Race The Tube - Thameslink vs The Northern Line 

The look on Geoff's face when he hears the doors won't open 😂

The Northern line is more reliable & consistently on schedule. If you have time & comfort is a necessity, definitely the Thameslink.

Thameslink is fully air conditioned while the Northern line is hot, crowded, dirty and old. On a side note please do a Thameslink vs Southern+Victoria Line video from East Croydon to Finsbury Park

I agree Thameslink should be on the Tube map, someone needs to tell TfL to stop being parochial, and think of what's useful for travellers in London, rather than just promoting their services

if you've only watched Geoff's video, watch Andy and Victoria's as well - the contrast is amazing! Geoff sits calmly in air-conditioned comfort, on an empty train, whist the other two have a classic Northern Line experience. I'm never likely to make this journey, but if I did, I'd go Thamselink, even with a 15 minute wait!

Purple train, purple train...Purple train, purple train...

Geoff, did you just say Thameslink ran to a timetable!?

Having Clarkson in the pub sipping on a cold beer, laughing at Geoff, with a Veyron parked outside would have been a nice touch. The final scene? The Veyron being towed away causing an enraged Clarkson.

find a woman that looks at you the way geoff looks at a crossrail roundel

The tube because (as a regular Thameslink passenger) half the trains are either cancelled, delayed, or not even on the timetable anymore...

Would have loved it if straight after the race began, Geoff's Thameslink train was cancelled. Clear winner is always Northern Line.

Wow, it's been way too long since i was in London, last time i was there Blackfriars bridge was just a dirty mess, now it's a smart looking station!

I live in Croydon and regularly catch trains to the North, from Kings Cross. I can never work out whether it’s quicker to get the Thameslink from East Croydon to St Pancras International or Southern to Victoria, then the tube to Kings Cross. Another race? :)

Geoff: 24 minutes Andy: 27 minutes Victoria: 28 minutes

Thanks for a fun video there's nothing like a little bit of friendly rivalry :^) and those background views of the now demolished Elephant and Castle shopping Centre bring back memories.

"Elizabeth Line opens December 2018" LOL

NEXT RACE: West Hampstead -> London Bridge (Thameslink vs Jubilee)

"...I only want to see you laughing on the Purple Train.... Purple Train, Purple Train..."

So I decided to do this myself using all methods! The quickest way to do the journey is Northern Line, Bank Branch, change at Euston, cross platform interchange to the Victoria, change at Oxford Circus, cross platform interchange to the Bakerloo. Of course, this relies on just catching trains, and the Bakerloo can let this down. BUT, if one can get off one train and straight onto another, it is the quickest!

Hi Geoff. When the London travel restrictions are lifted, I think you should make another episode of “Which Is Faster?”... when I lived in London last year I had a friend who commuted from West Hampstead Thameslink to his office near Blackfriars. One day, ThamesLink was suspended for whatever reason, and instead he took the Jubilee Line from Kilburn (which was nearer to his flat than West Hampstead Thameslink) to Waterloo, then walked to his office. And it’s got me thinking... Whilst the Jubilee Line doesn’t go to Blackfriars and ThamesLink doesn’t go to Waterloo, they do both run from West Hampstead to London Bridge. So maybe “ThamesLink vs. Jubilee Line” might be in the pipeline in the future? Many thanks, your content has been keeping me entertained during this mad year. Stay safe! Joey.

I love “train stuff” ...can’t get enough! Love watching you guys, especially on the Tube...brings back happy memories of my anorak years!

Euston to Queens Park offers a choice between London Overground (typically every 20 minutes) or District/Circle then Bakerloo. It's pretty much worth waiting for LO even if you've just missed one.

I watched your video Geoff and Andy video at the same time!! It was intense to watch them both at the same time! Great video Geoff and also IF Andy sees this comment great video as well, one of the best races that I've seen for a long while.

I love watching videos like this, which is quicker.. by like 2 minutes! its just a different world in London! 🤣 Here in Rural East Yorkshire we have a bus twice a day that takes you on an hour journey to the nearest train station where once an hour (if we're lucky) we get a 2 car refurbished 150 to the nearest City 🤣🤣

Happy memories of doing this sort of races on the Saturday red rovers in the early 1960s with my late brother and his friend in one team and me and my friend in the other. Next time I am in the UK (London), will do these races again, I am wondering if number one son, grand daughter and wife would be up for it? Hope so. Thank you for reviving some great memories! John in Ontario

Keep coming back to these because I’ve found myself now doing it in Edinburgh😂 there’s now two direct ways to get from the Airport to Ocean Terminal with the tram extension and Skylink. Maybe one you could do? Could even provide local knowledge and or a competitor 😉

I love all the videos on this channel - cheers Geoff!

Thameslink is faster... If it is not disrupted! I work nearby and I may have seen you guys outside the "pub" 😁.

I actually stopped your video when you got to the pub, and watched Andy's video to the end, then came back to finish yours.

Purple train, violet line, Geoff? Good to see Andy from calling all stations!

I love the new Thameslink trains

"It's worth noting what has appeared on the carriage diagrams here on Thameslink trains, can you see it?" Ah you were such an innocent little boy Geoff back then... but at least it's open now, three and a half years later!

4:10 isn’t Blackfriars station the one Ethan Hunt parkoured across in Mission Impossible: Fallout?

I've been delayed too many times by the Thameslink trains bring late or cancelled. I always choose the tube for the reliability! (Especially on a cold winters night when I just want to get home!!!)

Which is quicker from Hammersmith to King's Cross. Hammersmith & City or Piccadilly? Also is that your voice at 3:12?

I recently travelled from Tate Modern to KX St Pancras. The time difference was very small between walking to the Northern, crossing the river to Monument for the Circle, and Thameslink from 'the bridge. In the end I used Thameslink cause I wanted to try it out and it's technically the most direct

Amazing video! Really enjoyed this!

Race suggestions: 1) Harrow-on-the-Hill to Baker Street (Chiltern + Bakerloo line vs Metropolitan line) 2) Farringdon to Abbey Wood (Elizabeth line vs Thameslink) 3) Hammersmith to Aldgate East (Hammersmith & City line vs District line) 4) Moorgate to Waterloo: Northern line to Bank + Waterloo & City line to Waterloo Circle line to Embankment + Bakerloo/Northern line to Waterloo Elizabeth line to Bond Street/Tottenham Court Road + Jubilee line/Northern line to Waterloo

Yes ...at 06:16...the 2 exits at elephant n castle are confusing...!!! 😂👌

shoutout to the kickass Empanadas in Elephant and Castle; Leños y Carbon

Used to commute Westham into city. C2C vs District Tube. C2C so much more pleasant even though I had to time it right and walk further. Noise, rattling A/C daylight, smells, less time on train, all matter on a commute.

On Farringdon the train changes power from 750V DC supply to 25KV AC supply.

District Line v Thameslink - Blackfriars to Wimbledon (Could also add a South Western to Waterloo option and walk to Blackfriars)

That was great. I watched both almost at the same time. Fun stuff. Do more of these

Suggestion for another race: when Crossrail opens, try Stratford to Ealing Broadway using Crossrail vs the central line

The friend has an MTV t-shirt with the old logo. She definitely knows what she's talking about... Trains and best music channel ever pre 2003.

(Geoff - add Andy's link in the corner pls!) Well done Andy and Victoria - great effort.

Only ever used Thameslink two or three times. Once from Blackfrairs to Wimbledon and twice Wimbledon to City Thameslink ...either way, it took an age.

Great video! I’ve been on the Woolwich Arsenal line but the train got diverted via New Cross as there was a trespasser

just come here after the all calling stations video. so glad thameslink won especially with all that money spend on it. new trains and more TPH

Geoff ! I wait at that Farringdon sign every weekday to get a Brighton Service...It would have made my day to find you in declassified 1st Class !

My money is on Geoff...if I had money...

The first Nation Rail stations to have contactless card readers were on the Kentish Town to Elephant and Castle section of Thameslink. Also until recently (covid) you could use a senior citizen Freedom Pass 24hrs a day. I assume this was to take pressure oiff the Northern Line.

All Luton/St Albans - Sutton/Wimbledon Thameslink services have First Class declassified. There are no First Class provision or even any First Class tickets issued for Luton/St Albans - Sutton/Wimbledon Thameslink services. This was also the case when Class 319 operated on this route. You could have gone to the First Class cabin at the front of the train! Kind regards, Peter Skuce

Considering Geoff departed 1 minute after, and even though Thameslink looks like a more direct route with less stops, the times are somehow this similar? That's... surprising... (I'm not from London).

U could also do it between West Hampstead and London bridge

It’s so weird I used to walk there everyday 😮 great video as always!

Watched both. Excellent! Kind of like the top gear races!

The best thing about this video is it shows the rabbit-warren disadvantage of taking the tube. Like cramming matches into a box getting on, and spilling them all over the place getting off. The exit signage in the tube is there first and foremost for efficient disengorgement of the passengers, not necessarily to point you to your optimal exit - and this video shows that even experts get foxed by it.. In any case subject yourself to that if a comfortable service gave you a view of the river too? Now Thameslink will run 24 trains / hr - through the core - its as good as turn-up & go. Please say hello to Andy. He's gone quiet and I hope he's OK. T

4:15 *”Due to a short platform at the next station, The doors in this coach will not open. Please move forward to alight from the train.”* *(Please listen for further announcements)*

Were you alluding to a hit by Prince? "Purple train, purple train…"

My favourite north to south hack on the northern line is to change to the Vic!

Discovering Thameslink connects Farringdon to Gatwick opens up my airport options from Aylesbury. Children line to Amersham, Metropolitan Line to Farringdon, Thameslink to Gatwick. Simples!

Meanwhile, in the north, Can you run faster than the bus?

Rewatching after TfL put Thameslink back on the tube map.

"Due to a small platfor at this station, the doors at this station will not open" GM OH S***! LOL

Thanks for all the vids ^^

I think there should be three available maps - a Tube Map, which has Underground services only, a TfL map which has the Underground, DLR, Trams, Overground and Crossrail lines and an "All Services" map which has all of the above lie and has National Rail services within the Greater London area and which link up with TfL services.

Because of the unreliability of Thameslink, it has usually been quicker by tube in my experience. I got caught in a half hour delay after leaving London Bridge for St Pancras recently! Thankfully I was in the declassified 1st class, and got plenty of delay repay...

Great video Geoff and I went on Thameslink yesterday and it was quite fast if you get the quicker train as there is one that goes around Redhill and Coulsdon or one that goes straight to East Croydon. London Bridge looks great after the work that took place. I think Thameslink should be put on the map as after all the work that's been put into it deserves to be promoted on the map to increase passengers. Crossrail and London overground are on it but they are TFL so maybe TFL just want to keep national rail off the map.

It’s back on the tube map!

You Should Do Central Line VS District Line From Mile End To Earling Boardway

I see that unusual hot summer in Britain is over, isn't it?

Good morning Geoff! I was hoping the tube would win but then again I'm glad Geoff won. Maybe I'll have to change my profile pic to a Thameslink logo! Does Thameslink have a logo? Idk...

I think most of the time going south Kentish Town and Elephant & Castle only has the four Sutton trains per hour on Thameslink.

I always get Thames -link to and from herne hill and city Thames-link every working day much quicker and less crowed and hot than the Victoria line and the central line. 😁

I actually really like it when I get to come out of the wrong exit.

The only "tube challenge" where Geoff didn't need to run XD

Of course every second Northern Line train goes by Bank at Kentish Town, which means there is a bigger gap between trains then most of the other Underground lines.

I was once challenged to come up with words that sound like villages in England, but aren't. I came up with "mildew" and "crapping".

I’m thinking of doing “Which is faster? Metro or Northern” between Newcastle and Sunderland :)

We do a similar race from West Hampstead to Farringdon almost daily... Better to get the air-conditioned Thameslink trains...

My travel is also complex. I need to get from Greenwich maritime to Finsbury park. I take instead of DLR to bank and northern to kings cross. But is faster to get to Greenwich and get Thameslink and drop off at London bridge and take northern afterwards or take overground from Shadwell.

Should do a Farringdon to Abbey wood race now. Which is quicker Elizabeth line or Thameslink

I never knew that Thameslink goes to Sutton / Bedford for East Midlands Trains / via Mitcham Junction, East Croydon and Wimbledon (London Tramlink Station) / Luton for East Midlands Trains / Mill Hill Broadway / East Croydon / Brighton / West Hampstead / London St Pancras for Eurostar, Southeastern and East Midlands Trains / St Albans City / Three Bridges

I think this needed expanding and see which is faster Thameslink or Northern line all the way to Morden?

Many years ago I had the option of Moorgate to Kings Cross via the Northern Line or Thameslink. The Northern Line always won, except during tube strikes. Subsequently I moved to New York where the Subway is so much better than the Tube.

It's kind of sad watching this and seeing Geoff hyped about Crossrail opening in December 2018. How naïve we all were

Ever thought of visiting Toronto and racing RW_Transit? I've been on the TTC, that might be interesting.

Kentish Town is the sneaky Thameslink stop that everyone in Camden Town secretly uses

The trains look quite clean, I saw a first class sign, on a subway?

@Geoff Marshall, you did'nt visit Chilean stalls in the Elephant very interesting. London hub for for the guests from Chile.

You should gather 5 people and do Farringdon to London St Pancras International, subsurface has 3 people, elizabeth line and thameslink, and maybe meet at kings cross as its closest to the circle, met, hammersmith line which will obviously be the longest so give it a bigger chance of winning

Looked like fun in a stressful sort of way

I have a tube map here from 1985 and Thameslink isn't on it. So it couldn't have been on the map for very long.

Currently the "tube map" seems to actually be a map of track-based transport services run by TFL.

If you're changing from Northern Line to Bakerloo Line, isn't it easier to change at Embankment, instead of either Charing Cross or Waterloo?

I don't live in the UK but at least I can tell all my friends that its faster to take the Thameslink from Elephant & Castle to Kentish Town than the Tube.

Hehe the Elizabeth line opening date was a bit optimistic wasn't it 😁

I'd always pick the Northern line as I love the tube and the Northern line is my favourite tube line. Plus there might be a chance to ride the Kennington loop and... Mornington Crescent!