Travelling eastbound on the Jubilee Line, I've been wondering whether it is quicker to change trains at London Bridge or Canada Water when heading home if you don't know the times of Overground or Southern trains.
I thought I would share the results of my ponderings.
Without giving all the workings out, starting from the Jubilee Line platform, I make the average journey time to Honor Oak Park 21 minutes via Canada Water and 24 minutes via London Bridge. Best time via London Bridge is 16 minutes, via Canada Water 17.5 minutes, but the downside is that if you just miss a train, the worst time via London Bridge is 32 minutes, Canada Water 27.5 minutes. I conclude that it is almost always quicker to change at Canada Water.
These calculations assume you can make the change at London Bridge in 5 minutes. This is the figure used by the TfL journey planner but seems very optimistic to me. I used a figure of 2 minutes for Canada Water which is probably pessimistic. I used a 15 minute train interval from London Bridge and a 5-5 10 minute interval from Canada Water.
Did you also add the time it takes to walk between the JL platforms and the Southern platforms at London Bridge? It can take at least 5 mins at normal pace to get there.
For me London Bridge is only an option during late evenings once LO's final service leaves at 2356 from Canada Water.
As I said above, I included 5 minutes for the change from the Jubilee to Southern at London Bridge. That's the time allowed in some of the connections offered by the TfL journey planner. However, I think that in many cases it would take longer than this, particularly if the Southern train is leaving from platform 15/16!
I know from when I used to use London Bridge in the morning peak and was on those far away end platforms, 5 minutes was only possible if you were on the front carriage and could get to the doors quickly.
As much as I hate the crush for the escalator down to the Jubilee at Canada Water, it's still preferable to London Bridge.
Reading on the EDF, Southern manager Barry Jones mentions LB wil have new gatelines installed in May, which should improve morning peak passenger flow.
For someone without a season ticket does it not cost more to do London Bridge:
(a) because you switch from train to underground
(b) if you change at Canada Water you do not go into zone 1
Thought I was the only one geeky enough to be calculating this sort of thing! After much deliberation I favour Canada Water - easy interchange, in the morning's it's less likely to be closed than the Underground at London Bridge and the gap between trains is also better should you then miss one. Although I do always have a niggling doubt that I would have been better going the other way!!
I manage it by knowing the times of the LB trains and getting off the Jubilee or not depending on whether I will make the next one or not. Do prefer going Via LB as the trains are much nicer.
You find the trains at London Bridge nicer than the Overground trains at Canada Water? Really?
Personally I find the journey more enjoyable via Canada Water if I have to change - if I am coming back late at night however I do often get the train from London Bridge as I feel it will get me back faster if I make the connections.
To be fair, during the evening peak, I'd rather get on a 10 car Southern train than be on a crowded Overground train from Canada Water, especially the West Croydon trains which are always full to the brim at that time.
Otherwise Canada Water is the easiest and best way to get to and from here.
I prefer the forward/backwards seat and the seats themselves are more comfortable, they lean back; do that on the Overground and you hit your head on the window. Heading north you also get the 4 across a carriage seats with the luxury of a table. Plus you are more likely to get a seat on a train that has more than four carriages.
And you can often open the window. The Overground trains get horribly stuff when they are full, don't know what's with the alleged air conditioning.
I prefer the forward/backwards seat and the seats themselves are more comfortable, they lean back; do that on the Overground and you hit your head on the window. Heading north you also get the 4 across a carriage seats with the luxury of a table. Plus you are more likely to get a seat on a train that has more than four carriages.
And you can often open the window. The Overground trains get horribly stuff when they are full, don't know what's with the alleged air conditioning.
if I can, I'll get the 0912 from FH to LB where it's possible to get a table and 4 chairs to yourself.
A much calmer trip than the Overground, Jubillee and Northern.
There's a mistake on line 4. I like the XXXXs, shows you've been using it a while.
So the next question is, if I arrive on a Jubilee train at London Bridge should I get out?
How long does it take to get from the tube to the train waiting on the platform? And how long does it take to get to Canada Water and change trains?
I've found myself at London Bridge thinking will I be able to run up the escalator fast enough to get the train or shall I continue to Canada Water, and I've equally found myself thinking will I have enough time to make it to Canada Water for the next train, or should I get out here and take it easy for five minutes?
I have sadly calculated that you need more than 12 minutes to get from London Bridge to Canada Water platform via the jubilee and the way the trains are timed at night (I used to sometimes finish up in Waterloo at 21:00 so it is based on this time of night) means that it is never worthwhile staying on to Canada Water you should get out at London Bridge.