Trains to/from Forest Hill and Honor Oak Park
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AMFM
Posts: 306
Joined: Oct 2007
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17-04-2012 04:50 PM
I thought it was really quiet on that train this morning - I got on at Forest Hill and there were loads of seats.
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michael
Posts: 3,260
Joined: Mar 2005
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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michael
Posts: 3,260
Joined: Mar 2005
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02-10-2012 12:06 PM
The National Rail one looks good and even includes London Overground (which hasn't been included on the tube apps).
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,087
Joined: Nov 2007
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02-10-2012 12:14 PM
Yes, it's frustrating that you have to check the NR site/app for London Overground times while TfL have no information on their own site for their own service, bar delays or engineering works.
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michael
Posts: 3,260
Joined: Mar 2005
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05-02-2013 04:32 PM
Back in November, at the Forest Hill Society AGM, some concern was expressed about possibly cuts to our services as a result of the London Bridge rebuilding work. After little additional information being available at the Lewisham Transport Liaison meeting, I wrote to South Railways Customer support (that was in December). Today I received a reply from somebody who actually fully answered the question:
I can confirm that at the moment we are not expecting significant reductions to London Bridge. The December 2013 (I read that as 2012) timetable change was planned to cater for the known platform changes at London Bridge.
In May 2013 we expect one train to be diverted to Victoria, this will be the 0725 from Tonbridge to London Bridge (which does not stop at Forest Hill). Beyond that certainly through until December 2014 the structure of the timetable should stay the same though there may be some minor retiming needs as the works progress.
From December 2013 we are expecting to lengthen more trains to and from London Bridge when the new Class 377/6's arrive.
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rshdunlop
Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
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05-02-2013 04:59 PM
Yes, it's frustrating that you have to check the NR site/app for London Overground times while TfL have no information on their own site for their own service, bar delays or engineering works.
What sort of information are you looking for on the Overground that's not on the TfL website? It's included in the journey planner and live service updates, both of which are easy to access via the TfL mobile website. You can also view departures on the Overground from any station using the Timetables section under the Getting Around tab on the main site. It's listed with the Tube.
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,087
Joined: Nov 2007
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21-10-2013 09:38 PM
Some of the new trains are now on the line, two months earlier than expected.
I was on the 1736 London Bridge to West Croydon train this evening, which to sum up has hard as rock seats, shorter tables and on-board announcements with the volume at a whisper to being too loud with no balance.
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InTheForest
Posts: 46
Joined: Feb 2012
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06-11-2013 10:37 PM
I agree. I really don't like the new seats. They are hard, the backs are too upright and make me hunch my shoulders. And the arm tests are in the wrong place for my arms at least. They are all four seats across a carriage but are less comfortable than the five seaters. So we get fewer, less comfortable seats.
And the announcements are even longer than the old ones. I didn't think that was possible. And it sounds like a small child is playing with the volume control.
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Baboonery
Posts: 581
Joined: Sep 2007
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21-11-2013 01:52 PM
No service AGAIN this weekend. Will this be the third Sunday running? Catford Bridge line off too. Pretty shoddy if you ask me.
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Erekose
Posts: 557
Joined: May 2010
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21-11-2013 08:23 PM
The TFL 'disruption update' email claims its the new work needed to accommodate five carriage trains that is to blame
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,087
Joined: Nov 2007
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22-11-2013 01:46 AM
If you think this is bad, there is no East London line Overground service at all from Monday 23rd December to Friday 27th December.
Southern will operate the normal Mon/Fri timetable on the 23rd and 24th although Christmas Eve services will close early as per usual.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day there's no train service and on the Friday 27th, only two trains per hour will operate to London Bridge.
A normal service will resume on Saturday 28th December with extra overnight trains on the ELL on New Years Eve.
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Muss
Posts: 50
Joined: Jun 2008
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23-11-2013 10:35 PM
This is the 5th week in a row where no normal Saturday and/or Sunday service has run from Forest Hill.
There's a rail replacement service again the following weekend (1st Dec) followed by more engineering works two weeks after (15th Dec).
That's 7 weekends of disruption in 8 weeks. In all my years of commuting from Forest Hill, I've never experienced this.
What I find annoying is that we get only a week's notice at a time, no explanation, no apologies and, to top it all, incorrect signage & posters telling passengers to queue at the wrong bus stops for the replacement services. I've discussed the incorrect information with the staff; I've been told that it is correct but the bus drivers choose whatever stops are convenient for them.
Instead of vague statements of "engineering works", I want to know exactly what they are doing, what the benefits are and what have they accomplished at the end of the weekend. But I've a strong feeling that most of the engineering works are to do with Crossrail works at Whitechapel that will go on for the next three years with no benefit to Forest Hill.
Don't even get me started on the shoddy, cowboy-build look they're going for in the new, improved Forest Hill station.
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Erekose
Posts: 557
Joined: May 2010
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23-11-2013 10:57 PM
Muss
As I noted above TFL advise that the weekend closures are for the preparatory works to allow five carriage trains to be used on the East London Line branch of the overground.
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MightyMouse
Posts: 122
Joined: Apr 2012
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24-11-2013 09:17 AM
But if it's to do with 5 carriage trains on the underground, why does it affect the Southern trains? Because they often (usually?) have more than 5 carriages. I'd understand if the overground was off, but I really don't get why the line to/from London Bridge is affected when surely the work for the longer trains is happening past NCG.
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rshdunlop
Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
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24-11-2013 10:27 AM
The London Bridge trains WERE running on Saturday. They're not running today because of bridge works at Norwood.
It IS annoying that it happening so often, but to be fair to TfL, if you check their website you can check future dates. I've just checked for next weekend and at the moment it looks like the Overground is running on our line, with planned closures on the Clapham part of the line. I get the TfL emails as well, which arrive mid-week, which isn't always early enough. I haven't been in the station for a while, so I don't know what information is available there, but it would be useful if they put up a poster when they know there are going to be a string of closures, giving all the dates AND sent out a special email for those of us who only use the station occasionally but still need to know.
This post was last modified: 24-11-2013 10:51 AM by rshdunlop.
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Muss
Posts: 50
Joined: Jun 2008
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24-11-2013 12:57 PM
I've found this rolling TfL Track Closures PDF listing engineering works for the next 6 months and there's too much orange for my liking.
I appreciate the upgrading to 5-carriage Overground trains, strengthening bridges in Norwood and building Crossrail at Whitechapel, but at least tell us that on posters.
The link I've posted only lists the TfL works, I then have to cross-reference it with Southern Trains engineering works to see if I can get to London Bridge and, finally, double check South Eastern Trains and make sure London Bridge to Charing Cross isn't closed for the weekend.
It would be nice if TfL/London Overground and Southern Train/Network Rail would acknowledge each other's existence at Forest Hill station, but they do love to spite each other with us poor passengers caught in the crossfire.
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Benderish
Posts: 41
Joined: Jun 2013
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24-11-2013 09:02 PM
I think most of the cancellations are due to the major rebuild of London Bridge stations. They are closing a lot of platforms and building a few others. Yes, its a pain in the backside but its all in the name of progress!
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,087
Joined: Nov 2007
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24-11-2013 11:45 PM
Next year, Southern trains won't call at London Bridge in August between the 23rd and 31st and from the 20th December 2014 to 5th January 2015.
In the spring, Platforms 14 and 15 will reopen, with 12-13 closed.
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