Hi all and have patience with a newcomer.

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

Well, it should be an eye-opener riding the London tube for the first time
after 3 years of living with New York subways. Anyone with experience commuting
on both transit systems who can venture opinions about the differences between
the two cities?

I've probably bothered you enough, but I welcome your opinions.

J

In message , Knotso
writes

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

45 minutes from Heathrow to Green Park
10 minutes for interchange (see below)
20 minutes from Green Park to North Greenwich
--
75 minutes total

The Transport for London Journey planner gives timings:
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/index.htm
But beware that it can give some rather odd routes - you are better
asking here for details!

I seem to remember that the interchange at Green Park involves quite a
long underground walk - if you have heavy luggage it may be better to
change from Piccadilly to District at Hammersmith (simple cross-platform
interchange) and then pick-up the Jubilee line at Westminster (where
there are lifts and escalators).

However, note that the Jubilee doesn't go to "South Greenwich" - was
that a typo, or can you be more specific in where you want to end up?
There may be better alternatives, such as taking the mainline railway
out to Greenwich from central London (SE London is well served by
numerous commuter lines, and a branch of the Docklands Light Railway,
but is poorly served by the underground system.)

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

Not easy to find on the WWW, but there is a quite good one at the end of
the following PDF document (820K):

http://www.londontransport.co.uk/tfl.../marketone.pdf

If you take a look at this you will see how the Jubilee line runs well
north of the main part of Greenwich - although North Greenwich station
may well be a good option if you are going to be picked-up by car.

--
Paul Terry

In article , Paul Terry
writes
I seem to remember that the interchange at Green Park involves quite a
long underground walk

It's a corridor that takes me (as a fairly fit person) two or three
minutes to walk. At each end you have a choice of stairs or a lift
(elevator to the original poster).

--
Clive D.W. Feather, writing for himself | Home:
Tel: +44 20 8371 1138 (work) | Web: http://www.davros.org
Fax: +44 870 051 9937 | Work:
Written on my laptop; please observe the Reply-To address

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London
schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any
geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

There are some around but I can't say I've ever felt a need for them as the
stations are marked on street and bus maps and sooner or later one of those
will be required unless you are being met, in which case it isn't a problem.

The Jubilee Line goes to North Greenwich which is slightly off the beaten
track a bit. Unless that is where your friend has suggested you go to I
would suggest you ask him/her which station is the most convenient.
'Maritime Greenwich' is served by Greenwich station which is on the DLR and
also an overground line and the latter are often more convenient.

It might, for example, be more convenient to change from the Piccadilly to
the District Line at Hammersmith or Barons Court (you just walk across an
island platform there which is handy with heavy luggage) and then go to
Cannon Street for a direct train to Greenwich.

G.

Knotso wrote:
Hi all and have patience with a newcomer.

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and
staying with a friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the
tube map from Heathrow, it appears to be something like a
2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the Jubilee
line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to
judge how long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an
estimate?

Allowing two minutes per station gives a reasonably accurate journey time.

(Knotso) wrote in message ...
I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

From the airport to Green Park is about 1 hour , maybe a bit longer. Then from
Green Park to Greenwich is about 15 - 20 minutes depending on the time of
day. This is of curse assuming there isn't the usual balls up on either line.

Well, it should be an eye-opener riding the London tube for the first time
after 3 years of living with New York subways. Anyone with experience commuting
on both transit systems who can venture opinions about the differences between
the two cities?

The MTA in new york can actually manage to run a reasonable service. LU can't.
In london there are forever delays , trains being reversed before they've
got to their destination because the train (ie driver) is running late (wants
to get home for tea), stations being closed because of some lift or escalator
not working, incorrect train arrival indicators and so on. Don't ever rely on
the tube to get you to your destination on time and this especially applies
when you're going to the airport on it.
Sorry , if this sounds negative but I'm a londoner and I've ridden on many
metro systems (including the NYC subway many times) around the world and IMO
the tube is one of the worst run and managed I've ever come across plus its
the most expensive.

B2003

Sorry , if this sounds negative but I'm a londoner and I've ridden on many
metro systems (including the NYC subway many times) around the world and IMO
the tube is one of the worst run and managed I've ever come across plus its
the most expensive.

B2003







Are the LU Admonistrators named Moe Larry & Curly?NYUK NYUK

"Boltar" wrote in message
m...
(Knotso) wrote in message
...
snip
The MTA in new york can actually manage to run a reasonable service. LU
can't.
In london there are forever delays , trains being reversed before they've
got to their destination because the train (ie driver) is running late
(wants
to get home for tea), stations being closed because of some lift or
escalator
not working, incorrect train arrival indicators and so on. Don't ever rely
on
the tube to get you to your destination on time and this especially
applies
when you're going to the airport on it.
Sorry , if this sounds negative but I'm a londoner and I've ridden on
many
metro systems (including the NYC subway many times) around the world and
IMO
the tube is one of the worst run and managed I've ever come across plus
its
the most expensive.

I am sorry but I disagree. I have ridden the tube every day, and I haven't
experienced a serious delay since three years ago when it took 45minutes to
travel 2 stops.

The problem is that a minority of dissatisfied customers will always speak
more loudly than the majority of satisfied ones, so come on speak up!

And besides the tube is only more expensive than other systems because tube
users actually pay for the real cost of the service. Which is how it should
be.

B2003

I am sorry but I disagree. I have ridden the tube every day, and I haven't
experienced a serious delay since three years ago when it took 45minutes to
travel 2 stops.

The problem is that a minority of dissatisfied customers will always speak
more loudly than the majority of satisfied ones, so come on speak up!

And besides the tube is only more expensive than other systems because tube
users actually pay for the real cost of the service. Which is how it should
be.

B2003








I beg to differ I was in London for 11days in june 2001 2 days the
Metropolitan Line was delayed with no trains between Aldgate and Baker
St from Baker St the trains were running at half the normal frequency.

Another day I sat for 45 minutes on the Picadilly Line between Covent Garden &
Leicester Sq because of a stalled train.

In NYC (where I live) I've been on locals who have been rerouted on the express
tracks and vice versa causing maybe 5 or 10 minute delays

I believe except for London which has parallel trackage from Barons Court to
Acton Town and from Finchley Road to Wembley Park and Chicago from Howard to
Fullerton and Philadelphia Broad St Line from Olney to Spring Garden NYC has
extensive parrallel trackage

In message ,
Wanderingjew698 writes

I am sorry but I disagree. I have ridden the tube every day, and I haven't
experienced a serious delay since three years ago when it took 45minutes to
travel 2 stops.

The problem is that a minority of dissatisfied customers will always speak
more loudly than the majority of satisfied ones, so come on speak up!

And besides the tube is only more expensive than other systems because tube
users actually pay for the real cost of the service. Which is how it should
be.

B2003








I beg to differ I was in London for 11days in june 2001 2 days the
Metropolitan Line was delayed with no trains between Aldgate and Baker
St from Baker St the trains were running at half the normal frequency.

Another day I sat for 45 minutes on the Picadilly Line between Covent Garden &
Leicester Sq because of a stalled train.

In NYC (where I live) I've been on locals who have been rerouted on the express
tracks and vice versa causing maybe 5 or 10 minute delays

I believe except for London which has parallel trackage from Barons Court to
Acton Town and from Finchley Road to Wembley Park

There is also plenty of parallel track on the Met line north of Wembley
Park, allowing a mixture of Fast and All-Stations services.
In normal practice, the Finchley Rd - Wembley Park section is treated as
two separate lines, Jubilee on the inner tracks, Met on the outer.
--
Spyke
Address is valid, but messages are treated as junk. The opinions I express do
not necessarily reflect those of the educational institution from which I post.