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Original poster

St Albans to St Pancras line - any advice?

22 replies

Lottie917 · 14/04/2022 07:16

Hi all,

We've got a trip coming up later this year where we're travelling from St pancras Int Station to Disney via eurostar.

We live in Buckinghamshire so if it was just myself and DH we would have got the train into Marylebone, then done tubes to St pancras. However with DS who is going to be 20 months at the time of travelling, plus buggy plus suitcase, we don't really want to do this.

We're struggling to find a taxi firm that can guarantee a car seat for DS. They keep saying its not a legal requirement, but we're not comfortable travelling any distance without him in a proper car seat.

So I've found that there is a train that goes directly into St Pancras Int Station from St Albans, which is about 50 min drive for us. It's much cheaper than a taxi and no tubes to contend with so seems like the best option. Especially going home again as we get back later in the evening. But I have no knowledge of this route - anyone able to advise what the route is like, for example is it often cancelled / replacement buses put on / any works that people have knowledge of that may affect this? We're going out Sunday morning, returning weds evening in September.

I'll keep an eye on it on National Rail website, but always like to see what others say too from experience.

Thanks!

OP posts:

User12310 · 14/04/2022 07:18

Depends where you are in bucks, but you could do Chalfont and Latimer, Amersham or Chesham stations and go straight through to kings cross that way?

Apandemicyousay · 14/04/2022 07:20

Marylebone and St Pancras are pretty close, both essentially on Euston Road. You could hop in a black cab and would be 5 mins, or jump on a bus, or even walk.

BeneficiaryMadness · 14/04/2022 07:27

I would get in a black cab. You’re basically going from one end of Euston Road to the other, (still a couple of miles walk!) just keep your son in his buggy in the back. Even if it needs folding, the traffic is so slow along there he will be fine on the seat with a belt on.

lesgalettes · 14/04/2022 07:29

But where would you park in St Albans while you are away?

lesgalettes · 14/04/2022 07:30

Agree with getting black cab- will be very quick and easy on a Sunday morning.

OhWifey · 14/04/2022 07:30

Was going to suggest also looking at trains that go into Kings Cross as they are adjacent stations, or Euston as just down the road.
Regarding car seats, I feel the same as you and I am extremely strict on proper car seat use. However even having said that, having spent too much time being ferried in black cabs between London stations recently, they go so slowly amongst all the traffic that I'd absolutely not worry about it in this instance.

NoSquirrels · 14/04/2022 07:31

@BeneficiaryMadness

This is what all Londoners would do.

If you’re not comfortable with that fair enough, but honestly it would be absolutely fine and completely legal.

Otherwise, one of you walk him in the park (15 mins?) and the other take the luggage in a taxi.

I personally wouldn’t go 50 mins out of my way to get the direct train.

NoSquirrels · 14/04/2022 07:33

walk him in the park = walk him in the pushchair.

But as I say, I would (and have!) put him in the black cab sitting in his pushchair.

OhWifey · 14/04/2022 07:34

Oh yes one of you walking him in the buggy while the other takes a cab with the luggage is a great idea. If you divert off the main road to get away from the traffic fumes, you even have the chance to get him some air and a break from trains for a bit, which might help sleeping etc later on.

lesgalettes · 14/04/2022 08:40

Marylebone Station to St Pancras is really long walk - probably almost an hour with a buggy. Euston to St Pancras is a 15/20 min walk.

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 14/04/2022 08:45

@lesgalettes

Marylebone Station to St Pancras is really long walk - probably almost an hour with a buggy. Euston to St Pancras is a 15/20 min walk.

I am slow and can do it in 10 mins

OP whilst Thameslink can be flaky it should be ok for this journey, it's more when Sorry off London that engineering works etc seen to kick in

Although, sounds like there's better options. I would pack a sling too, then you can use the buggy for stuff.

CarmenThePanda · 14/04/2022 08:45

LOL at OP walking from St Pancras to Marylebone when they get home again, late evening.

Put buggy in black cab.

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 14/04/2022 08:46

Sorry that's Euston to St P, or disabled access buses that can do it in 2 mins

CarmenThePanda · 14/04/2022 08:48

@Matchingcollarandcuffs
REALLY you can cover the 2 miles from Marylebone St to St Pancras in ten minutes?

NoSquirrels · 14/04/2022 08:53

@lesgalettes

Marylebone Station to St Pancras is really long walk - probably almost an hour with a buggy. Euston to St Pancras is a 15/20 min walk.

Blimey. Didn’t realise I was super humanly fast! Euston to St Pancras is surely 10 minutes tops at an absolute amble?

AbandonGups · 14/04/2022 08:56

St Albans to St Panc is a quick, easy route with frequent trains (tho a good idea to check ahead re: any weekend works). On a Sunday you should be able to park in the station car park - but I’m not sure of costs. It’s a really busy commuter car park so it might add to your costs, but you should be able to park close to the station entrance on a Sunday.
The train gets in to St Panc on a different level - but there are lifts to get to the main St Panc / Eurostar bit.

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 14/04/2022 08:57

[quote CarmenThePanda]@Matchingcollarandcuffs
REALLY you can cover the 2 miles from Marylebone St to St Pancras in ten minutes?[/quote]
I clarified

User225588 · 14/04/2022 09:13

You could change from the Chiltern line to the Metropolitan line along the way (Amersham, Moor Park, Harrow?) and go to Kings Cross Station. Then it's a short walk next door to St Pancras.

lesgalettes · 14/04/2022 09:34

Euston to St Pancras I can do on my own in 10 mins, but I find that when pushing a buggy with an almost 2 year old it takes longer as pushing buggy, have to find dropped kerbs, and take more care when crossing roads.

saggyhairyass · 14/04/2022 09:42

Taxi! Or the bus. But taxi from M'bone to St Pancras is preferable. Level access at both stations, no steps. Cabs at M'bone are right outside.

ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave · 14/04/2022 10:00

@AbandonGups

St Albans to St Panc is a quick, easy route with frequent trains (tho a good idea to check ahead re: any weekend works). On a Sunday you should be able to park in the station car park - but I’m not sure of costs. It’s a really busy commuter car park so it might add to your costs, but you should be able to park close to the station entrance on a Sunday. The train gets in to St Panc on a different level - but there are lifts to get to the main St Panc / Eurostar bit.

The car park is really cheap at weekends; about £3 for the day.

Allthingspeaches · 14/04/2022 10:02

Hatfield has a direct train to Kings Cross in under 30 minutes. It's not much further than St Albans. It's also step free in that it has lifts.

Alternatively go to Marylebone and get the bus.

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