SE23 Forum

It's not Sunday and it's sometime between 9am and 4pm. You've just missed a Southern train to Clapham Junction. So is it quicker to catch the LO and change at Surrey Quays for CJ or should you wait 30min for the next Southern train?

The short answer : Southern is best

The slightly longer answer :
Forest Hill has only 2 LO trains (08 and 38) that will arrive at CJ earlier than the next Southern train. You'd save 8-9 min.
Honor Oak Park has 4 LO trains (06, 11, 36, 41) saving you 8-9 min.

My suggestion : Don't bother catching the LO to CJ, just relax in a local coffee shop or cafe and catch the next Southern train for a single journey and no interchange at Surrey Quays.

Looking at the new timetable which I managed to pick up from Surrey Quays, I don't believe it'll take the 7-8 minutes between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction on the new line, this is extra time built into the timetable so that the train can make up for delays earlier in the journey, which keeps London Overground's performance figures looking good.

However, thanks to TfL changing the fares from FH and HOP, at least while you're waiting 25-30 mins for the next Southern train, you'll only pay the TfL fare of £1.40/£1.50 peak instead of the national rail fare.

However, at least on Sundays, the Surrey Quays alternative is a more viable option than changing at East Croydon as we do currently.

Go crofton park to Denmark hill then Denmark hill to clapham junction

Get the next LO to Crystal Palace, and pick up another Southern train from there?

Yep, I'd get the Overground to Crystal Place and get Southern from there. Only any good if you are happy walking up all those stairs though. But it is a nice station to change at as bits of it are so pretty.

Crystal Palace should have it's lifts installed by the end of next year, which will make a big difference for those who find the walk up the long stairs difficult.