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Original poster

How to get out of London Sat 13th August (train strikes)

25 replies

MacaroniBaloney · 29/07/2022 22:22

We've a pre booked trip to London, all activities booked and planned for. We're due to travel back up North on Saturday 13th Aug by train, but a strike has now been announced.

We need to get to York.

Am now thinking we could drive to outskirts of London, park up and get an over ground / non striking company train into town, and then depart London the same way.

Can anyone recommend any stations we can do this from/to?

OP posts:
alnawire · 29/07/2022 22:24

Well wh in companies that run into London are not striking? Find that out and work from there. It's hard to advice without knowing where you are travelling from too.

Neighneigh · 29/07/2022 22:27

We are exactly the same but a week later, even down to York as the end town!! Can't get home now unless we drive for the entire trip. Total ballache and we were even excited about the train. Good luck

alnawire · 29/07/2022 22:34

Sorry I totally missed the very obvious mention of York Blush

Is coach an option?

dontbringthatbirdinhere · 29/07/2022 22:40

As far as I can see, TFL aren't striking so you could drive to the end of the tube line and take the tube in.

High Barnet and Totteridge & Whetstone have car parks on the Northern Line, Edgware on the Jubilee line. It costs less than £10 to park for the day.

Potcallingkettle · 29/07/2022 22:46

Stanmore just off the M1 is end of the Jubilee line. Hang fire until close to travelling and you should be able to get a refund on the train tickets both ways. Just done this for the last strike.

Yamyam13 · 29/07/2022 22:49

Just be wary that the Overground line is heavily affected by the train strikes as it shares tracks - same for some other lines like district I think. Double check TFL too

CherrySocks · 29/07/2022 22:51

Watford - the one on the Metropolitan line
Has a car park

Singleandproud · 29/07/2022 22:57

London to York National Express coach £43, could get expensive if there are several of you. But you could travel out of London on one and pick the car up part way.

IggyAce · 29/07/2022 23:09

Could drive to Cockfosters and get the tube from there, you would need to check if there is any disruption as they share signals on some lines. I was in London Wednesday and due to this there was no service to Wembley or Richmond after 5pm.
EMR didn’t strike on Wednesday I believe, maybe the same Saturday.

BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 29/07/2022 23:13

For the strike tomorrow only certain trains are being cancelled. Mine is still running. I know not ideal but maybe just wait and see?

Wotaloadofshit · 29/07/2022 23:18

Hi OP, I normally drive into Upmister and park there, it was very cheap, about £4 last time, and then go into London from there.

Fuuuuuckit · 29/07/2022 23:30

We are supposed to be travelling to Leeds on 13th Aug. I've booked us an extra night and changed the tickets. Much cheaper than booking the coach for us all.

We get an extra night in the city, kids are thrilled!

LouisRenault · 29/07/2022 23:45

I normally drive into Upmister and park there, it was very cheap

Massively out of the way for anyone coming from York, though.

alnawire · 29/07/2022 23:46

LNER are running trains, you will be able to check once they release the temporary time table but as a rough guide checking what they are running during tomorrows driver strike might be helpful

alnawire · 29/07/2022 23:47

A couple of people have mentioned the cost of the coach, is it really more expensive than a train?

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 30/07/2022 00:15

Check Thameslink or Great Northern. Last strikes they were not striking so some trains ran and you could try driving to/from Peterborough.

JosephineGH · 30/07/2022 00:48

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

HandlebarLadyTash · 30/07/2022 06:14

Hang the cost book an extra night.

(Although we did this for this week and all the trains were cancelled on the extra night day 🙄currently heading home today and even though Thameslink are not on strike routes are all messed up)

Original poster
MacaroniBaloney · 31/07/2022 10:33

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've looked into each one and have seen GCT are running a normal train service so have booked seats on that. I'll request a refund nearer the time from LNER.

Incidentally, LNER's website says it won't refund advanced tickets impacted by the strikes but I won't accept that! How cheeky!!!

OP posts:
alnawire · 31/07/2022 10:40

MacaroniBaloney · 31/07/2022 10:33

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've looked into each one and have seen GCT are running a normal train service so have booked seats on that. I'll request a refund nearer the time from LNER.

Incidentally, LNER's website says it won't refund advanced tickets impacted by the strikes but I won't accept that! How cheeky!!!

LNER will be running trains.

alnawire · 31/07/2022 10:43

Also I just checked the website and while it does say advance tickets are non refundable it goes on to add

If your train is cancelled and you decide not to travel on an alternative train you are entitled to a full refund back to your original payment method.

So not cheeky at all. You will get your refund.

balalake · 31/07/2022 11:32

As for the refund question, try a chargeback if you paid by credit card. Glad to read you have found a way to travel.

alnawire · 31/07/2022 11:35

balalake · 31/07/2022 11:32

As for the refund question, try a chargeback if you paid by credit card. Glad to read you have found a way to travel.

You don't need to chargeback. The ticket will get refunded without issue.

BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 31/07/2022 12:02

MacaroniBaloney · 31/07/2022 10:33

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've looked into each one and have seen GCT are running a normal train service so have booked seats on that. I'll request a refund nearer the time from LNER.

Incidentally, LNER's website says it won't refund advanced tickets impacted by the strikes but I won't accept that! How cheeky!!!

This isn't true.
I took a LNER train yesterday during the strike. You have to wait till they publish the timetable, if your train is still running you have your reservation as normal, if it isn't you get a full refund or you can transfer.

Original poster
MacaroniBaloney · 31/07/2022 18:29

I think the website has been updated since yesterday with updated refund approaches!

The equivalent of my train didn't run yesterday hence the new ticket purchase, which are refundable. If my LNER train does run then I'll request a refund for the new train.

But thanks for all the help, I'd assumed ALL trains cancelled during a strike!

OP posts:
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