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Hiya Guys. Was thinking of planning a FNC after Lock-down, starting at Chesham and finishing at Heathrow T5, aiming for around 17hrs. No date confirmed yet, as Lockdown is still ongoing. Wondered if you guys have any advice about the reliability of the Evening Olympia service, what to bring,
etc,etc,.

Things to bring:

Door positions
Mobile
Food that doesn't need refrigeration or ok if it get bashed about a bit!
Water
Empty bottle (you never know)

The evening Ken O trains can be unreliable as they're used to regulate the service.

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I have consulted with my partner and we have decided that we are going to take the risk and go for an evening Olympia so we don't end up finishing at Chesham/Amersham in the middle of the night. Worst-case scenario-we only do 269 and no Olympia, but we are willing to take that risk, and possibly end up with a faster time than what we would have obtained with a NW Quadrant finish.

Something I'd recommend with a Chesham start is that when coming into Chalfont and Latimer, don't panic and run over to catch the train on the other platform. 99% of the time it's the next train up to Chesham not Amersham. Many a tube challenger has gone back up the Chesham!

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The way TfL are losing money, you're being optimistic thinking there'll be (what we remember as) a full service, when lockdown ends.

Well I suppose we will have to wait and see. Hopefully Sunak's furlough scheme is helping plug a bit of the gaping black hole in LU/TfL's finances

Well, when things are back to normal people need the tube to commute! Again with furlough the idea is that people will still have jobs after all of this without there being massive layoffs. In theory...

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I posted a recount of my FNC starting at Chesham and ending at T5 with 269/270 - that might be worth a read. The evening Olympia service is very unreliable and often used to recover post-peak.

Heathrow T4 closed as of 9th May. So all full network off till Covid19 restrictions ease.

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Bloody hell. So it's going to be a long wait before we are able to attempt anything resembling a FNC

Yes, I do wonder whether the Battersea extension will have been completed before we are able to do a FNC again (which of course would not only mean that all current planned routes would need to be torn up, but that the record would be reset).

stepneygreen05 wrote: ↑12 May 2020, 10:21 ... Worst-case scenario-we only do 269 and no Olympia...

This is optimistic. So many things can go wrong during an FNC. Not that that should stop you trying once things do return to some semblance of normality.

It's rare to be unable to finish 269/270. Delays usually just give a very crap time!

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I think the early morning Oylmpia trains can also be unreliable, basically for the same reason. (Although I'll stand corrected if people disagree.)

More than anything, remember that it won't go to plan. Go out and have fun!

The Raven wrote: ↑12 May 2020, 19:45 Something I'd recommend with a Chesham start is that when coming into Chalfont and Latimer, don't panic and run over to catch the train on the other platform. 99% of the time it's the next train up to Chesham not Amersham. Many a tube challenger has gone back up the Chesham!

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Hands up! I did exactly this on my FIRST attempt.... 2nd station of the day and over...