In this context the CCTV is used to check that no one is trapped in the doors.

Without CCTV that job was done by another human, i.e. a guard. Essentially all that has happened is that the cost of CCTV has reduced while the cost of a guard has greatly increased.

We have had a reply to the petition from the DfT. The full text can be read on our website

There were Overground trains running at what looked like an 8tph+ service on the line yesterday, busy busy busy.

On Sundays there are fewer other trains about so it is easier to run most of the service in test mode with the current timetable.

Anyone know why the 8.45am from HOP to London Bridge has been 4 coaches yesterday and today, and if this nightmare will continue? The staff were unhelpful.

Maybe this is for another thread also, but are there an excessive amount of Overground staff at HOP just standing around doing nothing and getting in the way? The platform's narrow enough as it is at the moment.

What really irked me the other day was me trying to get through a gate at rush hour and a lady was cleaning the gate. When I politely said excuse me, she said there's another gate. Well that gate was chockablock.

Ah, that's why it was so full this morning. I was in the front carriage so couldn't see.

Also: PEOPLE OF BROCKLEY! If the train is full, shouting at the people on it is not going to make it any emptier!

No Baboonery, it won't make it any emptier, but it might encourage them to move down away from the door lobby. In the days of slam door trains it was possible, in a crisis, to cram far more people onto trains because they could be pushed in from the doorway - not possible with sliding door trains and people standing in relative comfort alongside the seats whilst others are left on the platform.

I said the train was full.

A couple of weeks ago, the 0914 was delayed (which already is a 15 min gap after the 0859), so the first train was the 0922 from Victoria which is only 4 carriages, I was lucky to get a seat, but by the time it got to Brockley, it was packed to the rafters.

What I don't understand is, why do Southern provide 4 carriages on the final peak service from FH, but then I can get on the 1324 from LB and it has eight carriages?

Passing through New Cross Gate last night, I noticed posters up advertising Northbound ELL trains at 10, 25, 40 and 55 minutes past the hour.

It is disappointing to read the reply from DfT (post #942). In particular, when replying to the question on the loss of evening Charing Cross services they claim that:

Probably their spokesman does not even realise that the ELL will only have 4tph after 10.15pm, with oddly spaced gaps, making it a very poor option for travelling home from an evening in the West End.

Also, the Jubilee line is hardly close to most of the West End, necessitating either a long walk to a Jubilee Line station, or a long walk to change tube line at Waterloo.

I would be keen to see the FH Soc focus on this lack of evening ELL services when next lobbying DfT, TfL, MPs, etc. I will be writing to London Travel Watch, and my MP again once I know who it is.

If passengers decide to use the ELL at Canada Water after a night out, they better have a photographic memory of the final trains as not to be hanging around at the station for up to 20 minutes at a time.

Realistically, after 10pm, it'll still be London Bridge where people will still used the evened out 4tph service as the ELL timetable is far from "Metro"

errrr....'the jubilee line is hardly close to most of the West End'..... where, exactly, do you think Bond St/Oxford St are then (i'm referring to Bond St station) if not the West End????!!!! Not exactly difficult to get to if out for an evening in the area....

Had a personal guided tour round Shoreditch station yesterday - was just nosing round as i happened to be at work right opposite, and the staff there were taking people in for an informal look round, which was nice of them i thought.... Great view from the stairs of the crumbling brick railway arches that held everything up for a while...

Can't wait till it all opens; i still believe, on balance, that it is a great thing for Forest Hill....

I concur, se23northener. What a waste of effort in getting this petition together only to be 'replied to' like this.
However, I had no idea that our service to Charing Cross had been a matter of debate for 'years':

I also find it a bit rich to draw attention to the lower fares achieved for some...

while carefully disregarding the fact that anyone using the ELL to get to the West End...

...which will be more likely with a third of Southern services cut
- will have to pay more for the 'privilege' of using the tube system instead of a mainline service to Charing Cross.

The DfT comment on cheaper fares to Canary Wharf completely misses the point. The fare is the same - you always could travel to CW avoiding zone 1 by changing to the ELL at New Cross Gate.

The positive point - which they missed - is that you will now be able to do it without the change at NXG.

I checked today and the London Overground trains which are running from New Cross Gate to Dalston Junction are definitely not taking passengers. Apparently there are some problems with the CCTV cameras on the trains. The service is being advertised however at the station as it was supposed to have started last Friday.

I went to Shoreditch High St this lunch time, the only date the staff there would mention was 23rd May. Everything is fine, TfL are insisting on more safety tests apparantly.

Not convinced personally! I suspect this is more because everyone is happy to push the date past the election. Cynic, moi??

The 23 May date has been the official opening for months, hasn't it? Not really a delay. The live testing bit between NXG and Dalston was only ever unofficial. No? So nothing to get upset about?

I do not want to sound Mr Upset, but a soft opening date was announced which was then postponed due to the election.

The service is up and running, just without the passengers.