I will be heading to the Harry Potter Studio in a couple weeks. I’ve checked previous threads, and it looks like I should go to platform 6 for the London Northwestern (nonstop) to Watford Junction.
I have an Oyster card I’ve used on previous trips, and traveling off peak hours. Do I just tap on and off like the tube?
Thanks all :)
Yes, just tap in and out.
But I don't know where the story of Platform 6 comes from. They can leave from anywhere on the station- normally 6 to 8 (9 being the one for London Overground stopping trains), but during today, as a for instance there have been platform changes to 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 (and that was all before 12 noon) so check the overhead monitors for the platform for your particular train.
isn31c- Thanks for your help. I’ll check the boards when I arrive. It was an old thread that mentioned platform 6.
At Euston, if you are going to a platform in the "wood" - the ticket gated part of the station serving platforms 8,9,10,11 - it is easy to see where to tap your Oyster - you need to make the gateline gate open to let you in (or out).
But many of the platforms don't have that and you need to look carefully for the sign and the touchpad. Leaving Watford Junction, between the tunnel and the booking hall, there is a gateline where, again, you need to tap out.
Just like the Tube.
6 would be unusual, but not unheard of.
Nigel- Thanks for your help. I believe I have it all figured out. After more research, I found a helpful HP Studios leaflet on the Network Rail website. I also discovered that the CityMapper app has a handy rail search for stations and routes. It shows the trains, platforms, and arrival times. I missed it before on the app, because it doesn’t show rail options when planning a route from my hotel in London to the studio.
Euston is a very large station. I would recommend asking the information desk about the direct, express train to Watford Junction. We looked at the boards and boarded the train that said Watford Junction, but it ended up being the local one that stopped a million times and took over double the time the express would have. We took the express train on the way home, and it was demonstrably faster. The good news is, if you miss your entry time for Harry Potter, they are very accommodating to let you in later.
Also all platforms at Euston now have automatic gates- the same as the suburban platforms have had for many years. So all platforms now have the Oyster pads on the gates. The gates are locked shut until a train is ready for boarding and advertised.
The gates are "usually" locked open when Avanti long distance trains arrive.
I arrived and departed on 3 (LNWR, fast, non-stopping Watford Junction) two weeks ago and all its gates were unstaffed and wide open, no trains on 1 or 2.
I traveled on the same train but to Bletchley Park last week. You do want to pay attention to whether you are on an express or one with just one stop before Watford Junction. We simply watched the boards at Euston Station and went to the correct platform when was listed. We used tickets so no help on oyster card part.
I came into platform 13 on an Avanti train this morning and I certainly did not go through any open gates. I’m not saying that they weren’t there as I wasn’t specifically looking but you would need to take a rather circuitous route to pass through the. I’ll have a proper look when we go back on Monday but no doubt our train will be at the other end of the station.
There was a London NW train going out from platform 12.
We looked at the boards and boarded the train that said Watford Junction, but it ended up being the local one that stopped a million times
The key is to find a train that doesn’t have Watford Junction as its ultimate destination. You need a train that’s going further, and that has Watford Junction listed as the first or second stopping point - these appear on the list under the ultimatum destination.
Haven’t been to Euston in a while but from memory, trains with final destinations such as Milton Keynes and Northampton tend to be fast to Watford Junction.
I read on a previous thread about avoiding trains with the destination as Watford Junction, or you’ll be on for the long ride.
When I checked on the CityMapper app earlier today, it looked like a LN to Tring would’ve gotten me there. So, I basically need a train with a destination beyond Watford Junction.
I will most definitely double check with an attendant when I arrive at Euston.
Thanks again everyone for your help!!
Consider looking at National Rail for trains. You will get clear info there as to final destination and times.
In the off peak the fast and semi fast trains to Watford Junction are the
9 minutes past each hour to Milton Keynes Central minutes past each hour to Tring (this train makes 2 stops at Harrow and Wealdstone and Bushey);
23 minutes past each hour to Birmingham New Street
24 minutes past each hour to Tring (this train makes 1 stop at Harrow and Wealdstone)
39 minutes past each hour to Milton Keynes Central minutes past each hour to Tring (this train makes 2 stops at Harrow and Wealdstone and Bushey);
54 minutes past each hour to Tring (this train makes 1 stop at Harrow and Wealdstone
At Watford Junction they normally call at Platform 6 or 8.
If the platform gates are open just tap your Oyster on the Oyster pad as you would do normally- it still works. You sometimes find open gates on the tube as well (in the suburbs) when there is a staff shortage, as ticket gates have to be staffed.
Southbound the fast trains normally leave from platforms 7 and 9 at Watford Junction (the slow trains leave from Platforms 1 to 4).
Platform 5 is normally used by Avanti trains who pick up only northbound at Watford Junction, and set down only southbound (on Platform 11 normally).
LN stands for London North Western Trains (the company name you will see on the departure boards).
If your hotel is in West London there is also a train to East Croydon at 52 minutes past each hour from Platform 10- calling at Shepherd's Bush, Kensington Olympia, West Brompton and Imperial Wharf on it's way south. Oyster is also valid on that train
If you are going to Paddington or Bakerloo line stations towards Waterloo you can also change onto the Bakerloo line tube trains at Harrow and Wealdstone.
This is a printed timetable for Euston to Watford Junction fast and semi fast trains showing their full route beyond Watford Junction-https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/media/3364/download?inline
At Euston in the off peak the 9 and 39 minutes past to Milton Keynes are scheduled to use Platform 11, the 23 past to Birmingham Platform 12, the 24 and 54 past to Tring Platform 10.
Those are the scheduled platforms, subject to late change as required.
