Travelling from London
Posted by Specialist-Sir9951@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 18 comments
Hi all so Id probably be travelling to milton keynes on a daily basis for my job, most probably from Euston. Whats the best/cheapest way to do this, if anyone has done it/currently doing it? Are the monthly seasonal tickets worth it?
Kid_Kimura@reddit
Paying to live in London on a Milton Keynes wage is a bit backwards! I imagine trains will be cheaper than the other way around though. If you're travelling daily then the season tickets will definitely be more cost effective.
Specialist-Sir9951@reddit (OP)
yea i realise that, but unfortunately i cannot move at the moment because of family responsibilities. seems like the season tickets are the best option.
Kid_Kimura@reddit
I was half kidding, I get that these things aren't always simple. Where abouts in MK do you need to get to? Public transport is not quite as reliable as central London!
Specialist-Sir9951@reddit (OP)
somewhere near walnut tree. could you explain what not as reliable as central london means?
Kid_Kimura@reddit
Our buses are not as frequent or reliable as you will find in London, just to be aware about factoring in time for that really. Not too sure what you would need to get Walnut Tree way but sure the details will be available online.
Ok-Craft3576@reddit
I moved to MK from South London about 12 years ago, where getting a bus was almost a default daily occurrence, they were regular, reliable and went pretty much anywhere you needed to go - my car was for the big shop and long distance only.
My experience of buses in MK is therefore that they are a last resort 😂 The amount of times they caused me to miss my train in the morning when I still did the commute, and that was a short hop. Walnut tree is a fair way from the centre and the idea of doing that by PT fills me with dread.
One thing I'd change about MK is a proper MTS like a tram or monorail or something!
Another option, get yourself a folding bike, reliable and some exercise if that's viable - it's what I did to avoid the bus.
Rexal_LB@reddit
Something like that was actually planned for MK... And there have been many fan based ideas on what such a system could look like, I distinctly remember this sub having a lot of fun with someone making an underground style map of a proposed tube system around MK!
Ok-Craft3576@reddit
I've heard the same, was it a plan, a myth, an urban legend!?
Either way, the grid system would be a perfect foundation.
Maybe now with the city status!? Might get one by the time I draw my pension if they start soon, haha!
I was a kid in Croydon when the trams came along, seem to remember that took a about a decade to sort out...
Specialist-Sir9951@reddit (OP)
thats helpful! and would you say mk is overall safe in general?
Ok-Craft3576@reddit
Like anywhere, has it's good and bad bits. But keep your wits about you and it's fine. If you're coming from the London area you'll definitely be ok!
Rexal_LB@reddit
That's an easy one, the N8 goes to Walnut Tree! Though that is also a semi busy service too... So peak times might be trouble.
Specialist-Sir9951@reddit (OP)
yes i saw the n8 option as well. i realise this is a stupid question but i did a bit of research and im not sure if the n8 runs both ways? it definitely goes from mkc to walnut tree but i cant see any routes the other way round? just a little confused here so if you could help me out id be better able to mentally form a plan for the best routes to take haha
Rexal_LB@reddit
It goes back the other way. all the busses except the mk loop all reverse at their final destination.
anonymoustr@reddit
As with most routes across MK, the bike ride from Central MK to Walnut Tree is a tremendous one. It's also greatly convenient that the way there is largely downhill so you need to worry less about energy/sweat on the way to work.
You're looking at around 20-30 minutes. Take your won foldable or pay £2 (assuming you stay under 30 mins, otherwise £3) for a Santander each way. You won't have trouble finding Santander bikes near the station and there's a Walnut Tree stop for the Santander bikes where you can park it. There's also a couple of nearby stops to Walnut Tree in case that station doesn't have any bikes near you on your return journey.
Specialist-Sir9951@reddit (OP)
makes sense. do you recon its generally a safe area in all? i mean inclusive of using public transport on some days/biking on others depending on the time i have on my hand
anonymoustr@reddit
Walnut Tree is absolutely fine. All of MK is tbh but if you're sensitive to general vibe, there may be a few areas like Fishermead/Netherfield that you may want to avoid cutting through. Beauty of MK again is the fact you can very easily choose which areas you do and don't want to cut through on the bike (you may even choose to just stick to the main roads for most of your journey). In the summer time, your route will take in a fair bit of the River Ouzel which is beautiful but enough romanticism, im welling up here. The end conclusion is, enjoy the commute, no major worries.
HedgehogStroker@reddit
Some non-stop West Midlands trains can be booked for £6.80 if going against the flow and booking a couple of weeks in advance. Check out the 07.46 from Euston and the 18.49 or 19.49 from MK.
BobyIsMyUncle@reddit
If you're not traveling 5 times a week then a season ticket probably doesn't make sense.
If you're traveling less then get a network railcard and buy tickets as you go (not sure if a travel card can be combined with a season ticket). If you can travel off-peak that will save the most.
Use trainpal to book tickets, it gives you a few pennies back every time that you can use towards the next journey.