I have a theory why Southern Trains are cutting all our services ? as of 20th Sep 2009, they have lost a huge chunk of revenue stream after all the stations between Norwood Junction and London Bridge were handed over to TFL/London Overground (LO)

If I recall (though do correct me as I?m going by memory) ? 80% of ticket sales at a station (daily, weekly, monthly, annual) goes to the train company that operates that station. The remaining is split between the other train companies.

Considering how many commuters there are on this line (as mentioned by previous surveys that FH Station is one of the busiest in London), that?s a huge amount of revenue to loose from your bottom line.

I am not surprised that Southern Trains have thrown a strop. I fully understand why they are providing the minimum service that they are obliged to, that they are not fighting too hard on our behalf for direct trains to Charing Cross and other peak and off-peak services. What incentive is there for Southern Trains to provide anything bar what they are legally obliged to, now that they getting less revenue? I can imagine the lawyers poring over the DfT contracts to see what else they can stop paying for?.

This all occurred to me this morning at FH Station. I read a LO poster informing people who are renewing their season tickets that they would have hand over their full details as LO cannot get it from Southern Trains (data protection act).

So, thank you TFL, Ken Livingston and Boris Johnson. While you indulge in your empire building because you feel a bit inadequate when you look at a London Underground map and see no coverage of SE London ? you felt as though you had to do something about it. To the detriment of us commuters.

Nice to have 8 trains an hour to Hoxton, but I?m not young, bold and beautiful enough to hang out with the New Media Web 2.0 people.