Hull to Mottingham

[westv]

It looks like I'll be travelling to Mottingham station next Tuesday and returning on the Thursday. The journey planner suggests Hull - Donc - Stevenage - London Bridge - Mottingham.
This sounds straightforward enough but I was just wondering if there was perhaps a better less obvious route. Probably not but I thought I'd ask anyway. I'm looking for convenience and speed.

 

[cactustwirly]

It looks like I'll be travelling to Mottingham station next Tuesday and returning on the Thursday. The journey planner suggests Hull - Donc - Stevenage - London Bridge - Mottingham.
This sounds straightforward enough but I was just wondering if there was perhaps a better less obvious route. Probably not but I thought I'd ask anyway. I'm looking for convenience and speed.

Hull - Doncaster - Kings Cross - London Bridge (via the Northern line) - Mottingham

 

[westv]

Hull - Doncaster - Kings Cross - London Bridge (via the Northern line) - Mottingham

Thanks although I'd prefer to avoid the Northern line unless it's not as crammed as normal.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is Thameslink a possibility for the cross-London leg?

 

[High Dyke]

Is Thameslink a possibility for the cross-London leg?

That is what the OP has found in the journey planner. Change at Stevenage for a Thameslink service across London. I've had journey planners offer that route when travelling south of the river. Alternatively they could travel onto King's Cross and walk across the road to St Pancras to catch a Thameslink service from there.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Alternatively they could travel onto King's Cross and walk across the road to St Pancras to catch a Thameslink service from there.

That's what I had in mind, rather than the Northern Line.

 

[westv]

Ah yes, change at Kings X to St Panc.
I guess the journey planner suggests Stevenage as that is quicker (even with the slower train) than the long walk between KX and STP.

 

[fishquinn]

Only quicker when you factor in the journey planner will allow 32 mins for the change when it's doable in 10 without breaking a sweat. My route would definitely be Hull-Doncaster-KX-London Bridge (Thameslink)-Mottingham, allows fast trains from Doncaster-London that don't stop at Stevenage too.

 

[SteelWeelApeal]

If the fast train stops at Stevenage, and there isn't a long wait, I'd change there rather than London. The Thameslink trains are only slightly slower and it's a lot less hassle than London. Also slightly safer in terms of Covid.

 

[Hadders]

Changing at Stevenage will mean a cross platform change, very simple. There is a train from Stevenage to London Bridge every 15 minutes.

You could carry on to Kings Cross but you'll then need to cross the road to St Pancras and descend to the Thameslink platforms, I doubt this will be faster than changing at Stevenage.

 

[westv]

I'm assuming the services will probably be lightly loaded. Travelling middle of the day.

 

[Hadders]

I'm assuming the services will probably be lightly loaded. Travelling middle of the day.

Trains are lightly loaded. On LNER as a minimum you will have a double seat to yourself. On Thameslink it'll be a 12-car train with a handful of passengers in most of them.