All Southern Trains on our line will be 8 carriages from Monday, at least that is what we have been told. But there will only be 4 of them per hour so it is not too surprising that there is a 17 minute gap between some of the trains.

Again, I would urge anybody travelling home on the Jubilee Line to change at Canada Water rather than London Bridge. This will better spread the load and provide you with more frequent trains home and an easier interchange.

Given that approximately 30% of people on our trains use the Jubilee line this could take a large proportion of the pressure off the Southern Services, as will the fast trains to Norwood Junction for people going on to Dorking, Guildford, Sutton, etc - however the destinations beyond NJ account for a very small proportion of passengers currently on our trains.

I continue to believe that Southern Services will be increasingly overcrowded in the evening rush hour from next week because I think that the rail authorities have miscalculated the suggested reduction in passengers from the ELL.

Well Joan Ruddock, the Lewisham / Deptford MP has been assured that they SHOULD be eight coach trains. An extract from her letter to me after I pushed and pushed for an answer:

I know that one of the chief concerns about the changes to the evening peak service is the issue of overcrowding on the trains. Southern have assured me that from May all the evening peak trains leaving London Bridge along the ‘stopping line’ will be 8 coach trains, whereas presently some are not. I have sought assurances from Southern that they will carefully monitor the numbers of passengers who ‘switch’ to the East London Line and the express services and those who continue to use the services that stop at New Cross Gate, Brockley and Honor Oak.

Really they should be as long as the 17.55 from London Bridge, but I think that might be 10 carriages? Anyone know? Certainly the 17.51 is too crowded already and how long is that? I think 8.

I went on the 17.51 to Dorking last Friday and it was 8 carriages. That train was busy enough as it is, despite the next train being 4 minutes later.

The longest trains that the Honor Oak Park station can accommodate is 8 carriages and I think that's the same for all platforms on this route.

There are plans to extend all the platforms and trains to 10 coaches but this will NOT take place until mid-2012!

My fear is now the overground will be the main provider of train services, Southern will give us the worst quality carriages.

For those of you who travel on the current 0859 to London Bridge, you'll know what I mean by those two carriage trains which are lumped on together to make 6 carriage trains with no legroom.

As others have said, I think the main thing to do is to complain loud and clear if we find it does turn out to be unbearable. I would suggest complaining to TFL, Southern AND your local MP.

As previously posted, Southern's plan is to provide 10 coach trains on the Forest Hill - London Bridge Route by the end of 2011. Network Rail has a programme to extend the platforms by the same date (which could prove useful) - although their commitment is only to extend them by May 2012!

If it's that unbearable, you'd probably be better off going to Canada Water on ELL and changing, getting onto Jubilee for LB. It's hardly any more time.

It's goiing to be really inconvenient for people who do not use the Underground to have to travel to Canada Water from London Bridge to pick up the Overground. This will add another half hour onto existing journeys. If the overground route doesnt reduce congestion at London Bridge loud voiced protest and constant harrassment of Southern Management, MPs etc needs to be made.

The next few weeks will be a big test for us as passengers to see which will be the best option for us in the future. Many of us will be breaking travelling habits that have been used for decades.

For those of us who commute to Charing Cross or Cannon Street, it may be worth experimenting using the ELL to Whitechapel then using CS or Embankment for Charing Cross as if we're stuck at LB for up to 15 mins, I'd rather use that time travelling.

I hear that at the moment you can't get on the Jubilee at Canada Water to head east during the morning rush hour due to over crowding. I guess that people wanting to go west will go to Canada Water in preference to London Bridge because it will be easier to get on there. However, the reduction in numbers going to LB may not be that much until the long overdue upgrade to the Jubilee comes on stream.

Surely this is going to be more costly. It bugs me that I have to pay more money and that it takes longer to get home from Embankment via Jubilee / ELL.

Im currently working in Hammersmith, and have found that my journey is far more pleasant if I take the train to Kensington Olympia (via East Croydon) and walk, rather than take the tube. Its takes about 10-15mins longer, and the last 10mins squeeze on the 4 carriage overground train from Clapham junction is a slight pain but I think it is worth it.

The new timetable adds on 3 minutes to my journey time, but I'll take the same route.

But that's not a 'legal' journey is it?

10p more during the peak and 40p off-peak on PAYG. No difference if you're a travelcard user.

Interesting...

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projects...15403.aspx

It isnt on a 1-3 travel card. Have to get a 2-5 for a legal journey, although Ive not seen oyster card readers on the platform at E/C they may well be there though. [/quote]

If it helps, as of Monday, you'll have 2tph direct to Clapham Junction and 4tph to Crystal Palace with a change there for more trains to Clapham.

It's legal on a Z1-3 travel card with an OEP. Yet another example of why OEP's are stupid.[/quote]