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Luton to Canary Wharf

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Acqua

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Hello everyone!

I'm hoping that someone is able to help. Basically I need to get to Canary Wharf from Luton for work for 10 weeks. I'm trying to figure out the quickest way to do so, and so far I could only think of Luton to St Pancras, Northern Line to London Bridge and then Jubilee to Canary Wharf or St Pancras to Bank and then the DLR to Canary Wharf.

Also, I need to sort out the season ticket. Is it better to just get the get the ticket from Luton to London zones 1-6 (I'm guessing this would give me unlimited travel on the tube) or whether I should get a Luton to London Thameslink ticket and then use an oyster. I have a railcard if that makes any difference.

I'd appreciate any help!
 
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telstarbox

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I'd take the train from Luton to West Hampstead Thameslink, then walk across the road to West Hampstead tube and take the Jubilee Line straight to Canary Wharf. It might take slightly longer than going via St Pancras, but you only have 1 change which should make the journey more reliable. You might also get a seat!

The Luton to Zones 1-6 ticket is the best value, assuming you're working typical weekdays 9 to 5 or similar hours. You can buy one for the exact period you need rather than weekly or monthly tickets.
 
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rdwarr

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I'd echo that. Getting the Northern Line from St Pancras is really nasty in the morning peaks - it will take ages and you still need to change again.
 

Nym

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The Northern line past 7:30am is indeed horrible, you may need to wait four or five trains to board, and even then it's usually one off one on...(!)
 

PermitToTravel

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An alternative might be to get the train from Luton to City Thameslink and walk 10 minutes or so to Bank DLR. A similar route more suitable for rainy days would be to stay on until Blackfrairs, then get the Circle or District line to Monument and the DLR from there
 
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Nym

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Where abouts in Canary Wharf are you aiming for?

If Westferry or Poplar are close enough, then you could take a route via Aldgate / Tower Hill and/or Whitechapel & Shadwell. (Changing at Farringdon)
 
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Hi Acqua. I travel from Harpenden to Canary Wharf around 4 days a week and here are my preferred routes:

  1. Fast train to West Hampstead Thameslink, Jubilee line to Canary Wharf: Fastest and most hassle free (but not many fast trains stop at West Hampstead Thameslink in the morning peak)
  2. Fast train to Blackfriars, leave via Southbank exit, walk (or take a bus if one turns up immediately) to Southwark then Jubilee line to Canary Wharf (hint: On the platform, stay by the exits at Southwark, as that way people getting off will create space for you to get on)
  3. Semi Fast train to West Hampstead Thameslink, Jubilee line to Canary Wharf
  4. As 2, except District Line to Monument, then DLR from Bank to Canary Wharf

1 is fastest, followed by 2 & 3 (approximately equal) then by 4. I never use the Northern Line from Kings Cross / St Pancras in peaks (crowded and unpleasant).

The options on the way home are much the same, although 2's big advantage is the virtually guaranteed seat as the only times I have had to stand from Blackfriars northbound is when the service is disrupted.

As others have noted, depending on where in Canary Wharf you are going, '4' may be faster / more convenient if there is a DLR station near by.
 

JaJaWa

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I've had to do this for a commute for a bit before, the options most people I know take are:

  • Thameslink to West Hampstead, Jubilee line to Canary Wharf
  • Thameslink to London Bridge, Jubilee line to Canary Wharf (currently not possible)
  • Thameslink to Farringdon, Circle line to Moorgate, Northern line to Bank, DLR to Canary Wharf
  • Thameslink to Blackfriars, river-boat to Canary Wharf

If the train stops at West Hampstead then I would alight there
 

buzzword

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Out of curiosity, before January when Thameslink used to stop at London Bridge, was it still faster to take the Jubilee from West Hampstead or was it better to stay on the Thameslink train to London Bridge and take the Jubilee from there? Thameslink trains seem to dawdle through the central core - perhaps because of the time taken to switch voltage?
 

greatkingrat

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Even before the London Bridge closure, there were very few Thameslink trains that stopped at London Bridge during the peaks.
 

buzzword

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Even before the London Bridge closure, there were very few Thameslink trains that stopped at London Bridge during the peaks.

You're right. In the morning peak (7am-9am), no trains at all stopped at both West Hampstead and London Bridge.
Source: 2014 Thameslink timetable (PDF) (pages 38 onwards).

It seems counter-intuitive to transfer from the express service (Thameslink) to the local service (Jubilee) earlier, rather than as late as possible. But the timetable confirms it: 18 minutes by Jubilee line vs 27 minutes by Thameslink.

Why is Thameslink so slow in the central core? Even today a direct train from West Hampstead to Elephant & Castle takes 25 minutes, calling at five stops in between. By tube there are 12 intermediate stops and a change of line (Jubilee to Bakerloo), yet the total journey still only takes 25 minutes. Can we expect an improvement post-2018?
 

talldave

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Thameslink is pathetically slow. I keep getting on at Blackfriars with the intention of picking up a Southern service at East Croydon whilst forgetting it would be quicker to walk to Victoria, get a pedicure, publish my autobiography and have a coffee, whilst still catching an earlier train from Victoria than Thameslink would have connected me with.
 

Acqua

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Sorry for the super late reply but thanks to everyone who replied! You've been of great help. My n.1 choice following your advice is Luton to West Hampstead and then the Jubilee to Canary Wharf. N.2 is Luton to Blackfriars, then District/Circle to Monument/Bank and then DLR, so I'm going to test both and see which one I prefer.

Thanks again!
 

swt_passenger

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Why is Thameslink so slow in the central core? Even today a direct train from West Hampstead to Elephant & Castle takes 25 minutes, calling at five stops in between. By tube there are 12 intermediate stops and a change of line (Jubilee to Bakerloo), yet the total journey still only takes 25 minutes. Can we expect an improvement post-2018?

No - it's a heavy rail (mainline) service so multiple stops relatively close together, (specifically Farringdon, City T/L and Blackfriars), and relatively long dwell times (compared to the tube) and the high service frequency of 24 tph will all conspire to keep speed low overall.
 

Keith Jarrett

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My son used to commute to Canary Wharf via London Bridge and he was forever commenting that it was very difficult to board Jubilee trains there.

If you're using the Blackfriars /DLR option, travel in the back of the train to Blackfriars, then the back carriage on the tube. At Monument, ignore the signs for the DLR. Instead, there's a staircase by the back do of the tube. Go down here and then down the escalator to the Northern Line platform. Almost immediately you will see stairs down to the DLR

On the return, travel in rear of DLR. At Bank, turn right into central passage and head up different escalator to Monument. This brings you up on right side of tracks to head back to Blackfriars. You'll probably have excellent chance of getting a seat at Blackfriars unlike West Hampstead
 
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