Thursday Looks like a Fun Day
I just discovered that I'm booked into a meeting in Norwich on Thursday at 9 in the morning. That would mean taking the 6.25 train from Liverpool Street. That's quite early.
A little research reveals that there isn't actually a tube that arrives early enough at Liverpool Street from my station. I'll probably have to drive to Shenfield and take the train from there. The train from there leaves at 6.37. With time for mishaps, parking and me being rather slow at that time of "day", I'll have to figure 2 hours for the drive. That means leaving home at 4.40. I'd have to change trains in Chelmsford for the Norwich train.
Alternatively I could drive to a the centre of my suburb and get the very first tube train. If the train is cancelled or delayed, I'll miss my connection at Liverpool Street. Delays and cancellations are unfortunately not unusual at all. In fact my tube this morning was canceled. But I wouldn't have to leave home until 5. Although I'm not sure the parking garage is open that early. I'd have to find that out.
Another alternative would be to take a mainline train to Euston. There are a few mainline stations within easy driving distance. I'd still have to find a tube from the mainline station to Liverpool Street but lets check if what used to be called British Rail can get into town at this unreasonable hour. Yes, that's possible. I'd have to drive to a rather scruffy station but it's not more than a mile or two and there shouldn't be much traffic at that time. There will be plenty of parking.
Only worrying thing is that the tube journey from Euston to Liverpool Street is reported as taking 43 minutes. There's no way of finding out what the National Rail Enquiries journey planner thinks should happen during those 43 minutes. Even the bus doesn't take more than half an hour. Walking to Euston Square and taking the Circle or Hammersmith & City lines takes 20 minutes, according to the London Transport journey planner. That sounds more reasonable.
The advantage of taking the train is of course that I can concentrate on eating or getting some shut-eye while being taken where I need to go. That's important in the morning. The disadvantage is that in the afternoon it's going to be crowded. Still, I think safety takes precedence. Driving when tired is almost as bad as driving when drunk. I'll just confirm the time before I go ahead and book.
A little research reveals that there isn't actually a tube that arrives early enough at Liverpool Street from my station. I'll probably have to drive to Shenfield and take the train from there. The train from there leaves at 6.37. With time for mishaps, parking and me being rather slow at that time of "day", I'll have to figure 2 hours for the drive. That means leaving home at 4.40. I'd have to change trains in Chelmsford for the Norwich train.
Alternatively I could drive to a the centre of my suburb and get the very first tube train. If the train is cancelled or delayed, I'll miss my connection at Liverpool Street. Delays and cancellations are unfortunately not unusual at all. In fact my tube this morning was canceled. But I wouldn't have to leave home until 5. Although I'm not sure the parking garage is open that early. I'd have to find that out.
Another alternative would be to take a mainline train to Euston. There are a few mainline stations within easy driving distance. I'd still have to find a tube from the mainline station to Liverpool Street but lets check if what used to be called British Rail can get into town at this unreasonable hour. Yes, that's possible. I'd have to drive to a rather scruffy station but it's not more than a mile or two and there shouldn't be much traffic at that time. There will be plenty of parking.
Only worrying thing is that the tube journey from Euston to Liverpool Street is reported as taking 43 minutes. There's no way of finding out what the National Rail Enquiries journey planner thinks should happen during those 43 minutes. Even the bus doesn't take more than half an hour. Walking to Euston Square and taking the Circle or Hammersmith & City lines takes 20 minutes, according to the London Transport journey planner. That sounds more reasonable.
The advantage of taking the train is of course that I can concentrate on eating or getting some shut-eye while being taken where I need to go. That's important in the morning. The disadvantage is that in the afternoon it's going to be crowded. Still, I think safety takes precedence. Driving when tired is almost as bad as driving when drunk. I'll just confirm the time before I go ahead and book.