King's Cross to Paddington - what's the fastest route now?

[yorkie]

What do people reckon is the quickest way from King's Cross (let's assume you arrive into platforms 1-8 and alight from the front of the train) to Paddington (let's assume you want to depart from platform 1)?

Could it be via Farringdon onto Crossrail? This is perhaps counter-intuitive from the point of view that you are heading away from yourself, but it might actually be quicker, given the H&C/Circle option isn't a particularly fast route.

Assuming it is via Farringdon, I'd say it would be quickest to get to Farringdon via the sub surface LU lines rather than Thameslink, though the answer may be different if you were arriving into St Pancras from EMR.

What I've tended to do in the past is get the first available train heading west on the sub-surface lines; if it's not a direct train to Paddington, I would get off at Baker Street (from about the 3rd/4th car from the front) and nip down to the Bakerloo, to avoid waiting for the H&C at King's Cross.

If you wanted to get to a higher numbered platform, this is far less likely to be quicker on Crossrail, given the further distance to walk at Paddington from the Crossrail platforms, combined with a shorter walk from the H&C.

I guess the Crossrail option will also be more attractive once the frequency increases.

 

[JonathanH]

It seems difficult to me to imagine that going via Farringdon and Elizabeth Line is the quickest route, particularly at the moment with trains only running every five minutes (although you could take a view based on whether your eastbound sub-surface line train were to leave Kings Cross St Pancras exactly six minutes before an Elizabeth Line train is due to leave Farringdon, allowing three minutes to Farringdon and three minute interchange.

Eastbound Farringdon SSL to the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon is not straightforward given the need to go up and down to the northbound Thameslink platform, then walk along the platform before even getting to the escalators down to the Elizabeth Line, which itself is fairly deep at that location.

Farringdon to Paddington is then 7/8 minutes.

I guess the contrast is that nominally Kings Cross St Pancras SSL trains to Paddington are every five minutes but often have gaps or delays.

Timings should be 12/13 minutes on the SSL and 3+3+7 on the route via Farringdon. Not enough to favour the Farringdon route except in delays.

 

[Hadders]

I suspect the H&C will still be the fastest.

It's an interesting situation for me as I regularly need to get to Paddington, using Thameslink from Stevenage. There are four options:

1. H&C from Kings Cross but it's along walk from the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras to the sub surface platforms
2. Take the H&C from Farringdon. This is a cross-platform interchange if interchanging from southbound Thameslink to westbound H&C, but not in th eoposite direction
3. Elizabeth Line from Farringdon. An awkward interchange from southbound Thameslink but simple interchange to the northbound Thameslink which I managed in 1 minute last night!
4. Take the Victoria Line from Finsbury Park to Oxford Circus and then Bakerloo

In my experience via Oxford Circus is the fastest, especially if you're in the correct carriage for a speedy change at Oxford Circus.

I'ver never found option 2 fastest. It's three minutes each way from Kings Cross to Paddington plus interchange time. I can walk from the Thameslink platforms to the sub-surface platforms in less than that and often end up a train ahead.

I'll give the Elizabeth Line a go, and it might be faster when it's running every 2.5 minutes.

Maybe we should have a forum race

 

[Starmill]

I would imagine that if the next westbound subsurface train is via Paddington when you arrive at the platform, this is still quicker. If it isn't there's quite some doubt. You can look at when the next Hammersmith service is in advance and judge where to go after stepping off your train based on that: https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZ...n?lineId=circle,hammersmith-city,metropolitan

Confusingly they call it live arrivals but they do state the train destinations rather than their origins.

King's Cross St Pancras Underground to Paddington Underground is still timed at 10 minutes, while Farringdon to London Paddington is timed at 8 minutes.

 

[cactustwirly]

I think a lot of it depends on what part of Paddington you need, for intercity services I suspect the Elizabeth line is fastest especially when changing from Thameslink, as the Elizabeth line station is next to platforms 1-5.

For 10-14 I suspect the Hammersmith and City is the quickest

 

[Techniquest]

I don't know about fastest, but I would use the route via Farringdon happily. There's absolutely no question which line I'd use if I was going from Paddington to Moorgate or Liverpool Street now, CrossRail every time. I like the S stock, but for a West to East run I'd use CrossRail without question.

And yes, I'm stubborn and not calling it the Elizabeth Line, Purple Train or whatever!

 

[xotGD]

Unless you have a tight connection, then which has the least walking has to be a factor.

 

[swt_passenger]

[…]
What I've tended to do in the past is get the first available train heading west on the sub-surface lines; if it's not a direct train to Paddington, I would get off from about the 3rd/4th car from the front and nip down to the Bakerloo, to avoid waiting for the H&C at King's Cross.

I’m not quite following this, are you changing at another station on route here, presumably Baker St?

 

[yorkie]

Sorry yes I meant to say at Baker Street.

 

[yorkie]

I would imagine that if the next westbound subsurface train is via Paddington when you arrive at the platform, this is still quicker. If it isn't there's quite some doubt...

I agree; having tried via Farringdon the other day, I would only go that way again if there was a gap in service heading west, and an imminent departure heading east.

 

[Techniquest]

Unless you have a tight connection, then which has the least walking has to be a factor.

Valid point, but then if you're nuts like me and enjoy walking fast then you'd probably welcome the walk. If it wasn't a significant distance, I'd even consider the walk from Kings Cross to Farringdon to then dive onto CrossRail.

Given the choice, I'd have a quick walk over to St Pancras Low Level, onto Thameslink to Farringdon and CrossRail over to Paddington. Considering how unreliable the sub-surface lines can be, I'd say there wouldn't be too much difference in it!

 

[Kite159]

Also I guess it depends if you come into Kings Cross on the suburban platforms (9 & 10), as the connection to Thameslink is short compared to coming into say platform 0 when the concourse is busy.

One downside at changing at Baker Street from a Met Line if no Hammersmith trains are showing is that the Bakerloo can also have 'large' gaps in service (large compared to other tube lines in central London)

I have done Kings Cross - Oxford Circus -> short walk to Northbound Bakerloo - Paddington before when there has been no service on the sub surface lines from Kings Cross.

 

[Hadders]

I’ve just done Paddington to Kings Cross in 13 minutes.

I departed Paddington XR at 18:03 which arrived Farringdon XR at 18:10. Some nimble footwork saw me get to the sun-surface platforms where I had a 1 minute wait for a Met Line train. I arrived at Kings Cross St Pancras at 18:14, with me exiting the tube line ticket barrier at 18:16.

It helped that I was in the correct position of both trains, I could’ve got a Thameslink train as there was a northbound train pulling in as I arrived but the walk at St Pancras is further than at Kings Cross.

 

[JonathanH]

I’ve just done Paddington to Kings Cross in 13 minutes.

Isn't 13 minutes already possible on a Hammersmith & City train assuming everything is running to plan (which it often isn't)?

 

[Welly]

Isn't 13 minutes already possible on a Hammersmith & City train assuming everything is running to plan (which it often isn't)?

I've done KX - Paddington both directions several times as a schoolboy in the 1980s and I don't recall doing it that quickly.

 

[Hadders]

I've done KX - Paddington both directions several times as a schoolboy in the 1980s and I don't recall doing it that quickly.

TfL journey planner gives the running time at 10 minutes between Kings Cross St Pancras and Paddington via the H&C/Circle Line.

 

[Mikw]

Coming from EMR at St Pancras i'd always do Thamesling to Farringdon as they platforms are just below. Front portion of the Thameslink to be next to the ticket hall steps. Cross the ticket hall, down the escalators and hope onto the Elizabeth line.

 

[Failed Unit]

I would always use Farringdon now (if coming from Thameslink). Even if it is longer at the moment it is less crowded.

When the full route opens it will add some interesting dilemmas; people may change at Ealing Broadway if going west.

Even WGC - Heathrow could be better via Moorgate. All of course will be tried and tested (just to find the Piccadilly is still the quickest.)

 

[yorkie]

There looks to be slack in the timetable, for example the 1753 from Paddington today departed at 1756, but still reported on time at Farringdon (1801).

Next time I go from King's Cross to Paddington, I will check when the next westbound service is, and if there is a gap and an eastbound is due, I will then go via Farringdon.

Does anyone know the best door/coach position to exit an eastbound met/circle* train at Farringdon to get to Crossrail, and how to make the connection? I followed the signs last time (at least I tried to!) and it was a long way round involving exiting and re-entering gatelines, so I am sure there is a quicker way!

(*This may differ, as of course Met trains are longer!)

 

[Hadders]

Does anyone know the best door/coach position to exit an eastbound met/circle* train at Farringdon to get to Crossrail, and how to make the connection? I followed the signs last time (at least I tried to!) and it was a long way round involving exiting and re-entering gatelines, so I am sure there is a quicker way!

Carriage 5 from an eastbound train, across the bridge then walk along the northbound Thameslink platform to the Elizabeth Line entrance.

Alternatively, 2nd carriage, up the stairs and exit the tube station cross the Cowcross Street and re-enter the new ticket hall then take a right down to the EL platforms.

 

[Starmill]

There might be less slack in the future when trains have to stop at Bond Street.

 

[NoOnesFool]

What do people reckon is the quickest way from King's Cross (let's assume you arrive into platforms 1-8 and alight from the front of the train) to Paddington (let's assume you want to depart from platform 1)?

Could it be via Farringdon onto Crossrail? This is perhaps counter-intuitive from the point of view that you are heading away from yourself, but it might actually be quicker, given the H&C/Circle option isn't a particularly fast route.

Assuming it is via Farringdon, I'd say it would be quickest to get to Farringdon via the sub surface LU lines rather than Thameslink, though the answer may be different if you were arriving into St Pancras from EMR.

What I've tended to do in the past is get the first available train heading west on the sub-surface lines; if it's not a direct train to Paddington, I would get off at Baker Street (from about the 3rd/4th car from the front) and nip down to the Bakerloo, to avoid waiting for the H&C at King's Cross.

If you wanted to get to a higher numbered platform, this is far less likely to be quicker on Crossrail, given the further distance to walk at Paddington from the Crossrail platforms, combined with a shorter walk from the H&C.

I guess the Crossrail option will also be more attractive once the frequency increases.

I did this trip last week and I walked along Euston Road, Marylebone Road, Marylebone High Street, Paddington Street, Edgeware Road and down Praed Street. It took just under an hour but it was a pleasant walk.