tubechallenge.com

I have just seen a repeat of that brilliant episode of Top Gear where the team race from Kew Bridge to London City Airport by:
A) Push Bike
B) Car
C) Public Transport
D) Boat
& despite the fact I have seen this episode three times now the thought has never occurred to me that we the Tube Challenge community should try this very challenge.

So for example Mr Starkey could use his Bike
Soup Dragon & possibly a navigator could take the Car
& the rest of us could travel how we normally do Public Transport
I if anyone has/Knows how to get a Boat then Great!

The only thing is the Top Gear Team started at 8:30am on a Monday, which I'm guessing would be hard for us to do on a normal work day!

I think you may have to forego the boat option in this challenge ...

this would be fantastic fun to try out, i thought the same thing as i saw the repeat again last night!

the annoying thing would be if we were try it any time in the next year, the Monument-Bank DLR interchange has now been closed off. i don't know how easy/quick it is to do it at surface level, but that would give the Stig an advantage over us!

dudey wrote:the annoying thing would be if we were try it any time in the next year, the Monument-Bank DLR interchange has now been closed off. i don't know how easy/quick it is to do it at surface level, but that would give the Stig an advantage over us!

Well In that case we will have to go to Tower Hill & run to Tower Gateway, which should be a bit quicker anyway. The only thing is I think I read Tower Gateway is closing some time this year for something?

That Works!

scrxisi wrote:Westminster > Jubilee > Canning Town > DLR > London City Airport?

aha! that's actually probably a better route!

as for the bit before that, i'd have a look at the location they started from (near kew bridge) before assuming Gunnersbury by bus is the best option. Maybe better to get to Turnham Green somehow so there's twice as many trains?

I'm really up for this now! Could be a good laugh. I also smell a youtube spoof hit....

dudey wrote:I'm really up for this now! Could be a good laugh. I also smell a youtube spoof hit....

Just had a quick look on You Tube & couldn't find any spoofs of the race, & like you Matt I’m really up for this now.

I have got a 3 man inflatable dinghy (which you can get 2 in at a push )... So all we need now is and outboard motor...

You could have people using several different public transport routes.

1. District to Monument, DLR to City Airport
2. District to Westminster, Jubilee to Canning Town, DLR
3. SWT Kew Bridge to Waterloo then Jubilee and DLR.

How about...

Team A could use Tube + DLR only (about 1h 15m)
Team B could use cars only (1-2 hours depending on traffic)
Team C could use bicycles only (1-2 hours depending on fitness)
Team D could use National Rail (but not Overground) + DLR only (about 1h 40m)
Team E could use Overground + DLR only (about 1h 50m)
Team F could use buses + DLR only (about 2h 30m)
Team G could use boats + DLR only (unknown) - this one might not be realistic, but if anyone owns, or can rent a boat, or is willing to use the TfL river services...

All these times are estimates, loosely based on Journey Planner, from TW9 3BW (mid-point between Kew Gardens LU station and Kew Bridge NR station - an ideal starting location) and London City Airport.

I would definitely be willing to take part, as long as I wasn't on Team F or G. In fact, I quite fancy being on Team D or E.

greatkingrat wrote:You could have people using several different public transport routes.

1. District to Monument, DLR to City Airport
2. District to Westminster, Jubilee to Canning Town, DLR
3. SWT Kew Bridge to Waterloo then Jubilee and DLR.

Or 4. Run to the Gunnersbury, Richmond, SWT to Waterloo.

Sounds interesting....

Why not take a river boat from Millbank Pier (next to the tate) up to Tower Pier?

Soup Dragon wrote:

greatkingrat wrote:You could have people using several different public transport routes.

1. District to Monument, DLR to City Airport
2. District to Westminster, Jubilee to Canning Town, DLR
3. SWT Kew Bridge to Waterloo then Jubilee and DLR.

Or 4. Run to the Gunnersbury, Richmond, SWT to Waterloo.

Option 4 is could work best because you stand a chance of getting a fast into waterloo.

Not so sure about the Team A-G thing as its moving away from the Top Gear race & we may struggle to get that many people, but if we can then great.