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Post by DE20106 on Nov 25, 2018 23:35:09 GMT
INCREDIBLY interesting video has just been published by the fabulous Geoff Marshall investigating if you can get from Zone 1 to Heathrow using the hopper fare. Video link here youtu.be/Kh9Xw0M3fa g <- EDIT: remove the space before ‘g’ in the URL, the automatic word changer is up to it’s old tricks! 
Before I started watching it I was VERY cynical that this is even possible at all. Here’s why: Routes that go to Heathrow (Hatton Cross counts here as I’m going by what they do in the video) 90, 105, 111, 140, 203, 285, 350, 423, 482, 490, A10, H25, H26, U3 and X26. A couple of memos: 1) it doesn’t matter how long the last bus to Heathrow takes as you only touch in at the very start of your journey and 2) the N9 does NOT count  The reason why I thought this wasn’t possible is because there is only ONE route that travels into Zone 1 (just) that connects with one of the routes above, which is the 468 with the X26. But I automatically ruled this out as the 468 is WAY too long to change over to the X26 within the 70 minutes (apparently you get 70 minutes rather than 60 to change buses), you’d also have to run a bit as the 468 and X26 don’t share any stops, and you’d have to be VERY lucky to get off your 468 just in time to get an X26 as it only runs at a dismal 2bph. Ruling that out, I just thought that no way would you be able to plough through gridlocked Central london and make 2 changes within the 70 minutes. The route they chose starts from HSK Station. They started on the 9 to Hammersmith, then either the 190 or 419 to Richmond (they thought the 419 would be better as it’s quicker, but I immediately thought that would be a problem, which I was proved right about), to hopefully change just in time to get the 490 to Heathrow. Their journey became unravelled at Hammersmith as (just as I predicted) the 419 is a low frequency route, and they just missed out on it, so was a 17 minute wait. So instead they got the longer 190, and made it to Richmond with 22 10 minutes to change onto the 490. Which under any normal circumstances is ample time to catch for the 490, but not in this case. There was a gap of 30 minutes between 490’s which means they failed the challenge. But I have no doubt it’s possible to get from Zone 1 to Heathrow within the time after watching that video. Can anyone think of a better route to get there? Take it and run with it  |
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Post by busaholic on Nov 25, 2018 23:57:18 GMT
I'm getting 'video unavailable'.
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Post by dla314 on Nov 26, 2018 0:32:59 GMT
Take 9 to Hammersmith from HSK, H91 to Hounslow West and 482 to Heathrow. The journey on H91 can actually be done in just under an hour but the one issue is the timing of 482 (and potentially H91).
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Post by DE20106 on Nov 26, 2018 0:34:21 GMT
I'm getting 'video unavailable'. Theres a VERY unfortunate reason for that which ive only just realised. The code after the slash in the URL is meant to read: K h 9 X w 0 M 3 f a g but when put together without the spaces the automatic readers sees ‘f a g’ and changes it to ‘cigarette’ as even though it’s contained in the URL. Incredibly irritating. But put that code ^^ without the spaces into the URL and you’ll get to see it. Otherwise the video is just titled ‘Central London to Heathrow for £1.50 (Bus Hopper Challenge!)’ by Geoff Marshall. |
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Post by redexpress on Nov 26, 2018 6:44:38 GMT
From the Kensington area I reckon the Hammersmith route is probably best - they only failed because of the 30-minute gap in the 490, and that sort of gap on a supposedly frequent route would scupper most hopper challenges. 190 is fractionally quicker than 419 anyway, and you don't need to walk between the two bus stations at Hammersmith. In fact looking at the off-peak timings any of the four H'smith - Richmond routes should get you there in time.
Have to say, if I was that short of cash in real life, I'd walk to Earl's Court (boundary Z1 / Z2 station so still counts as being in Z1) and take the tube - for £1.50 off-peak  |
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Post by DE20106 on Nov 26, 2018 7:03:55 GMT
From the Kensington area I reckon the Hammersmith route is probably best - they only failed because of the 30-minute gap in the 490, and that sort of gap on a supposedly frequent route would scupper most hopper challenges. 190 is fractionally quicker than 419 anyway, and you don't need to walk between the two bus stations at Hammersmith. In fact looking at the off-peak timings any of the four H'smith - Richmond routes should get you there in time.
Have to say, if I was that short of cash in real life, I'd walk to Earl's Court (boundary Z1 / Z2 station so still counts as being in Z1) and take the tube - for £1.50 off-peak Yes I noticed that too defeats the point of the bus really but can done for the same price AND just one journey |
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Post by ronnie on Nov 26, 2018 12:01:35 GMT
From the Kensington area I reckon the Hammersmith route is probably best - they only failed because of the 30-minute gap in the 490, and that sort of gap on a supposedly frequent route would scupper most hopper challenges. 190 is fractionally quicker than 419 anyway, and you don't need to walk between the two bus stations at Hammersmith. In fact looking at the off-peak timings any of the four H'smith - Richmond routes should get you there in time.
Have to say, if I was that short of cash in real life, I'd walk to Earl's Court (boundary Z1 / Z2 station so still counts as being in Z1) and take the tube - for £1.50 off-peak Yes I noticed that too defeats the point of the bus really but can done for the same price AND just one journey A (very tight way) of doing this is as follows: - Take the 11:06 9 from HSK to Hammersmith - Reach Hammersmith bus station at 11:21 - Take the 11:25 H91 towards Hounslow - Reach Hounslow bus station at 12:05, sprint across the road - Get the 12:07 203 towards Staines - and travel to Hatton Cross |
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Post by DE20106 on Nov 26, 2018 13:44:09 GMT
Yes I noticed that too defeats the point of the bus really but can done for the same price AND just one journey A (very tight way) of doing this is as follows: - Take the 11:06 9 from HSK to Hammersmith - Reach Hammersmith bus station at 11:21 - Take the 11:25 H91 towards Hounslow - Reach Hounslow bus station at 12:05, sprint across the road - Get the 12:07 203 towards Staines - and travel to Hatton Cross That method is what they were advised by TfL to use they didn’t take it though as, like what you said, it’s incredibly tight, especially with the 203 being low frequency. |
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Post by redexpress on Nov 26, 2018 13:51:41 GMT
Yes I noticed that too defeats the point of the bus really but can done for the same price AND just one journey A (very tight way) of doing this is as follows: - Take the 11:06 9 from HSK to Hammersmith - Reach Hammersmith bus station at 11:21 - Take the 11:25 H91 towards Hounslow - Reach Hounslow bus station at 12:05, sprint across the road - Get the 12:07 203 towards Staines - and travel to Hatton Cross Bear in mind the H91 goes to Hounslow West, not Hounslow Bus Station. If you did rock up at Hounslow West at 1205 your next scheduled 203 would be at 1219, so you'd have missed out on the hopper fare by 3 minutes. Of course you could attempt a better connection by choosing a different departure time, but you're very dependent on everything running bang on time. |
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Post by londonbuses2018 on Nov 26, 2018 16:48:42 GMT
I would take 266 then N9 if Traveling at night or 183,140 then jump the tube at HC to T5.
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Post by ronnie on Nov 26, 2018 18:19:21 GMT
A (very tight way) of doing this is as follows: - Take the 11:06 9 from HSK to Hammersmith - Reach Hammersmith bus station at 11:21 - Take the 11:25 H91 towards Hounslow - Reach Hounslow bus station at 12:05, sprint across the road - Get the 12:07 203 towards Staines - and travel to Hatton Cross Bear in mind the H91 goes to Hounslow West, not Hounslow Bus Station. If you did rock up at Hounslow West at 1205 your next scheduled 203 would be at 1219, so you'd have missed out on the hopper fare by 3 minutes. Of course you could attempt a better connection by choosing a different departure time, but you're very dependent on everything running bang on time. My bad - I meant Hounslow West and wrote bus station! A slightly later time actually may just work: - 9 at 12:15 from HSK to Hammersmith, reaching at 12:31 - H91 at 12:31 from Hammersmith, reaching Hounslow West at 13:18 - Sprint across the road for the 13:19 203 |
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Post by ronnie on Nov 26, 2018 18:52:16 GMT
Bear in mind the H91 goes to Hounslow West, not Hounslow Bus Station. If you did rock up at Hounslow West at 1205 your next scheduled 203 would be at 1219, so you'd have missed out on the hopper fare by 3 minutes. Of course you could attempt a better connection by choosing a different departure time, but you're very dependent on everything running bang on time. My bad - I meant Hounslow West and wrote bus station! A slightly later time actually may just work: - 9 at 12:15 from HSK to Hammersmith, reaching at 12:31 - H91 at 12:31 from Hammersmith, reaching Hounslow West at 13:18 - Sprint across the road for the 13:19 203 Another way to do it: - 05:47 148 from Notting Hill gate, reaching White City at 05:57 - 06:01 607 to Hayes, Grapes reaching at 06:40 - 06:40 or 06:46 140 to Heathrow Phew... |
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Post by snoggle on Nov 26, 2018 19:21:52 GMT
How about a 94 / 148 from Notting Hill Gate (reasonable approximation for High St Ken) to Shepherds Bush Green, then a 95 to Greenford Rd / Western Avenue then a 105?
As Mr Marshall did his trip on a Saturday morning the equivalent timings look doable - provided, as ever, there are not exceptional traffic conditions and buses run to headway. It uses the same principle of trying to get out west reasonably quickly and then a long last ride on the final bus into Heathrow Airport.
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Post by busaholic on Nov 26, 2018 21:22:38 GMT
You could always do the journey the other way round - from what's been posted on here, for instance, if you started with a 203, say, you might stand a better chance. Think outside the box!
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Post by M1104 on Nov 26, 2018 22:27:02 GMT
How about a 94 / 148 from Notting Hill Gate (reasonable approximation for High St Ken) to Shepherds Bush Green, then a 95 to Greenford Rd / Western Avenue then a 105? From High Street Ken the 49 runs direct to Shepherds Bush Station (for Shepherd's Bush Green). |
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