| Author |
Message |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 30 September, 2007 - 05:10 pm: | |
I know these are necessary but did they really have to disrupt the service two whole weekends in a row, with more planned for October onwards? We rely on this service to connect us to London fast - even at weekends, for some of us, especially at weekends. Its not always clear from the website whats happening when, and the advance notification at the station was very poor - handwritten on scrappy paper. Do we not deserve better? |
Blushingsnail
Joined 21-12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 01 October, 2007 - 02:35 pm: | |
Not just the FH/LB service was affected yesterday: we were expecting visitors and told them to use Victoria/Penge East instead. Then got a phone call from them at Victoria saying there were no services towards Penge East or Beckenham. They had to go to Blackfriars instead. Was there a conspiracy to completely screw up trains services to SE London yesterday?? |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 01 October, 2007 - 03:23 pm: | |
Roz
I agree not great when line closed over weekend but not sure what other alternative there is for the railway companies. |
Calvin
Joined 20-02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 01 October, 2007 - 08:37 pm: | |
Is this happening again? We have family coming for half-term and they're planning to stay in London Bridge - will change their plans if there is a replacement bus service to New Cross Gate. I've checked the Southern site but it's very vague, just saying that there are works planned for London Bridge & Norwood Junction. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 01 October, 2007 - 10:46 pm: | |
Calvin, the timetable for Sunday 21st shows a trip from FH to LB taking almost one hour via East Croydon however 13 minutes on the way back; this is the beginning of half term week. The journey timings are probably a more reliable method of working out what is likely to be going on.
Brian, its just bad if there are disruptions several weekends in a row and that reasonably alternative routes are also affected. Hopefully this is completely necessary work and will make our lives a lot better however I suspect they just haven't given passengers any consideration at all.
I came back from London on Saturday from Charing Cross by a direct train to Lewisham followed by the P4 - I can recommend this route as the train journey is short, on time and reliable as is the P4. |
Calvin
Joined 20-02-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 02 October, 2007 - 04:29 pm: | |
Thanks for that - I'll keep an eye on the timetables. |
Gep
Joined 20-08-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 02 October, 2007 - 10:54 pm: | |
Hi agree with Calvin, I bought an annual ticket for zone 1, 2 and 3 even though during the week I don't need zone 1, but because I always go into town on Sat and Sun. Now, what's the point if there are always engineering works at weekends!? |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 October, 2007 - 08:29 am: | |
You can still go in buts its more of a hassle; if you are going to spend 45 mins- 1 hour each way may as well go shopping/clubbing in Brighton....not a bad idea really! |
Triangle
Joined 08-05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 October, 2007 - 11:03 am: | |
Surely, the best time to carry out repairs is when the trains aren't running? I recall when living near the railway in SE6 that they used to carry out track repairs overnight. Indeed, major repairs used to take several nights, but work didn't start until the last train had run and everything was cleared up by first train next morning. Major works are possible providing they're properly organised. However, if you ever wanted an example of what CAN be achieved then you only need consider the Great Western railway in 1891, which managed to convert 171 miles of broad gauge track to the standard gauge that we use today... All in a single weekend! |
Simon
Joined 18-07-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 October, 2007 - 11:17 am: | |
On an associated point, can you buy a monthly ticket from HOP to Charing Cross? I'm currently using a monthly Zone 1-3 travelcard but I don't really need to use the tube or bus regularly at the moment. |
Blushingsnail
Joined 21-12-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 October, 2007 - 12:28 pm: | |
Simon: you can get a train-only monthly ticket from HOP for £63.40. With a Travelcard it would be £105.30. See http://www.southernrailway.com/stations_fares.php |
