Caterham connections

[Farigiraf]

I've seen in a fairly recent thread that at Caterham, the outbound service usually departs just after (or often before) the inbound service. I have a few questions:

Is it worth dashing for the outbound train, or is there no chance I could make it?

Are there any reliable buses to either a BML or Oxted Line station?

Alternatively, is there anything in particular to do in Caterham? Preferably something outdoors

The other option would be to travel on a Sunday where there is a roughly 10 minute wait between services, but connections off of LBG/ECR are poor.

TIA

 

[JonathanH]

Are there any reliable buses to either a BML or Oxted Line station?

Caterham station is in the valley so is not readily connected to other places. The 400 bus runs hourly to Redhill via the A22 to Godstone (village, not station) and the A25 and should generally be reliable. The 409 runs to Godstone (station), Lingfield and East Grinstead. The 407 runs frequently back to Purley the same way as the train.

Alternatively, is there anything in particular to do in Caterham? Preferably something outdoors

Not really. It is a small town with the usual mix of shops expected for somewhere of its relatively small size, Morrisons and Waitrose supermarkets and other small shops and eating places. The attractive views over the countryside are some distance from the station.

 

[HST43257]

I did the quick change at Caterham, and it was a success. Helpful factors can be getting on the arrival that has to cross the tracks, obstructing the departure. I can‘t remember which platform it is.

IIRC, the bus back to Purley is frequent and fairly quick so it’s not the worst thing

 

[4COR]

East Surrey museum is just around the corner from the station - but limited opening times. As @JonathanH says, the best views are a good couple of miles walk away along the top of the North Downs especially.

 

[Farigiraf]

Caterham station is in the valley so is not readily connected to other places. The 400 bus runs hourly to Redhill via the A22 to Godstone (village, not station) and the A25 and should generally be reliable. The 409 runs to Godstone (station), Lingfield and East Grinstead. The 407 runs frequently back to Purley the same way as the train.

IIRC, the bus back to Purley is frequent and fairly quick so it’s not the worst thing

Good to know, thanks

East Surrey museum is just around the corner from the station - but limited opening times. As @JonathanH says, the best views are a good couple of miles walk away along the top of the North Downs especially.

Website says opening times are off-peak on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays so I might try to look for a time to travel one of those days.

I did the quick change at Caterham, and it was a success. Helpful factors can be getting on the arrival that has to cross the tracks, obstructing the departure. I can‘t remember which platform it is.

Do you remember whether it was the xx24 or the xx54? That may be a relevant factor.

 

[JonathanH]

Do you remember whether it was the xx24 or the xx54? That may be a relevant factor.

An arrival into platform 1 crosses over in front of a departure from platform 2.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Looking at RTT for a random day midweek this week shows the xx.54 arrives into platform 1.

That doesn't stop things happening the other way round on the day if there is an operational need to swap the pattern - but looking at RTT before you set out should show what is happening on any given day.

 

[Farigiraf]

An arrival into platform 1 crosses over in front of a departure from platform 2.

I'll catch an xx54 then, and if that doesn't work out I'll use one of the other suggestions. Thanks for the help.

Edit: Looks like Peter Mugridge has pointed out the same thing.

 

[4COR]

Forgot to add that the 407 bus to Purley goes via Whyteleafe, where you can get off and walk to Upper Warlingham in a few minutes to get onto the Oxted line - depending on connections, that might be quicker than, say, Lingfield on the 409.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Is it worth dashing for the outbound train, or is there no chance I could make it?

The quick change worked for me when I did it recently.