Very Rough Route

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Munsterrrr
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Very Rough Route

Post by Munsterrrr »

Hello!

New member of the forum, really interested in doing the challenge! Been looking around the different topics here and there, trying to formulate a route. Got one based on the 'Labyrinth' (Classic...) although slightly changed to allow for the Olympia evening service. Without wanted to be spoonfed too much, as I see is the case with a lot of new challengers lately, I've attached my very rough, provisional route, which shall be tested in the next 2 weeks (running times, interchange times etc.) to see if they all make sense. The timetable assumes a Monday. At the moment, it is at 17:33, which is almost 2 hours slower than the GWR, but I somehow doubt I will be challenging that anytime soon...! Any advice would be more than welcome, and I shall keep the thread updated with the successes/failures of my testings over the next few weeks.

Thank you all in advance!

Maxim

• Chesham (05:16) – Chalfont & Latimer (05:24)
• Chalfont & Latimer (05:27) – Amersham (05:30)
• Amersham (05:47) – Moor Park (06:02)
• Moor Park (06:15) – Watford (06:22)
• Watford (06:28) – North Harrow (06:44)
• Run to Rayners Lane (06:44 – 06:57)
• Rayners Lane (06:57) – Ealing Common (07:15)
• Ealing Common (07:17) – Ealing Broadway (07:20)
• Ealing Broadway (07:21) – East Acton (07:28)
• East Acton (07:34) – West Ruislip (07:53)
• Run to Ickenham (07:53 – 08:03)
• Ickenham (08:03) – Uxbridge (08:10)
• Uxbridge (08:11) – Preston Road (08:35)
• Run to Kenton (08:35 – 08:48)
• Kenton (08:48) – Harrow & Wealdstone (08:49)
• Harrow & Wealdstone (08:52) – Elephant & Castle (09:41)
• Elephant & Castle (09:43) – London Bridge (09:46)
• London Bridge (09:48) – Southwark (09:49)
• Southwark (09:52) – West Ham (10:09)
• West Ham (10:13) – Upminster (10:41)
• Upminster (10:49) – Fenchurch Street (11:18)
• Run to Aldgate (11:18 – 11:28)
• Aldgate (11:28) – Sloane Square (11:46)
• Sloane Square (11:49) – Victoria (11:51)
• Victoria (11:55) – Vauxhall (11:58)
• Run to Kennington (11:58 – 12:07)
• Kennington (12:07) – Stockwell (12:11)
• Stockwell (12:14) – Brixton (12:15)
• Run to Clapham North (12:15 – 12:24)
• Clapham North (12:24) – Morden (12:40)
• Run to Morden Road tram stop (12:40 – 12:51)
• Morden Road (12:51) – Wimbledon (12:56)
• Wimbledon (13:02) – West Brompton (13:23)
• West Brompton (13:23) – Shepherd’s Bush (13:28) (OVERGROUND)
• Run to White City (13:28 – 13:37)
• White City (13:34) – Hainault (14:28)
• Hainault (14:47) – Roding Valley (14:54)
• Run to Buckhurst Hill (14:54 – 15:00)
• Buckhurst Hill (15:00) – Epping (15:11)
• Epping (15:15) – Snaresbrook (15:34)
• Run/Bus to Walthamstow Central (15:34 – 15:57)
• Walthamstow Central (15:57) – Warren Street (16:15)
• Warren Street (16:18) – Goodge Street (16:19)
• Goodge Street (16:21) – Edgware (16:49)
• Run/Bus to Canon’s Park (16:49 – 17:00)
• Canon’s Park (17:00) – Stanmore (17:02)
• Stanmore (17:04) – Baker Street (17:33)
• Baker Street (17:39) – Moorgate (17:51)
• Moorgate (17:51) – Mill Hill East (18:20)
• Run to West Finchley (18:20 – 18:36)
• West Finchley (18:36) – High Barnet (18:43)
• Run/Bus to Cockfosters (BUS – 307 (18:50) to Cockfosters Road (19:04), run to Cockfosters) RUN WHOLE ROUTE IF BUS IS MISSED
• Cockfosters (19:12) – Earl’s Court (20:02)
• Earl’s Court (20:25) – Olympia (20:27)
• Run to High Street Kensington (20:27 – 20:40)
• High Street Kensington (20:40) – Edgware Road (20:48)
• Edgware Road (20:53) – Hammersmith (21:09)
• Run to District line Station (21:09 – 21:14)
• Hammersmith (21:14) – West Kensington (21:17)
• West Kensington (21:23) – Richmond (21:41)
• Richmond (21:44) – Turnham Green (21:53)
• Turnham Green (21:57) – Acton Town (22:01)
• Acton Town (22:05) – Heathrow T4 (22:28)
• Heathrow T4 (22:37) – Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:44)
• Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:46) – Heathrow T5 (22:49)
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greatkingrat
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by greatkingrat »

If you catch a c2c train from Upminster to Fenchurch Street, then you haven't visited the inner District stations like Bromley-by-Bow and Stepney Green.

Not sure the runs in the Stockwell area are necessary, it will almost certainly be quicker to just double back.
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Munsterrrr
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by Munsterrrr »

greatkingrat wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 14:50 If you catch a c2c train from Upminster to Fenchurch Street, then you haven't visited the inner District stations like Bromley-by-Bow and Stepney Green.
That is a very good point... A huge oversight on my part... Rejigging route now then! Thank you for pointing that out to me.
greatkingrat wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 14:50 Not sure the runs in the Stockwell area are necessary, it will almost certainly be quicker to just double back.
Pretty sure I had checked and running was quicker than the waits, or they were too tight, but will check again, and see what is quicker when I test it out next week.

Thanks!

Maxim
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by RJSRdg »

That's a high-risk strategy, going for the second evening Olympia!
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by Munsterrrr »

Yes, something I tried to avoid with this new updated route, RJSRdg! Also, cut timings down significantly, catching the earlier Ken O train and getting into T5 at 22:09, making the overall time 16:53, down 40 minutes. Again, testing next week will show whether this is feasible! One wonders how 15:45 was possible...!

New route:

• Chesham (05:16) – Chalfont & Latimer (05:24)
• Chalfont & Latimer (05:27) – Amersham (05:30)
• Amersham (05:47) – Moor Park (06:02)
• Moor Park (06:15) – Watford (06:22)
• Watford (06:28) – North Harrow (06:44)
• Run to Rayners Lane (06:44 – 06:57)
• Rayners Lane (06:57) – Ealing Common (07:15)
• Ealing Common (07:17) – Ealing Broadway (07:20)
• Ealing Broadway (07:21) – East Acton (07:28)
• East Acton (07:34) – West Ruislip (07:53)
• Run to Ickenham (07:53 – 08:03)
• Ickenham (08:03) – Uxbridge (08:10)
• Uxbridge (08:11) – Preston Road (08:35)
• Preston Road (08:38) – Northwick Park (08:40)
• Run to Kenton (08:40 – 08:44)
• Kenton (08:44) – Harrow & Wealdstone (08:46) (OVERGROUND)
• Harrow & Wealdstone (08:52) – Elephant & Castle (09:41)
• Elephant & Castle (09:43) – London Bridge (09:46)
• London Bridge (09:48) – Southwark (09:49)
• Southwark (09:52) – West Ham (10:09)
• West Ham (10:13) – Upminster (10:41)
• Upminster (10:49) – West Ham (11:02) (C2C)
• West Ham (11:04) – Aldgate East (11:16)
• Run to Aldgate (11:16 – 11:18)
• Aldgate (11:18) – Sloane Square (11:36)
• Sloane Square (11:39) – Victoria (11:41)
• Victoria (11:44) – Brixton (11:51)
• Brixton (11:52) – Stockwell (11:53)
• Stockwell (11:59) – Kennington (12:03)
• Kennington (12:04) – Morden (12:25)
• Run to Morden Road tram stop (12:25 – 12:36)
• Morden Road (12:36) – Wimbledon (12:41)
• Wimbledon (12:47) – West Brompton (12:57)
• West Brompton (13:08) – Shepherd’s Bush (13:16) (OVERGROUND)
• Run to White City (13:16 – 13:29)
• White City (13:29) – Hainault (14:23)
• Hainault (14:27) – Woodford (14:36)
• Woodford (14:37) – Epping (14:52)
• Epping (14:54) – Snaresbrook (15:14)
• Run/Bus to Walthamstow Central (15:14 – 15:39)
• Walthamstow Central (15:39) – Warren Street (15:57)
• Warren Street (16:00) – Goodge Street (16:01)
• Goodge Street (16:03) – Edgware (16:32)
• Bus 79, 186, 340 to Canon’s Park station, RUN IF NO BUS (16:32 – 16:42)
• Canon’s Street (16:42) – Stanmore (16:44)
• Stanmore (16:47) – Baker Street (17:16)
• Baker Street (17:19) – Moorgate (17:34)
• Moorgate (17:36) – Tufnell Park (17:52)
• Tufnell Park (17:56) – Mill Hill East (18:09)
• Mill Hill East (18:16) – Finchley Central (18:19)
• Finchley Central (18:22) – High Barnet (18:31)
• Bus 307 to Cockfosters, RUN IF NO BUS (18:31 – 18:53)
• Cockfosters (18:53) – Earl’s Court (19:42)
• Earl’s Court (19:44) – Olympia (19:47)
• Bus 9, 10, 27, 28 to High Street Kensington, RUN IF NO BUS (19:47 – 20:00)
• High Street Kensington (20:00) – Edgware Road (20:09)
• Edgware Road (20:16) – Hammersmith (20:33)
• Run to District Line Station (20:33 – 20:39)
• Hammersmith (20:39) – West Kensington (20:42)
• West Kensington (20:44) – Richmond (21:02)
• Richmond (21:04) – Turnham Green (21:13)
• Turnham Green (21:17) – Acton Green (21:21)
• Acton Green (21:25) – Heathrow T4 (21:49)
• Heathrow T4 (21:57) – Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:02)
• Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:06) – Heathrow T5 (22:09)
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by RJSRdg »

I had a Labyrinth-based route as well, with a theory time of 16:14, equalling the then-record! The main difference I could see as far as Wimbledon was that I'd tightened the connections up a little more still (perhaps too much as when I tested it I kept getting behind at Southwark!). After Wimbo I would have done Edgware Road - Hammersmith - Wood Lane - White City, then on to the Central Line up to Hainault/Epping. Doing the Edgware Road/Hammersmith section there was quite useful as when I got behind on my recce runs, I could skip a bit easily and still make the correct Central Line train, then come back and do the other bits later, though of course the time would be longer.

I haven't checked to see how well it works (or doesn't!) with the new timetables as my efforts have been going into a quicker route (which has come unstuck owing to the increased Victoria Line frequency and the revised entrance arrangements at Walthamstow!).

Don't throw away your original route though - if you hit holdups on your new route, you have a fallback plan!
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dstock17
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by dstock17 »

Munsterrrr wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 21:38 Yes, something I tried to avoid with this new updated route, RJSRdg! Also, cut timings down significantly, catching the earlier Ken O train and getting into T5 at 22:09, making the overall time 16:53, down 40 minutes. Again, testing next week will show whether this is feasible! One wonders how 15:45 was possible...!

through a lot of hard work and research in 8 differant parts something parkrun helps with is the fitness part although one piece of advice that seems to be forgotten by tube challengers, is i go for a 2 minute connection anywhere changing lines. All it takes is for ur incoming to be early and ur train ur on to be late ealing Broadway 1 minute of course it can be done but i leave that extra minute and keep my options open there.

New route:

• Chesham (05:16) – Chalfont & Latimer (05:24)
• Chalfont & Latimer (05:27) – Amersham (05:30)
• Amersham (05:47) – Moor Park (06:02)
• Moor Park (06:15) – Watford (06:22)
• Watford (06:28) – North Harrow (06:44)
• Run to Rayners Lane (06:44 – 06:57)
• Rayners Lane (06:57) – Ealing Common (07:15)
• Ealing Common (07:17) – Ealing Broadway (07:20)
• Ealing Broadway (07:21) – East Acton (07:28)
• East Acton (07:34) – West Ruislip (07:53)
• Run to Ickenham (07:53 – 08:03)
• Ickenham (08:03) – Uxbridge (08:10)
• Uxbridge (08:11) – Preston Road (08:35)
• Preston Road (08:38) – Northwick Park (08:40)
• Run to Kenton (08:40 – 08:44)
• Kenton (08:44) – Harrow & Wealdstone (08:46) (OVERGROUND)
• Harrow & Wealdstone (08:52) – Elephant & Castle (09:41)
• Elephant & Castle (09:43) – London Bridge (09:46)
• London Bridge (09:48) – Southwark (09:49)
• Southwark (09:52) – West Ham (10:09)
• West Ham (10:13) – Upminster (10:41)
• Upminster (10:49) – West Ham (11:02) (C2C)
• West Ham (11:04) – Aldgate East (11:16)
• Run to Aldgate (11:16 – 11:18)
• Aldgate (11:18) – Sloane Square (11:36)
• Sloane Square (11:39) – Victoria (11:41)
• Victoria (11:44) – Brixton (11:51)
• Brixton (11:52) – Stockwell (11:53)
• Stockwell (11:59) – Kennington (12:03)
• Kennington (12:04) – Morden (12:25)
• Run to Morden Road tram stop (12:25 – 12:36)
• Morden Road (12:36) – Wimbledon (12:41)
• Wimbledon (12:47) – West Brompton (12:57)
• West Brompton (13:08) – Shepherd’s Bush (13:16) (OVERGROUND)
• Run to White City (13:16 – 13:29)
• White City (13:29) – Hainault (14:23)
• Hainault (14:27) – Woodford (14:36)
• Woodford (14:37) – Epping (14:52)
• Epping (14:54) – Snaresbrook (15:14)
• Run/Bus to Walthamstow Central (15:14 – 15:39)
• Walthamstow Central (15:39) – Warren Street (15:57)
• Warren Street (16:00) – Goodge Street (16:01)
• Goodge Street (16:03) – Edgware (16:32)
• Bus 79, 186, 340 to Canon’s Park station, RUN IF NO BUS (16:32 – 16:42)
• Canon’s Street (16:42) – Stanmore (16:44)
• Stanmore (16:47) – Baker Street (17:16)
• Baker Street (17:19) – Moorgate (17:34)
• Moorgate (17:36) – Tufnell Park (17:52)
• Tufnell Park (17:56) – Mill Hill East (18:09)
• Mill Hill East (18:16) – Finchley Central (18:19)
• Finchley Central (18:22) – High Barnet (18:31)
• Bus 307 to Cockfosters, RUN IF NO BUS (18:31 – 18:53)
• Cockfosters (18:53) – Earl’s Court (19:42)
• Earl’s Court (19:44) – Olympia (19:47)
• Bus 9, 10, 27, 28 to High Street Kensington, RUN IF NO BUS (19:47 – 20:00)
• High Street Kensington (20:00) – Edgware Road (20:09)
• Edgware Road (20:16) – Hammersmith (20:33)
• Run to District Line Station (20:33 – 20:39)
• Hammersmith (20:39) – West Kensington (20:42)
• West Kensington (20:44) – Richmond (21:02)
• Richmond (21:04) – Turnham Green (21:13)
• Turnham Green (21:17) – Acton Green (21:21)
• Acton Green (21:25) – Heathrow T4 (21:49)
• Heathrow T4 (21:57) – Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:02)
• Heathrow T1,2,3 (22:06) – Heathrow T5 (22:09)
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Munsterrrr
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by Munsterrrr »

RJSRdg wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 23:48 I had a Labyrinth-based route as well, with a theory time of 16:14, equalling the then-record! The main difference I could see as far as Wimbledon was that I'd tightened the connections up a little more still (perhaps too much as when I tested it I kept getting behind at Southwark!). After Wimbo I would have done Edgware Road - Hammersmith - Wood Lane - White City, then on to the Central Line up to Hainault/Epping. Doing the Edgware Road/Hammersmith section there was quite useful as when I got behind on my recce runs, I could skip a bit easily and still make the correct Central Line train, then come back and do the other bits later, though of course the time would be longer.

I haven't checked to see how well it works (or doesn't!) with the new timetables as my efforts have been going into a quicker route (which has come unstuck owing to the increased Victoria Line frequency and the revised entrance arrangements at Walthamstow!).

Don't throw away your original route though - if you hit holdups on your new route, you have a fallback plan!
Ah, very smart! Did you get an early Ken O train then? Because 19:44 is the earliest evening one, and that is what is limiting me...

Maxim
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by tubeguru »

Munsterrrr wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 21:38One wonders how 15:45 was possible...!
Years of practice, an optimised route, being fast at running, and LOTS of luck. :lol:
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by RJSRdg »

Munsterrrr wrote: 17 Jun 2017, 09:01
RJSRdg wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 23:48 I had a Labyrinth-based route as well, with a theory time of 16:14, equalling the then-record! The main difference I could see as far as Wimbledon was that I'd tightened the connections up a little more still (perhaps too much as when I tested it I kept getting behind at Southwark!). After Wimbo I would have done Edgware Road - Hammersmith - Wood Lane - White City, then on to the Central Line up to Hainault/Epping. Doing the Edgware Road/Hammersmith section there was quite useful as when I got behind on my recce runs, I could skip a bit easily and still make the correct Central Line train, then come back and do the other bits later, though of course the time would be longer.

I haven't checked to see how well it works (or doesn't!) with the new timetables as my efforts have been going into a quicker route (which has come unstuck owing to the increased Victoria Line frequency and the revised entrance arrangements at Walthamstow!).

Don't throw away your original route though - if you hit holdups on your new route, you have a fallback plan!
Ah, very smart! Did you get an early Ken O train then? Because 19:44 is the earliest evening one, and that is what is limiting me...

Maxim
No, that route used the 19:44 KO - with the later one as a backup in case things went wrong.

As far as I know there is no practical way of using a morning Olympia on a NW start, but someone will probably prove me wrong!
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by Munsterrrr »

Oh right, gotcha! Thank you very much :) I'll update the post when I do the recce runs in the next few weeks.
Thank you for the responses so far :)

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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by Iain »

The only way I could get onto a morning Olympia from a NW start was to skip Amersham or Watford, which obviously left extra work later. Might be worth it though if you're just after a completion.

The WR route took a ton of planning; I went through a ton of Andi and Steve's route ideas. The route was actually a bit faster but the last train was seven or so minutes late. It was the only time the route went off all day, which is really unusual and obviously a fair bit down to luck, as most days something will go wrong.
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by The Orange One »

Iain wrote: 18 Jun 2017, 17:56 The only way I could get onto a morning Olympia from a NW start was to skip Amersham or Watford, which obviously left extra work later. Might be worth it though if you're just after a completion.
Maybe when (if?) the Croxley Rail Link arrives on the scene, skipping Watford will make more sense...
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by A Challenge »

The Orange One wrote: 18 Jun 2017, 22:07
Iain wrote: 18 Jun 2017, 17:56 The only way I could get onto a morning Olympia from a NW start was to skip Amersham or Watford, which obviously left extra work later. Might be worth it though if you're just after a completion.
Maybe when (if?) the Croxley Rail Link arrives on the scene, skipping Watford will make more sense...
Maybe then it will be viable (fast trains from WFJ) and then met to anersham at the end - cuts the double visiting!
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Re: Very Rough Route

Post by RJSRdg »

Or possibly Watford-Willesden-Olympia-Earl's Court, though that then leaves Paddington-Willesden out on a limb.
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