Much thanks for the earlier posting on threatened day-long tube strikes in London. I could use some seasoned advice while making a contingency plan. Would it make sense to take a day trip by rail on a strike day? For example, if we are in walking distance of Victoria Station, and the train to Canterbury leaves from there, would that be a good option during a tube strike? I am wondering if there is any impact on other trains. If this would work, should we buy our tickets prior to the strike day? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Dundas, Minnesota, USA
103 posts
We did just what you're describing during a Tube strike a year-and-a-half ago. Just make sure you can get to the train station easily. Even a short distance can be torture in the traffic during a Tube strike. There was no impact on the trains.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
151 posts
Thank you Melanie. That is a huge help!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
If you are going to be roaming in and around london, you can walk short distances or even rake busses. If you plan on getting out of town, the practical answer is to grab a taxi to the rail station. taxi drivers can usually get around
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The underground and rail networks are separate so there's no risk of interference. However, roads will be incredibly busy in central London and buses and taxis in a lot of demand. Also there may be overcrowding at railway termini like Victoria in the rush hour which can lead to stations being temporarily closed.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Strikes are just one reason to have options. I like to travel with a list of options rather than days planned out exactly. If something is unavailable for any reason, I just pick another option and hope I'll be able to pick up my first choice later....... We were in St. Petersburg this summer. One stop was at Peter and Paul Fortress to see the Cathedral where the Romanovs are buried. For some unknown reason, they decided to open at least 40 minutes later than their scheduled opening time (apparently pretty normal in Russia), so we skipped it, rather than waiting, and came back the next day. We actually tried to get back later the same day but it was navy day and literally impossible to get through all the roads the police had closed around the celebration.