Travelling from Paddington to Liverpool Street

[Rup]

When I use Google Maps to suggest a journey from Paddington to Liverpool Street, it sometimes says to take the District Line eastbound which then changes into a Hammersmith and City Line train as it arrives Edgware Road. Is that correct?

Now suppose I go to that District Line platform and a Circle Line train arrives, could I take that train?

It's confusing as the standard tube map suggests those lines both terminate at Edgware Road.

I thought I would need to go to the Hammersmith & City Line platform to catch a train.

Thanks.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

I thought I would need to go to the Hammersmith & City Line platform to catch a train.

There are two stations at Paddington on the TfL sub surface network. The Hammersmith and City (Bishops Road) platforms are in the main station on the far left as you face East, whilst the District/Circle platforms (Praed Street) are the other side of the main concourse. The next stop for both stations eastbound is Edgware Road as the lines join. However the Circle line trains no longer run in circles. What they do is a horseshoe where they run Hammersmith - Paddington (Bishops Road) - Edgware Road - Liverpool Street - Victoria - Paddington (Praed Street) - Edgware Road. The other service is the District Line which runs Wimbledon - Earls Court - Paddington - Edgware Road.

You can use either station, but all trains from Praed Street terminate at Edgware Road. It can be a long trek across Paddington to the Bishops Road platforms, so using Praed Street might sometimes be easier.

 

[telstarbox]

If you're not sure, when you get down to the platform look for the station diagram like the one below - if you can see Liverpool Street you're ok

http://citytransport.info/Digi/P1300517a.jpg

 

[rebmcr]

It sometimes says to take the District Line eastbound which then changes into a Hammersmith and City Line train as it arrives Edgware Road. Is that correct?

As I understand it, this is impossible because the District line train operators do not have route knowledge of the north circle (the section Edgware Road - Aldgate that Liverpool street is on).

It is possible for a clockwise Circle from the Praed Street platforms to be reformed en-route, or to be a special working, but I'm not sure how often this occurs — basically the tube map is fully accurate about what normally happens at Edgware Road.

 

[Dstock7080]

It is possible at certain times of the day, involving just one scheduled train, to travel from Ealing Broadway to Barking via Paddington and Liverpool Street with a change of driver at Edgware Road pfm.1.
In the reverse direction from a Circle Line train eastbound at Tower Hill to Liverpool Street then continuing to Ealing Broadway via Edgware Road, changing driver there.

 

[Hadders]

The Hammersmith & City is the most straightforward way. I've not checked but at some times of the day it might be quicker to take the District Line and change at Edgware Road but I'd always take the H&C,except if there is disruption.

I find reaching the H&C platforms at Paddington. In many ways far easier then the cramped corridors of the corridors to the District Line station.

Another way is to walk to Lancaster Gate and take the Central Line from there.

 

[swt_passenger]

As I understand it, this is impossible because the District line train operators do not have route knowledge of the north circle (the section Edgware Road - Aldgate that Liverpool street is on)..

I suggest Google is confusing a change between trains at Edgware Rd with a change of the train designation at Edware Rd, and I wouldnt read too much into it.

AIUI normal practice is to use standard platforming at Edgware Rd, with the Circle line services from Paddington (Praed St) arriving on the correct island platform i.e. P2 for onward travel towards Liverpool St from P1, hence District line services are planned to arrive on P3 on the other island and therefore require the use of the footbridge for the change.

So for ease of cross platform transfer at Edgware Rd you need the Circle from Paddington (Praed St) followed by either Circle or H&C forward from Edgware Rd. Exactly as shown in the picture of the P1 and P2 route map posted earlier in the thread by telstarbox.

However from a random position on an arriving GWR mainline service it is almost certainly as easy to go to the other platforms in the main station (the Bishops Rd platforms as mentioned earlier) and get any eastbound service.

 

[Clip]

Have you looked at Bakerloo to Oxford circus then change for central?

Not sure if that will be quicker

 

[glbotu]

Have you looked at Bakerloo to Oxford circus then change for central?

Not sure if that will be quicker

I think the Bakerloo is just a tad too slow, and the Central - Bakerloo interchange is the less convenient one (compared with Bakerloo/Victoria). As such the Circle/H&C route is much easier. I'd say walking to Bishop's Road platforms (ie: Platforms 15 and 16) at Paddington is just as long as walking to the Praed Street platforms. I'd say just walk to 15 and 16 at Paddington and take the first train, it'll be much quicker.

 

[Rup]

Thanks, everyone. I took the H&C train in the end. On my way back, I took Metropolitan from Liverpool Street to Baker Street (after agreeing with my colleague we would board the first train regardless of which line it was!), and then the Bakerloo to Paddington.

I was impressed with the refurb on the Bakerloo trains. Very chocolatey!

 

[D365]

To be honest, I thought that the Central line was the quickest way. At least until Crossrail opens.

Glad you had a good journey nonetheless.