BETT 2018 Transport Thread

[elsiegee40]

It's nearly here, so it's time to start a thread for people to ask questions about getting to BETT.

 

Please use this thread to alert others to road, rail, underground, DLR difficulties that might impede others.

 

As far as I can work out, it seems that London Bridge is open as normal (it wasn't last weekend which panicked me a little)

 

And possible issues at Custom House DLR have also been discounted by @john now.

 

Fingers crossed

Edited January 14, 2018 by elsiegee40

[AJWhite1970]

It appears at present that there are no planned engineering works scheduled for BETT weekend anywhere on the TfL network!!!

 

Keep an eye here in-case anything changes

 

https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/planned-works-calendar

[bald_pig]

My DLR tips, avoid changing at Canning Town if you can, as it's usually very busy! Secondly, most people will get off at Custom House, so it can be quite packed at that end of the exhibition centre. You can get off one stop later at Prince Regent and enter the Excel from the other end, which is usually empty. If you want to get some food and snacks for the day, get off a stop earlier at Royal Victoria, and stop in the Tesco Express, which is a couple of minutes walk from the centre and cheaper than the stands in the centre.

[nicholab]

Also remember you can user Contactless or Oyster card and both can be view on the TFL website for getting money back.

[john]

Also remember you can user Contactless or Oyster card and both can be view on the TFL website for getting money back.

 

You can also use Android and Apple Pay on your wearables and phones.

 

Change anywhere before Canning Town to the Beckton train for sure is sensible so if you get teh DLR at bank take the first train (doesn't matter what destination) and step off at Shadwell and wait for a Beckton service instead.

 

Avoiding Custom House station is always a smart move go one before and have a 5 minute walk or the one after much nicer.

 

If you like a further walk or are joining us via City Airport you can get off at West Silvertown (or if you want an even longer walk Pontoon Dock) and walk through the housing estate and take the bridge over the dock instead, you do have planes coming over your head as its right on the flightpath to LCY but its a nice breezy walk if you feel that being stuck indoors and you want fresh air:

 

[elsiegee40]

On Saturday 27th there are no trains running between London Bridge and Cannon Street. Edited January 14, 2018 by elsiegee40

[Jaymate]

Staying across the water in woolwich - wondering if I should walk or get dlr to silvertown - any thoughts?

[elsiegee40]

Staying across the water in woolwich - wondering if I should walk or get dlr to silvertown - any thoughts?

 

I’d get the DLR

[robk]

See @john 's post earlier, Woolwich Arsenal DLR down to West Silvertown and take the bridge over to excel. Make sure you are ready for the 50 steps each side of the bridge though. The views up and down the river are worth looking at.

[Jaymate]

See @john 's post earlier, Woolwich Arsenal DLR down to West Silvertown and take the bridge over to excel. Make sure you are ready for the 50 steps each side of the bridge though. The views up and down the river are worth looking at.

 

Great thank you

[Devontechie]

On Saturday 27th there are no trains running between London Bridge and Charing Cross or between London Bridge and Cannon Street.

 

Services will either terminate at London Bridge or be diverted to Victoria.

@elsiegee40 charing cross is open. It's cannon Street that is closed.

[elsiegee40]

@elsiegee40 charing cross is open. It's cannon Street that is closed.

 

That’s what comes of checking too many travel plans in one go

 

I have edited my post

[bald_pig]

Staying across the water in woolwich - wondering if I should walk or get dlr to silvertown - any thoughts?

 

I'd get the free ferry

 

There are buses at the North side of the ferry crossing that take you up to canning town, may get you nearer the excel but I haven't checked.

[john]

Staying across the water in woolwich - wondering if I should walk or get dlr to silvertown - any thoughts?

 

Are you in the shiny new Premier Inn that opened last year which is on the Royal Arsenal or the TravelLodge down in town (assuming your doing a commercial hotel and not with friends etc....) either way I'd go for the walk over the dock myself.

 

If you don't want to do the dock walk either DLR will allow easy change to Beckton service at Canning Town, however Stratford Intl ones are usually a bit quieter given most folks want to go to Bank in a morning commute, if the DLR packs up (it had moments this morning) you can get a 472 to the O2 and then The Dangleway (Emirates Airline) over from there or tube back to Canning Town and then DLR to Beckton.

 

You can also get the free ferry or use the foot tunnel and explore the gap in space time continuum under the river... so we have loads of options, worth noting if your not local the Free Ferry doesn't run late so if your planning on partying late you will either be walking under the river or need to use the DLR or trains.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

You get some pretty great views off of that footbridge!

 

 

Windy though - Don't wear a hat!

[john]

You get some pretty great views off of that footbridge!

 

 

Windy though - Don't wear a hat!

 

If you be a plane spotter its a total excitement-fest for you

[CAM]

For those coming from the south, the M23 Northbound is closed for repair work every Friday evening until Monday morning between J10 Crawley and J9 Gatwick. Traffic is diverted via the A264 to Felbridge then the A22 to M25 J6. Traffic from Gatwick is unaffected. Southbound return journeys may see delays due to unannounced lane closures.

 

Southern will see no service between Three Bridges and Brighton where rail replacement buses operate. Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge will not run and services between Three Bridges and Bedford run at two per hour.

Edited January 15, 2018 by CAM

[bald_pig]

No word yet on whether this will be open again tomorrow:

 

Travel chaos after gas leak shuts Charing Cross station - BBC News

[nicholab]

I still confused why you would go from Charring Cross as most trains go through London Bridge > Jubilee line > DLR. Or Waterloo you would go Jubilee line and DLR.

[john]

I still confused why you would go from Charring Cross as most trains go through London Bridge > Jubilee line > DLR. Or Waterloo you would go Jubilee line and DLR.

 

You would not usually, however it caused chaos on the line this morning as the issue is trains turning round at London Bridge jams it all up and slows the service so its more a general be warned... London Bridge or Waterloo East are very much the stops to escape at onto the Jubilee and then DLR from Canning Town.

[elsiegee40]

You would not usually, however it caused chaos on the line this morning as the issue is trains turning round at London Bridge jams it all up and slows the service so its more a general be warned... London Bridge or Waterloo East are very much the stops to escape at onto the Jubilee and then DLR from Canning Town.

If Charing Cross is stuffed that means nothing goes past London Bridge.... which means London Bridge can't cope because trains aren't all meant to terminate there. The knock on effect is huge to services out into Kent and East Sussex

 

Let's hope it's cleared for the morning

[CAM]

Delays between Gatwick and East Croydon due to, surprise surprise, another signalling fault. This impacts Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express. Those travelling to BETT from abroad via Gatwick be prepared, those who live in Sussex and Surrey and use those services everyday it's business as usual....

 

Also keep one eye on the weather as a squall line is moving across the country and it is expected to bring a 15 minute intense burst of rain that can cause minor flooding and make you more than a bit wet. I think it reaches London sometime in the afternoon.

[elsiegee40]

DLR is advising people to get off at Prince Regent at BETT as the escalators are out of action.

 

They also say that some lifts are out of action at Canning Town. So, if you need step free access there you need to reconsider your route

[CAM]

The squall line is just hitting London so you might want to wait before going outside for a cig break.

 

Also Southern is even more at the moment than this morning.

[Jaymate]

Are you in the shiny new Premier Inn that opened last year which is on the Royal Arsenal or the TravelLodge down in town (assuming your doing a commercial hotel and not with friends etc....) either way I'd go for the walk over the dock myself.

 

If you don't want to do the dock walk either DLR will allow easy change to Beckton service at Canning Town, however Stratford Intl ones are usually a bit quieter given most folks want to go to Bank in a morning commute, if the DLR packs up (it had moments this morning) you can get a 472 to the O2 and then The Dangleway (Emirates Airline) over from there or tube back to Canning Town and then DLR to Beckton.

 

You can also get the free ferry or use the foot tunnel and explore the gap in space time continuum under the river... so we have loads of options, worth noting if your not local the Free Ferry doesn't run late so if your planning on partying late you will either be walking under the river or need to use the DLR or trains.

 

In the Travel Lodge although now wishing I had booked the Shiny new permier Inn :-)

 

Think I will let the weather decide if I walk or get the DLR.

 

Thanks for advice