Bear in mind the 17:35 train could be one of the 2 less trains per hour in the evening peak running to Forest Hill from December when our timetable changes...

Date: 21 Oct 2009
What?s happening and why?
The opening of the East London Line with the extensions to Dalston, Crystal Palace and West Croydon together with Southern services will provide a significant overall increase in capacity along the New Cross Gate ? Sydenham train route. The number of trains will double from six trains per hour to 12 trains per hour in the off peak and evening with even more trains in the morning peak.

This will necessitate changes to Southern services operating in the South London area as well as some minor changes to mainline services as a consequence. Essentially, we will share tracks and platforms along the route and therefore we must amend our services accordingly.

What does this mean for Southern services to and from London Bridge?
There will still be six Southern trains from Sydenham to New Cross Gate into London Bridge per hour in the morning peak.

There will be four Southern trains per hour to and from London Bridge in the off peak.

In the evening peak from London Bridge some trains will no longer call at New Cross Gate to Sydenham inclusive. This is because trains from London Bridge to West Croydon, Sutton and Epsom (which currently call at New Cross Gate to Sydenham) must be diverted to run fast to Croydon to accommodate new East London line trains. However, the Southern trains that will call from New Cross Gate to Sydenham trains from London Bridge will run no further than Croydon between 1700 and 1900. This means that there should be a better distribution of passengers, as those heading for stations beyond Croydon will switch to the ?fast? trains rather than using stopping services to New Cross Gate ? Sydenham as is the case now.

The table below shows the current departure times of trains from London Bridge to stations from New Cross Gate to Sydenham between 1700 and 1900 and the planned options for passengers from May 2010.