It's also a period of delays and cancellations traditionally, seemingly, too. We had quite a good run in the summer, but recently there's been that 'Ah, now this train's 10 mins late I won't be able to get on cos it'll be heaving' thing going on. Then the next one gets later and later til it's overtaken by the one after, and thus cancelled, creating another crush. Oh and chopping usual 8 carriages to 4 is another favourite.

Interesting news from Southern Railway that there will be 5 trains per hour to Forest Hill in the evening peak rather than the 4 we currently have.

http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/...announced/

This will add the 17:24 and 18:24 which run just 3 minutes after the previous service. Not the ideal spread of trains but this may provide some of the extra capacity that is required as more people appear to be using all the train services since May this year.

Interesting also to note an additional LB to Vic via CP train will start at 23.54 from December relieving pressure on the final Southern trains.

Also an additional train home from Victoria at 23.52.

I await LOROL's changes to the winter timetable if which are expected are additional services to New Cross Gate to connect with the final Southern trains.

I'm glad to hear about the 2354 as at the moment there's a massive gap between the 2336 and the 0006 and sometimes it's not practical to try and make the 2345 / 2354 from Canada Water.

For those of you who use the Jubilee Line, the current part suspension from Waterloo to West Hampstead is rumoured to be serious enough to continue until Thursday.

Really good news about the extra peak trains. It is definitely needed as the London Bridge trains are getting very busy again.

I'm afraid I'm not yet a convert to the Overground (although it's good to have choice) as it makes my current journey longer and more complicated. I, like many others still need a direct link to London Bridge.

The change at Canada Water saves at least £1 per PAYG Oyster journey if I'm staying on the TfL network. However, if you're still using LB, Waterloo, Victoria or Charing Cross, it can still be cheaper than using Overground/Underground.

Is it just me or do the LB trains seem to be running late most of the time in the morning? So early on with not a leaf or snow in sight and there are already delays. Are they breaking us in gently for winter?

This is definitely the case. There was a point a few months ago when it was almost like clockwork, now, you never know. But still not as bad as it has been in the past. I think late-running Overground services seem to take priority though and push Southern services out.

That was the case this morning as the delayed 0920 to London Bridge which the automated announcement said would be the next train was the 0949 Overground service from Crystal Palace.

Incidentally for some reason, none of the platform destination boards were working, which led to a huddle to look at the departure board in the main building.

Presumably rbmartin was actually referring to yesterday morning in writing in the early hours. Otherwise there is a time machine in operation!

From the new timetable in December, an additional late service to New Cross Gate will depart from Canada Water at 0015 to connect with the final Southern LB service.

Could you just confirm for me where you see this?

According to the National Rail timetable this train leaves CW at 00.31, not 00.15

(see below using 17th December as an example )[/b]

Apologies Nasroc, 0015 from Dalston Junction, which is where I got my timings wrong.

Source: Southwark News.

Glad to see LOROL have seen sense in adding a service after midnight, although NRE shows a gap of over half an hour between services and then a change at NXG to connect with the final Southern service from LB.

I think this is still way to early for a service to end from a Capital City. Is it so that engineering works can take place or because demand is not there (I doubt the latter based on the number of people I see using the services until this time).

And please bring back our trains from Charing Cross (aka the West End) - it's such a drag changing at LB late at night.

During the Underground era, the East London Line closed on weekdays and Sat just after 0100. However it was self contained and didn't clash with the National Rail network as it does since the extension opened.

I'm sure if LOROL wishes to add extra services to CP or West Croydon, this would have to be planned way in advance with Network Rail, so that overnight engineering work could start later.

Now I look at it, with the 35 min gap between services at CW, passengers are still going to use London Bridge which benefits from an extra train to Victoria which maintains a 15 min service until 2352.

I would still be too nervous trying to risk getting the last train from Canada Water in case it was cancelled or so packed I couldn't get on. Once you're stuck at Canada Water, there are very few other transport options.

At least if I miss my train at London Bridge I can get to Catford/Lewisham/East Dulwich or get a bus as far as Dulwich Library and wait for the 176 or 197.

And yes I agree, I really miss the direct evening trains to Charing Cross.

There are two late night options Canada Water is the N381 to Waterloo then the 176 to FH, but a long winded journey home for what normally takes 15 mins on the Overground.

You can also get the N381 to Peckham than get the N63 to the army barracks on Lordship Lane/Horniman Park and walk the rest of the way.

Yikes, thanks for the tip but I'm not likely to do that on my own.
I'll have to stick with London Bridge for now.
Btw how busy is the last Overground from Canada Water?

I think you can probably also get the 47/N47 to Catford and then the bus from there....