Need to find another 30 minutes!! HELP!!!

[Richard74]

Hi folks, my brother and I have been challenged to complete the tube network on 28th August to raise money for our cousin's children with a rare genetic disorder. At ages 4 and 5, they are losing their site and mobility and are unlikely to reach their teens.

We've worked on a route as I've tried to demonstrate below. We have no desire to get a World Record (and wouldn't be able to with a Wimbledon start and Morden finish I expect). All we want to do is complete it and collect our sponsor money (currently at £1300)!

Problem: I've pulled together this route using various advice I found across this site, and then timetabled it using Journey Planner. However, with a 0453 start at Wimbledon, it finishes at Morden at 0045. This only leaves 15 minutes contingency which I expect is far too little.

Please can you give me some suggestions how we might save another 30 minutes or more. If you don't want to give away any secrets to the world, please can you private message me and I promise not to share nor use for any record attempt.

Thank you

P.S. If you have time, this tells more of our story: http://www.justgiving.com/tubechallenge270/

[al]

I don't think I'm giving away too many state secrets by suggesting that instead of doing Aldgate with a double run from Moorgate, run from Aldgate East instead when doing the district.

[The Orange One]

Simple things:

- Chiswick Park to Gunnersbury run could be better than attempting to double back there, trains are far apart
- As A2 said, Aldgate East to Aldgate is always a good idea, and would avoid that nasty-looking doubleback
- Make sure you research King's Cross St Pancras beforehand!!
- Reverse on the Jubilee at St John's Wood, then change at Finchley Road, it'll be faster and easier

Two other things:

- Don't leave on the 0453 from Wimbledon, this arrives in West Brompton at 0509. The first train out of Kensington Olympia leaves at 0550 towards Edgware Road, and you can rely on the first few trains of the day. You can take the 0511, pick up the 0541 Southern service at West Brompton and you're still sure to make that first train!
- Consider doubling back at Knightsbridge to Green Park, and then picking up the Victoria line there near the end of your route. The sub-surface lines will almost certainly have some signal failures by this late stage in the day (because they are all connected), it is unwise to rely on them (that's another reason to not do the Aldgate doubleback). Of course, if the Piccadilly Line is showing delays, don't do that.

[palkanetoijala31]

Simple things:

- Chiswick Park to Gunnersbury run could be better than attempting to double back there, trains are far apart
- As A2 said, Aldgate East to Aldgate is always a good idea, and would avoid that nasty-looking doubleback
- Make sure you research King's Cross St Pancras beforehand!!
- Reverse on the Jubilee at St John's Wood, then change at Finchley Road, it'll be faster and easier

Two other things:

- Don't leave on the 0453 from Wimbledon, this arrives in West Brompton at 0509. The first train out of Kensington Olympia leaves at 0550 towards Edgware Road, and you can rely on the first few trains of the day. You can take the 0511, pick up the 0541 Southern service at West Brompton and you're still sure to make that first train!
- Consider doubling back at Knightsbridge to Green Park, and then picking up the Victoria line there near the end of your route. The sub-surface lines will almost certainly have some signal failures by this late stage in the day (because they are all connected), it is unwise to rely on them (that's another reason to not do the Aldgate doubleback). Of course, if the Piccadilly Line is showing delays, don't do that.

i diasgree on dont leave on the 04:53 part as if they tweaked the route just slightly they can go off and do other things before returning to ken o,also i would say some things on this are horribly double back and that picture is hard to follow lol.

[Iain]

It's really hard to understand as it's a small diagram, but a few thoughts:

There's way more doubling back than needed
- coming down to E&C on the Bakerloo, then up to London Bridge and a Southwark double back should be faster.
- You should be able to get rid of the db on the Met on the bit parallel to the Jubilee - there's a fast train from Amersham to Marylebone if that's what caused it
- a lot of the db stuff either on the Central at the Ealing to NHG section or the Acton Town to Hammersmith segment on the Picc/District is avoidable - you will get some doubling back but you have way more than needed

Is there a reason for starting at Wimbledon? It's pretty easy to get a nightbus to Heathrow for the 5:02 start (Journey planner says this won't get you to T123 in time for the 5:10 but it does if you look at the wtts)

As Andi (Pal etc) says - do something with the time at West Brompton - and remember you don't have to get the first train out of Olympia - maybe you can kill off the left hand chunk of the H&C/circle up to Edgware Road?

[palkanetoijala31]

04:53 Wimbledon to Edgware road 05:30
05:34 Edgware road to hammersmith h&c 05:52 (13 mins fast walk pace by tfl)
06:06 Kensington Olympia to earls ct 06:10

[A2]

Simple things:
- As A2 said, Aldgate East to Aldgate is always a good idea, and would avoid that nasty-looking doubleback

I didn't say anything. (I agree though, given that this is standard Zone 1 behaviour)

[The Orange One]

Simple things:
- As A2 said, Aldgate East to Aldgate is always a good idea, and would avoid that nasty-looking doubleback

I didn't say anything. (I agree though, given that this is standard Zone 1 behaviour)

Sorry, Al said that. I must have misread.

[Iain]

Actually if you go from West Acton to North Ealing (a few hundred metres) and go up to Uxbridge, then back down the Central then you can cut out a mass of that double back

[Richard74]

Thank you all for your support and responses. Means a lot to us and has helped us shave off vital minutes!!

Once again, a shameless plug that if you're able to sponsor us, then: https://www.justgiving.com/tubechallenge270/

Thanks all!!

[Iain]

Andi says you're local to me - if we can find a suitable time I'm happy t meet up for a chat about the route . How's it looking now, any better?

[Richard74]

Hi Iain, yes much better thanks. Thanks for your offer. If I can figure out how to send a PM, I'll fire over my contact details. Cheers