Would you trust the trains to get you from Cambridgeshire to Heathrow on a Saturday morning?
Posted by thewindow6@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments
Personally I would prefer to drive, but I would also prefer not to pay for parking at the airport. Train from Huntingdon would be the logical alternative but I’ve been burned before with trains, especially transiting through central London, and wouldn’t want that kind of cancellation/delay stress before a flight. Am I being paranoid or is my caution for public transport justified?
Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit
What time is your flight? If it's first thing, I'd be paranoid. If it's later, I'd be less paranoid.
thewindow6@reddit (OP)
Flight is AM, so I’ll be arriving to the airport relatively early, not crazy though. Think I’ll get a hotel overnight on Friday as others have suggested. Use some of those hotel points I’ve been saving up
Far_Call2993@reddit
Personally I only take the coach when heading to the airport, even if it takes much longer. I can't trust the trains to be punctual or not to cancel last minute.
markvauxhall@reddit
Famously roads never have collisions on them that could hypothetically snarl up the motorway for an hour or more.
ajslov@reddit
Get the Brighton service to Farringdon and then Elizabeth line to Heathrow terminals. Have done this many times from Royston.
Technical_Front_8046@reddit
Drive. Park car at terminal 4 long stay (normally very cheap) and stay at Terminal 4 premier inn…..again, very cheap.
Flying from Terminal 5? Then jump on the H30 bus at terminal 4 or the tube etc. it’s free and takes about 15mins.
thetechguyv@reddit
No, get a cab.
ac0rn5@reddit
We used to use local "private hire" people to get to/from the airport because it was easier and cheaper than using the train (each person has to have a train ticket) or driving & parking (airport parking is expensive).
And they pick you up from the terminal too, which is brilliant.
geekroick@reddit
What time is your flight?
Circa 1 hour from Huntingdon to King's Cross. Looks like the early trains are 2 per hour, increasing to 3 per hour past 8am.
Then circa 50-60 minutes to Heathrow from the westbound Piccadilly Line platform at King's Cross.
Seems reasonable enough.
Can you aim to get there for three hours before the flight? At least that gives you some extra time to a for any delays en route.
thewindow6@reddit (OP)
I’d be leaving home around 6am to give myself the usual 2-3hrs at the airport. I think I’ll probably stay overnight on Friday at a hotel nearby though, best of both worlds and I’ve got Hilton points to use for something anyway so can stay for free which is nice
stickyjam@reddit
Love a hotel by the airport, you can't miss your flight or be late if your journey starts a few mins away!
FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit
I think it's fine as long as there are no scheduled works or scheduled strikes. The trains from most of Cambs are pretty reliable (except the CrossCountry service, that has cancellations early/late at weekends because they don't employ enough drivers).
SeamasterCitizen@reddit
Hotel by the terminal on Friday night
thewindow6@reddit (OP)
That’s a proper shout, I completely forgot I did that last time I was out for work . Might see if I can do that
schemmenti@reddit
Get ye to a heathrow premier inn. Theyre roughly £60. There's a few in the vicinity.
thewindow6@reddit (OP)
I also have a bunch of Hilton points to use so might even be able to swing a free night
SeamasterCitizen@reddit
Thistle near T5 in the pod car park is usually cheapest
prankishink@reddit
I would not trust public transport or even the roads for a morning flight. Not worth the worry. Travel the night before and stay near/on airport. You could look at hotel stay/park/fly options which can work out cheaper than booking both separately.
markvauxhall@reddit
Honestly I think it will be fine, just add contingency so that if your train is cancelled it's no drama to just get the next one.
Prebook your ticket, and buy travel insurance that covers you for missed departure due to a delay due to prebooked public transport.
Smooth_Brilliant4083@reddit
This.
orsalnwd@reddit
It’s a pretty reliable route (Thameslink + Elizabeth, Heathrow Express or Piccadilly line)
That said there’s also a National Express service from Cambridge if you need a backup plan on the day
Alternatively, you have the car as a backup. Why not book the train, check the status in the morning for any delays, and if any issues just drive?
f8rter@reddit
Go the night before stay in a hotel
Ok-Hovercraft9348@reddit
The roads can also let you down, or an accident. I trust the trains more
asymmetricears@reddit
I'd leave extra time for padding. 90% of the time you'll go smoothly with minor delays at worst. You just need to be worried about the 2% when there's a signal/points failure or a person hit by train, and allow enough time to get to an alternative route. Most likely via either Bedford or Cambridge.
Motor-Command-2680@reddit
Probably not. I tried to get from Skipton to bridlington a few weeks ago. I got stranded before i even reached Leeds. Incident on the line ahead =3 hr wait
oscarx-ray@reddit
I only use public transport, and it rarely lets me down, but I always give myself a taxi journey buffer, time-wise when it's important.
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