ED Station - emotional trauma

[Michael Palaeologus]

What to do, what to do?

I have been using ED station for nearly 20 years. I regularly meet chums on the journey to London Bridge and back.

I know each tree, each rat that scurries around the path and have counted every incompetently applied layer of paint.

Now our office is movng to Holborn. I have a choice I can either continue to get he ED to LB train and enjoy the occasional pleasures of Moos, MrBen, Strawbs, Jaws, LadyGooner, Steph, Azul et al. I then have to get from LB to Holborn.

I refuse to use the Northern and Central lines and I am not getting on a bus. So, I can get the train one short stop to Waterloo and walk.

or

I can walk to Peckham Rye and get a direct train to Blackfriars (and eventually City Thameslink I believe) and walk from there. Its about the same walking time and does not require a change.

BUT - get a train from Peckham Rye? Its a hideous station surrounded by giant edible snails and I cant get over a profound sense of sadness at leaving ED station and its attractions.

What to do?

[????]

Denmark Hill...sorted

[kidder]

Get the 63 to Chaterhouse Street, short walk to Holborn and save a packet.

[Brendan]

I think your only option is to give up your job.

[ratty]

Ed to LB, then LB to Charing Cross then a pleasent walk to Holborn. I used to do this every morning - it was fab!

[KalamityKel]

I agree wiv Brendan... quite obviously the most sensible solution :))

[Ladygooner]

or ED to LB then LB to Waterloo and a nice stroll in the sunshine over the bridge

[giggirl]

Come and join me on the 176 to Aldwych

[Ted Max]

I appreciate Peckham Rye station might be a bit over-resourced for the native ED-er, used as you are to once-an-hour tumult of the East Dulwich Halt.

But once you get used to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, the handy cashpoints, the multitude of destinations, the sounds of Magic FM drifting up from Tara Steel Fabrications, the four (count 'em) platforms, you'll soon overcome your fear of the new and make the switch.

[Brendan]

Stairs, there?s lots of stairs involved in catching a train from Peckham Rye. I can?t be doing with stairs me.

[Ted Max]

East Dulwich Halt.

The rattle of the tracks calls the shuffling commuters to attention. The 7:51 to London Bridge halts, and plumes of breath mingle tighter as the familiar shuffling order is formed, unthinking, round the sliding maw of the carriage. Inside, half-heard beats leak out of the seated passengers' ears; white wires connecting thinly to a life beyond.

Warmth seeping from her burrow under platform 2, the vixen nuzzles the hungry bellies of her newborn cubs.

[Ted Max]

Peckham Rye

From their elevated position, the watching crowd views the approaching train with sharp expectancy. Extremities are pumped with oxygen after an invigorating, sequential climb to the privileged ledge. Not for these titans the miserly up-ramp shuffle of their predecessors on the line.

A grinder flashes day-bright sparks into the clear morning, its whirr ascending with clarity and purpose into the station's cathedral acoustic.

[Ted Max]

I think that settles it, really.

[Michael Palaeologus]

Buses are so medieval. Besides, I dont pay for my travelcard ;-)

Peckham Rye station is a hole and the chances of bumping into anybody that one would want to bump into are slim and the chances of bumping into somebody and getting stabbed are significant.

I may try the walk from LB to Holborn.

[Ted Max]

the chances of bumping into anybody that one would want to bump into are slim

Well, really.

I quite regularly do the Blackfriars to Holborn walk and it's a good one. I suppose from LB you are adding on a fair whack, but I love walking around that area so would probably do that too, as it also cuts down your walking at the SE22/15 end of things.

[david_carnell]

Drive. You know you want to really.

[Cassius]

I used to walk from the top end of Chancery Lane to LB and did it in between 20 and 30 minutes. Best to walk along Fleet St to St Pauls, over the un-wobbly bridge and along the riverbank to LB. It's actually a nice walk although probably not fun in the wind and rain.

[SimonM]

I am still trying to visualise ED station as a modern Adlestrop...

[Azul]

don't worry too much about it. Credit Crunch is coming to munch all our jobs away from us.

Then we'll all be free to spend the day hoovering up and down ED station.

happy days

[karter]

hey Blue , como voce esta? lots of people have lost their jobs already so they don't have to get out of bed early in the morning and go to ED station, so Mike, stick with your friends and enjoy that journey to LB, whilst you can.:)

[SeanMacGabhann]

Unsubtle attempts by Mike P to goad that Sean Mac into defending the buses too I see ;-)

I don't work too far from Holborn Mike and I travel to E&C (choose your own steed!) and walk teh rest - the walky bit is about 25 mins so no worse I would say than LB

[Ladygooner]

I am envisaging a human walking crocodile from E&C into the City and beyond with forumites!

[Gerrard]

Mike P - the 521 leaves LB for Holborn, for when it rains and/or you cant be bothered with the walk.

Sean M - Walking from E&C to Holborn in 25 mins? Surely not possible without some form of drug or transportation device perhaps..

[Cassius]

E&C to Holborn in 25 minutes should just about be do-able (although stretching one somewhat), perhaps the odd trot across roads.

[Ted Max]

Sean puts Goose Green to Kings on the Rye at 75 yards. I think he might be Spring Heeled Jack.