These services seem to be back to the bad old days of circa 2007. Late, short trains, signal problems, queuing outside London Bridge, then fighting to get off the train when you get there. Today a 13 minute journey from HOP took over 30, and that's not even the first time this week... and it's still Wednesday!

I feel like it's been like this since the late August service shutdown but I can't accurately remember. Before I complain to Southern can anyone back this up?

I've no idea - but it might be worth while starting to make notes of your journeys for a couple of weeks. One of two things will happen: either you'll have a notebook full of facts to present to Southern, or the service will miraculously improve in a kind of inverse s*d's law!

EDIT: Apparently "s * * ' s l a w" is disallowed on this website. Seems a tad harsh! My apologies if anyone is offended by me circumventing the asterisks, but I didn't really want anyone thinking I'd said something much worse!

This post was last modified: 24-09-2014 10:06 AM by Mr_Numbers.

Thanks Mr Numbers. Sounds like a sandwich filler I'm not keen on trying.

there is an open letter to passengers, seems this will continue till next batch of major works over Christmas. oh joy.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/letter-from-dave-ward/

The service is frankly rubbish. I have given up on Souther and take the Overground now. It's crowded but at least it goes somewhere.

So they put in new parts, tested that they all worked, but didn't make sure the changes were fully compatible with the existing systems.

There is no doubt that the reliability of trains and signals in and out of London Bridge lower station has seen significant degradation since the works in August.

Welcome to the future of London Bridge.

Southern are actually losing a platform permanently by the end of the development. So this is likely to not only continue throughout development but beyond this date. Queueing outside London Bridge will be a permanent fixture.

They won't tell you that though. They just tell you how awesome thameslink will be.

The platforms should have far more space when the escalators and underground ticket Hall are complete but that's years away.

Then you also have the Gatwick Express which takes priority over every train on the network. So when you already have limited track and platforms, they have to freeze all trains to let the Gatwick Express come through unhindered. Doesn't matter if it delays everyone else by 5-10 minutes. The Gatwick express has to arrive on time otherwise the airport lobby will kick up a fuss.

But they will be diverting some of the fast services (Caterham and Tattenham Corner) to use the Thameslink line, so they won't need so many terminating platforms after 2019.

At present there are two platforms out of action (as has been the case all year). After December platforms 9-15 should all be operational, giving Southern an extra platform compared to 2014 (one less than 2013 but the South London Loop was discontinued).

I'll continue to press for some of our weekend and off-peak services to use the Thameslink line or the Charing Cross line, so that there is some direct benefit for South Londoners.

Thanks all, and thanks Michael for lobbying them on our behalf.

I have definitely noticed that Southern trains in the rush hour are almost inevitably a few minutes late.....at least. I think this problem predated August, though.

I occasionally use Southeastern or Thameslink from Crofton Park or Catford Bridge and they do seem more punctual.

Wow Ok. Michael you know what you're talking about!

All I can say is thanks for keeping this up. Let me know if you need any help.

Michael,

Does this mean that we might have the mainline trains from Forest Hill to Charing Cross in the evenings restored?

They were very convenient.

Just saying, you can cycle to London Bridge in 20-25 minutes from Forest Hill Station. If you count the time getting to the station, waiting for the train etc, you're always quicker on a bike.

Canary Wharf is a bit more of a struggle to beat the Overground and Jubilee but at least you're not jammed into a sardine can for the trip.

It would be nice if there were any trains at all at weekends...

This is this the 2nd weekend in the last month or so when there's been total closure, and most weeks there's some kind of bus replacement service.

Not directed at you Michael - you do an amazing job - but people do actually want to travel at weekends and I'm fed up with having to get expensive taxis (who don't want to go to SE London anyway) home from Central London virtually every other week.

This post was last modified: 27-09-2014 10:21 AM by RobF.

Now that Thameslink and Southern are effectively the same franchise, it is tempting to hope that we could get some stopping thameslink services. There would have to be a switch onto the fast lines somewhere though - is there anywhere north of Norwood Junction this can happen though? At London Bridge it could be done but would involve crossing Charing Cross services, which are South Eastern and so I suspect would be blocked for that reason. And there lies the crux of the issue as it is this that prevents our sadly missed CX services from running too.

Totally agree Clausy and I cycle into town for work virtually very day (although it's far less pleasant in the cold and rain which is undoubtedly coming), but at the weekend if you go out for drinks/dinner/party/clubs or whatever in town and you have a few drinks, you don't want to be cycling home because that's just as bad and dangerous as drinking and driving, and even if you're not drinking you're probably not dressed for cycling.

Of course there are times when you wouldn't want to cycle, and it isn't for everyone, but I'm just saying that as an alternative to the daily train ride, it's usually a much more pleasant option that really doesn't take any more time than the train end to end. Especially if you're going all the way to the City on a bike instead of walking over London Bridge, or worse jumping into the Northern Line pit.

Rob F - rather than expensive cabs home we are reasonably well served by night buses- I certainly can't afford cabs home!

Not just yet. Southern is still a separate company in the GoVia family until next summer. Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern may have the same overall company, but the management are different. This explains to some extent why Southeastern continues to poor in comparison to Southern.

Next weekend, all trains will operate on Saturday. On Sunday the overground is running normally with a reduced service to London Bridge on Southern.

re the cycling, whilst when I did cycle into Shoreditch via London Bridge, I'd say 20-25 minutes is ok once you've got going, but for anyone setting out you'd need to allow more time.

Also for me, I need a shower after the cycle, so time wise it never saved me time - I just felt miles better getting into work after the cycle than being crammed on the train.