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I'm currently on a train heading into London Paddington station, from where I'll be making my way over to London City Airport. All being well, I should have plenty of time, but the train company I'm travelling with doesn't have the best on-time statistics, and there's apparently a problem with one of the engines on the train, so I might need a mad dash on arrival...

The Transport for London journey planner suggest taking the Bakerloo line from Paddington, cross-platform change to the Jubilee line at Baker Street, then onto the DLR at Canning Town. Platform to Platform times look to be 40-45 minutes, so probably about 60 minutes mainline train to airport.

Is it possible to do the journey faster though? My hunch is that mid-morning, a taxi the whole way would potentially take longer due to traffic. Likely to be correct? How about something like Bakerloo+Jubilee out too east London, then taxi from there? Or perhaps run from Paddington to Lancaster Gate, Central line from there out east, and a taxi for the last part?

Gagravarr
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1 Answers1

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Right now, driving time on google maps (taking traffic into account is 44 minutes). Plus time to get out to the taxi rank, get a taxi and all that, say 50 minutes. However you're hitting the mid-morning traffic, which is awful in London.

When you get into Paddington, check the tube boards and see what's running.

If the Jubilee is running, then do as you've suggested and take the Bakerloo and switch to Jubilee. Switch at Baker St, and take the Jubilee right through to Canning Town. From there you can take the DLR direct to the airport. I still wouldn't trust the cabs.

If the Jubilee line is down, take the District line to Notting Hill, switch to Central, and head down to Bank. Then change to DLR and that'll also take you directly to the airport.

If you're really lucky as you're going down the stairs into the tube at Paddington, look at the departure boards and see if any are leaving in about a minute - that would give you an indication of a couple of minutes of time saving. Bear in mind you can reach the Bakerloo platform easily, but the District to Notting Hill requires a few stairs and is on the far side of the track, which could take time if you're using a wheeled suitcase.

Good luck! Let us know if you make it.

Mark Mayo
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