

Thanks!

agrinnall

It might be better to try the journey yourself, what seems long to one person may seem short to another.

[Deleted User]

Wouldn't it make sense to live somewhere with a quick journey to Euston, then catch the fast train to Watford? The regular overground would be a very long journey.

Watford junction is only 6 minutes from our village on the little train that goes between there and St Albans

verasalvo

Thanks! That's another option yes but for example queens park to watford junction is 40 min, a quick journey via undergroud to euston plus changing to train etc at the end of the day might take as well the 40 minutes that the overground takes.

[Deleted User]

So how come you want to live in zone 1/2 rather than move further out? (Just being nosey)

verasalvo

I will just be new to London and moving by myself (no family), I want to enjoy the city and all my friends live in central london so possible social scene are in zone 1/2 - so there is not much for me outside London. I just want to be able to be ok going out and not be worried about getting a last tube, and not being lazy because I have to get myself on the train etc, on weekends enjoy the buzzing city, etc. At least for the beginning, then I can start thinking if it makes sense to move a bit further out.

Hope it makes sense

The_Groat_Counter

verasalvo wrote: »

I will just be new to London and moving by myself (no family), I want to enjoy the city and all my friends live in central london so possible social scene are in zone 1/2 [...]

Hope it makes sense

It makes perfect sense.

Books, podcasts and possibly TV programmes on a mobile device can help you pass the time on your commute. The train won't be mad busy as it would be in the other direction so you'll have some space.

On that Overground line you'll actually benefit from cheaper fares when going against the flow (if paying with Oyster or contactless card), though only if you start at a station somewhere along the line between Euston and Watford Junction.

Heading towards Watford Jn in the morning you pay off-peak fares, and likewise heading towards Euston in the evening you'll also pay off-peak fares. (In general peak fares apply when using Oyster/contactless between 0630-0930 and 1600-1900 on weekdays.)

See the TfL single fare finder.

(Compare with the season ticket price just to be sure, but coming from say Queen's Park you'd be quids in using Oyster/contactless rather than buying a rail season ticket.)

loobs40

Another option is using the Southern rail service which stops at Watford Junction. My son lives is Balham (south London) and he takes the Southern service from there direct to Watford where he works.

The downside is the trains are only hourly, but I don't think he I has had many problems with that service.,

[Deleted User]

There are online tools to help you....

http://www.locrating.com/CommutingMap.aspx

The maps suggest Shepards bush might be good. My brother flat shared there for a while.

However, I'd be tempted to live on the Northern line, somewhere around Camden Town, then you'd scoot down there to Euston, get the fast train back up to Watford.

PS. Your cost of living is going to be MASSIVE