Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Transport for London website
I feel very sorry for anyone trying to use the TfL journey planner who doesn't already know London like the back of their hand! I'm going to Aldgate East today, so checked my route on the TfL website - it told me to take the overground Harringay to Moorgate, then Northern Line to Bank, then walk to Monument, and finally District Line to Aldgate East.
But the Hammersmith and City Line goes directly from Moorgate to Aldgate East, a fact which I vaguely remembered and which the site confirmed when I entered that part of the route by itself. The overall journey time may be about the same length, but it's a lot simpler and avoids the underground maze that is Bank station.
The site used to offer you a variety of possible routes and you could decide which you preferred, but now there is just one definitive version and a bus-only alternative.
I can't even find out how to complain about the website to TfL, as the options are only to complain about services.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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To be honest I use the Citymapper app these days which offers lots of choices, bus only routes, etc. There is a website as well as an app
I appreciate not everyone has a smartphone or tablet but I recommend it for when you're out and about if you do have one. I'm quite good at getting lost and this app tends to stop me from going in the wrong direction.
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Permalink Reply by michaelw on
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I agree that Citymapper is good - and also works in an increasing number of cities around the world.
It also makes unwise suggestions though - for example advising Harringay station to Highbury & Islington then change to Victoria line (rather than going from Finsbury Park). In theory this makes sense, but in practice there's a good chance that you won't get on the train if it's the rush hour, and then there are the delays & cancellations....
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Permalink Reply by Lesley Ramm on
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TfL website has always been crap. Never dhows mist obvious route. Despite having W3 and 144 bus stops on Hornsey High Street it always tells me to walk to Wood Green tube!
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Yes TfL is counterintuitive to route a journey through overloaded Bank when there are reasonable alternatives. I'm guessing that their standard algorithm gives more weight to frequency of service and journey time, and less weight to least number of changes.
I think the reduction in choices came in when the journey planner was reconfigured to be more compatible with smartphones, it used to be easier to choose options. There may also be a 'nudge' type element, to encourage using buses more often.
Liz, thanks for the Citymapper site/app heads up.
Maddy, I also can't find how to comment/complain about their website. Must be the Mary Poppins tactic.
"Practically perfect in every way".
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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As it turned out, all bets were off tonight as Kings Cross, Euston, Bank and who knows which other stations were closed due to 'overcrowding', although surprisingly still closed at 9.30 pm. We took an alternative route (worked out by ourselves, not TfL)
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So... the TFL site was actually correct? Moorgate station was closed.
If I put in your journey, Harringay to Aldgate East but do it for tomorrow, it says train to Moorgate then H&C to Aldgate East.
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Well no - it was showing trains from Harringay to Moorgate running as usual, whereas in fact they were severely disrupted. Then a convoluted journey not using the H&C, which was running fine, but changing at Bank, which was closed. I don't know if Moorgate also closed, though it's likely.
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Permalink Reply by David T on
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I had some fun with TFL a couple of years ago.
Here are the routes the journey planner suggested from Harringay to Moorgate:
Walk to Harringay Station
Great Northern to Old Street Rail Station
Express bus ESB5 to Stansted Airport, Coach Station
Express bus A51 to Finsbury Square
Total 3 hrs 1 min
The next suggestion was:
Walk to Beresford Road (N8)
29 bus or 141 bus to Turnpike Lane Station
Piccadilly line to King's Cross St.Pancras Underground Station
Northern line to Golders Green Underground Station
Express bus A6 to Stansted Airport, Coach Station
Express bus A51 to Finsbury Square
2hrs 57 mins
These were reported to CUSTOMERSERVICES@TFL.GOV.UK
I kid you not!
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