Trip to London

Starting at Farnborough main station we bought our tickets and waited for the 1030 fast train service to London Waterloo. As I looked down the tracks to see if I could see the train I could see engineers and something that didn't look like an electric multiple unit. As it came closer I could see it was a diesel and as it passed on the fast line to see it was a network rail class 57. A couple minutes later the 1030 arrived at Farnborough one minute late.

The train was very busy and hard to find a seat that eventually we found one and sat down to enjoy the journey. Calling at Woking only we arrived at 10:39 and departed at 10:41. We then carried on to London Waterloo passing Wimbledon we saw a new S7 stock on the District line and the new class 458 at Wimbledon train care depot. After passing Wimbledon a couple of stations down the line I was happily kicked in by a little girl with her mum on their way to Peterborough to see a show at 2 o'clock. Passing Vauxhall I was lucky to see a new class 458 in serice. Arriving at London Waterloo at 11:09, one minute late, we walked down to the bus stop to catch the RV1 to Covent Garden.

We then took a quick look in the London Transport Museum shop and I bought a poster for the A Stock tour. Then walking to Charing Cross and seeing and lot of new buses for London we took the Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus. Changing at Piccadilly Circus to the Piccadilly line we travelled all the way out to Boston Manor. Where if you leave the station and cross the road you are able to view the tracks and the depot.



Going back to Boston Manor, where I broke my ticket by putting it in my pocket with my phone, we took the Piccadilly line back to Acton Town. After having some lunch and a tour round the London transport Museum Depot we took the Piccadilly line back down towards Boston Manor but this time to Heathrow terminal 5.

At Heathrow Terminal 5 we had a little ride on the pods. After that we tried taking the Heathrow express back to Paddington but we were rudely told by the station staff that we had to pay £21 to go back to Paddington on service. So we got back on the Piccadilly line to Hammersmith where we changed onto the Hammersmith & City line to Paddington. After looking around Paddington National rail station we headed down to the tube for the Bakerloo line. By this time it had reached evening rush hour on the Tube and it was jam packed with commuters. Boarding the Bakerloo Line we travelled to Baker Street where I was going to look around the Metropolitan Line platforms. As more commuters boarded the train at Paddington this forced us to move down the centre of the carriage where we were then stuck between the two rows of seats. A few stops down the line was Blake Street where we wanted to alight kindly none of the commuters moved out of the way for us to alight the train therefore I hit them with my bag in the stomach. 

A quick look around the Metropolitan Line platforms and then on the Jubilee Line to Bond Street. A quick look in some shops and then we took the bus back to Waterloo where our journey was coming to an end although we quickly grabbed a McDonald's and got on the 19:09 South West Trains service to Portsmouth Harbour this service was formed of 12 coaches (3X450). This service called at Woking then Farnborough where our journey came to an end.

Night Tube

The London Underground is constantly being upgraded. One of the newest plans for the Tube is making it a 24 hour service, this would occur in 2015 although only on weekends and the whole network will not be open. This will give passengers an extensive and integrated service on Friday and Saturday night.

The initial 24-hour weekend Tube network will be comprised of regular services on the Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines.

The map below shows where TfL hope to run a 24 hour service.

Route (Northbound)

The Metropolitan Line runs from Aldgate to Watford, Harrow, Chesham, Amersham and Uxbridge. 

Starting at Aldgate and heading 0.61 KM arriving at Liverpool Street in two minutes. Then travelling another 0.51 KM from Liverpool Street to Moorgate arriving in one and a half minutes. Continuing west the next station is Barbican, it is 0.63 KM from Moorgate to Barbican and normally takes about two minutes. Travelling another 0.51 KM the next station is Farringdon in one and a half minutes. The total distance in kilometres is 1.65 from Liverpool Street to Farringdon which take the total of five minutes. 

Leaving Faringdon the next station is King's Cross St Pancras the distance 1.85 km and takes about three and a half minutes. At King's Cross St. Pancras travelling northbound arriving at Euston Square takes two minutes and travel 0.85 KM. From Euston Square you arrive at Great Portland Street in one and a half minutes travelling 0.61 km. Then into the Baker Street Metropolitan line platforms in three minutes travelling 0.97 km. The total distance from Faringdon to Baker Street Metropolitan line platforms is 4.28 km which takes 10 minutes. This part from Aldgate to Baker Street is under tunnels.

Leaving TravelCard Zone 1 and entering Zone 2 to arrive at Finchley Road in five and a half minutes travelling 3.38 km. This is where the Metropolitan line first comes above ground. Leaving Finchley Road travel to Wembley Park in seven and a half minutes minutes travelling 7.24 km. Some Metropolitan line trains go fast from Finchley Road to Harrow on the Hill this takes 11 minutes and travelling 11.63 km. And also there is a fast Metropolitan line train from Wembley park to Harrow on the Hill which takes five and a half minutes and travels 4.39 km. 

Travelling north from Wembley Park the next station is Preston Road in two and a half minutes travelling 1.46 km. After Preston Road is Northwick Park travelling 1.64 km and taking two and a half minutes. From Northwick Park travel to Harrow on the Hill, travelling 1.29 km and taking around two and a half minutes. The total time from Wembley Park to Harrow on the Hill is seven and a half minutes travelling 4.39 km.

Taking the Uxbridge branch we head north to West Harrow in two minutes travelling 1.26 km. From West Harrow travel 1.38 km to Rayners lane connections with the Piccadilly line taking two and a half minutes. From Harrow on the Hill to Rayners Lane the train travels a total of 2.64 km and it takes four and a half minutes. 

Another two and a half minutes makes the train arrive at Eastcote travelling 1.72 km. This station also has connections with the Piccadilly line and all other stations to Uxbridge from Rayners Lane. Then arrive at Ruislip Manor from Eastcote travelling 1.14 km and taking two minutes. Another 0.72km arrive at Ruislip taking one and a half minutes. The total distance in kilometres from Rayners Lane to Ruislip is 3.58 km and taking a total of six minutes. 

Continuing north the train will arrive at Ickenham travelling 1.85 km and taking two and a half minutes. Another 1.08 km arrive at Hillingdon in two minutes. The total distance from Ruislip to Hillingdon is 2.93 km taking us the total time of four and a half minutes.

Finally from Hillingdon arrive at Uxbridge travelling 2.03 km, taking three and a half minutes. Uxbridge is one of the northern terminuses for the Metropolitan line and the Piccadilly line. 

Going all the way back to Harrow on the Hill take the Amersham heading branch to North Harrow this normally takes three minutes travelling only 2 km. The next station is Pinner in two minutes travelling 1.48 km. Continuing north the next station isNorthwood Hills travelling 2.08 km taking us another three minutes. Then arriving at Northwood after another two and a half minutes travelling 1.61 km. Another three minutes arriving at Moor Park travelling 2.22 km. The total time from Harrow on the Hill to Moor Park is 13 and a half minutes travelling 9.39 km.

From Harrow on the Hill to Moor Park there is a non-stop service which travels the same distance but only takes eight minutes.

The line then branches off to Watford where there is a station between Watford and Moor Park which is Croxley. From Moor Park to Croxley it would take you four minutes travelling 2.94 km. Then continuing to Watford the train will travel 1.90 km and it will take three and a half minutes. The total distance from Moor Park to Watford is 4.84 km and takes seven and a half minutes.

Going all the way back to Moor Park and continue travelling towards Amersham the next station is the Rickmansworth travelling 3.49 km taking four and a half minutes. From Croxley go via the Watford North Curve to arrive at Rickmansworth travelling 2.67 km taking five minutes and sometimes four and a half minutes for reversing trains. 

From Rickmansworth continuing north arriving at Chorleywood in four minutes travelling 3.38 km. Then travelling another 3.43 km from Chorleywood to Chalfont & Latimer takes four minutes. Then travel to the most northernly terminus on the Metropolitan line to Chesham travelling 6.20 km takes eight and a half minutes. 

Finally all the way back to Chalfont and Latimer the next station is Amersham which takes four minutes travelling 3.27 km.