Help In Finding A Possible Route...

[Smowball]

Teen smow is staying for Xmas but due to work commitments he absolutely has to be back at work on Dec 27th. The plan was for him to get thto train home on Boxing Day but we have just realised there is NO trains that day! So next plan of action was to leave incredibly early on th 27th and get first train but we’ve now discovered that it is a very limited service. Then a friend suggested National Express by road but I’m now getting myself so confused so can anyone help?
He needs to get from Croydon to Brandon in Suffolk. He would normally get train from East Croydon to Kings Cross, then I believe a train to Cambridge and then change again to Brandon, which is a tiny station.
Any suggestions??
P.S. I can’t drive him back because of pre arranged commitments here.

[Rockrose]

He could get a National Express from Thetford on 27/12 at 8.35
https://book.nationalexpress.com/coach/#/choose-journey?journeyType=single&departureStopId=85094&destinationStopId=57366&departureDate=27%2F12%2F2018&departArrive=DepartAfter&outboundTime=07:00&;returnDate=27%2F12%2F2018&departArriveReturn=DepartAfter&returnTime=00:00&adults=1&children=0&seniors=0&infants=0&disabled=0&euroAdults=0&euroChildren=0&euroSixtyPlus=0&euroInfants=0&;ouiAdults=1&ouiChildren=0&usingCoachCard=false&familyCards=0&;youngPersonCards=0&seniorCards=0&disabledCards=0&partnerId=NX&campaignId=DEFAULT&request_locale=en

[Rockrose]

Sorry pressed enter too soon, they used to go through Brandon but not anymore so thetford appears to be your closest stop

[diddlydo]

I thought he wantd to go from Croydon to Brandon, not the other way round - or have I missed something?

[hc4361]

You are right, diddly.

What time does he have to be at work on the 27th, smow?

[Smowball]

Yes he needs to get from Croydon to Brandon. He’s meant to be at work at 9 but he knows he is going to be late - he just needs the earliest route possible.

[Rockrose]

Ok I have it the wrong way round on my link, but here goes east Croydon to Victoria. https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/results?InputFrom=East+Croydon&FromId=1001089&InputTo=Victoria&ToId=1000248&Date=20181227&Time=0615

Victoria to thetford. https://book.nationalexpress.com/coach/#/choose-journey?journeyType=single&departureStopId=85094&destinationStopId=57366&departureDate=27%2F12%2F2018&departArrive=DepartAfter&outboundTime=07:00&;returnDate=27%2F12%2F2018&departArriveReturn=DepartAfter&returnTime=00:00&adults=1&children=0&seniors=0&infants=0&disabled=0&euroAdults=0&euroChildren=0&euroSixtyPlus=0&euroInfants=0&;ouiAdults=1&ouiChildren=0&usingCoachCard=false&familyCards=0&;youngPersonCards=0&seniorCards=0&disabledCards=0&partnerId=NX&campaignId=DEFAULT&request_locale=en

[Rockrose]

Ok I give up

[Smowball]

Seems to be like you say a coach from Mitcham , change once at Victoria and then coach to Thetford. Will also need taxis each end. God this is getting complicated!!

[mushroom25]

leave east Croydon at 05h40, Thameslink train and get off at St Pancras, arr 06h10
walk to Kings Cross.
take train Kings Cross to Cambridge, dep 06h42, arr 07h30.

Cambridge to Brandon, dep 08h10, arr 08h45.

[chelle7272]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Croydon/Brandon/@51.9094115,-0.9420899,8z/data=!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x4875fe2a84421673:0xd574f25dc50c4945!2m2!1d-0.098234!2d51.376165!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d830935409d72d:0x3964e4acb26df4cf!2m2!1d0.622533!2d52.446542!2m3!6e1!7e2!8j1545901140!3e3

[chelle7272]

My link is the same route mushroom posted

[Rockrose]

Isn’t your son an adult?

[Smowball]

Is that on the 27th?

[Smowball]

He’s 19

[Jackdaw33]

Ring in sick would be my suggestion.

[mushroom25]

yep. the major issue is at Battersea pier, which will keep Victoria closed all day. the London bridge line is open, and that's the way Thameslink trains go.

[Smowball]

So it’s possible, he’s just going to have to get up at the crack of dawn.
(I suggested ringing work and saying could he come in late but he won’t hear of it)

[mushroom25]

he could leave at 04h38, but that's just silly. :-)

[Khandro]

Best answer for Jack. :0)

[Smowball]

Lol