PalenQ

How about using Boris' ballyhooed bike scheme - suppose those would instantly be grabbed up?

englishrosesloverain

Will transport to Heathrow be affected.? We leave for NL on the 30th April and the hotel we are staying has expensive taxis but I think I read somewhere that there would be shuttles laid on for the airport?

janisj

englishrosesloverain: Book a car service - never a taxi. justairports.com for instance will cost 1/3 less than a cab, and much less than most hotel-arranged transfers.

englishrosesloverain

Thanks janisj! That solves a lot of problems.

Dukey1

Yeah, those fab London buses. They are wonderful when they are stuck in traffic above ground as that dreary thing buried underground goes right on.

PalenQ

Dukey - you have never been on a Tube train that grounds to a halt - I have - the day before a long blackout left many trains stranded for hours - I'd rather be stuck in traffic above ground than below.

bvlenci

On a recent trip to Lisbon, when I couldn't figure out what I should be getting at the ticket machine, I went to the ticket agent's window. Instead of selling me the ticket I wanted, the agent came to the machine and explained my choices to me. I thought this was an excellent strategy. If there are sufficient roaming agents to help people in the station, this may actually be a good idea.

dutyfree

Sorry but I was in London for two days during one of the last strikes this past February 2014 (?) on a layover and it was a mess. Boris, the mayor was begging them to go back to work,millions were lost at businesses,traffic was a mess and the inner/central area of London was pretty well closed up tube station wise.The strike made such a mess within London that they were doing anything and everything to try and avoid the next week's one which finally was called off at the final hours.
The tube/Picadilly line from Heathrow went only as far as Earl's Court and then folks had to hope to get a cab from there to their London central hotels.Cabbies loved it but for the rest of us who wanted to enjoy London it was not pleasant!

propita

Made it to London! 10.5 hour flight from LAX, 13.5 hours total travel!!! Got a PAYG Oyster to get TO London.

All that wore us out a bit. So we took an hour nap, walked around Kings Cross, got our 7-day travelcards--no brochure/vouchers! Asked here and there while taking in the place a bit and staying out of peoples' ways ("Pull over to the left, Hubby, so we can look around/check a map/get out of the way of the crowd."). Walked to Euston to see about vouchers and our Friday trip to Harry Potter Studio--we won't have a lot of time to figure it out then and today was kind of an exhausted bust anyway. Virgin train guys, "Ask downstairs" for both questions. Go downstairs to ask at Underground ticket office. He couldn't answer but directed us to who could. Thanks, Paul! You're wonderful!). Get over there (train ticket office). Irina was wonderful! She gave us a wallet for our travelcards and THREE brochures, since there are only 6 blank vouchers each. And told us we could use our travelcards for part of the fare to Watford Junction, then PAYG for that part beyond zone 2.

I suppose I should make a trip report. This will be a part of it.

janisj

Now that the first of the two strikes has started - there is apparently partial service on some lines - How bad is it?

(I understand the HEX is also on strike today and tomorrow)

bilboburgler

This is the same public transport system that managed during the Olympics, all they wanted was a bonus to come to work that time. One of the most militant and successfully militant group in the country after the Bankers.

PatrickLondon

Limited services, but limited strike also. All one can do is keep an eye on the particular area(s) needed and plan around (and watch this space for future developments):
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status

OReilly

Its painful today. luckily I don't have to use the underground to get from SE London to client in Luton, but did have to use a bus between Waterloo East and Blackfriars station. The over ground trains are delayed due to heavy volumes, the roads are congested with cards and bloody cyclists who don't know how to cycle and the buses are packed and slow with passengers who have never used a bus before

bilboburgler

Cards and bounders ;-)

OReilly

caRs

OReilly

hey Janis - are you holding a GTG this time? If so, when?

julia_t

http://www.thedrum.com/stuff/2014/04...ng-tube-strike

The above website by an young advertising creative duo gives the walking times between tube stops. May be of help.

BKP

I thought the strike was set for next week and so planned a day in London by mistake.
Train arrived in Paddington but all the tube lines were closed. I needed to get out to Whitechapel and Shoreditch so I tried to catch the bus but the bus stop was heaving and the buses were full. I ended up walking to Baker St (the next open stop) and catching the Hammersmith line to Aldgate. Walked up through Whitechapel (stopping at Rinkoff's for a CroDough) to Shoreditch to my salon. After the haircut I wanted to get over to Covent Garden for lunch. Another trek to Liverpool St (the closest open tube) and I took the Central line to Holburn. Piccadilly was closed so I walked the rest of the way. After lunch I walked to Charing Cross and caught the Bakerloo line to Waterloo and caught the train back out to my village.

A bit frustrating but I walked through some neighborhoods I usually miss and I think I might have almost burned the calories from the CroDough! Still, I think I'll stay home next week!

ClementineLdn

flanneruk - you are underestimating how many people are affected by the tube strikes. It may not be as bad as it was in the past, but it's still pretty bad. There were crushes at several tube stations today and many people did end up walking miles to work. 'Some tube service' isn't much help if it isn't on the lines you need, and if the trains arriving are so packed that you can't get on. I don't know anyone who was allowed to work from home. I had to get up 2 hours early to make it into work on time. No, it's not the end of the world, but it's a pretty big hassle for everyone who needs to use the tube.

OReilly

Boris's bikes PalenQ - I walked across Blackfriars bridge this morning and nearly got ploughed down by the bloody bikes, both on the road and the sidewalk! It was mayhem.

Flanner: of course the technology exits for employees to work from home, but its not a technology challenge, its a cultural one. its surprising how many companies in the City still insist on 'bums in seats' despite the strike.

During the strike, don't forget to check out the trains. For example, the Thames-Link trains have stops at West Hampstead, St. Pancras, Farringdon, City, Blackfriars and London Bridge. Also, the Overground has good coverage of the outer reaches of London in all directions.