Hi all,

I took the 7.14 from HOP this morning going to LB and it was very quiet with a lot of spare seats ( I would guess 40% of seats were taken before HOP). This compared with the 7.02 I used to get that was probably at 85% seat capacity when it got to HOP. I am hoping this will continue although given the problems people seem to have had later I would imagine the extra capacity from later will move to earlier trains.

HOB

Out of the 3 ELL trains I used yesterday, 2 had the air-con on so cold that it was as cold as a fridge, the other didn't work at all.

They need to find a sensible balance, the newer Southern trains with air con are nowhere as cold as the ELL trains.

It looks like they have some significant problems with the a/c on the new ELL trains. TfL acknowledge that there have been complaints about it being too cold when the a/c is working, as well as it not working at all. If people notice that it isn't working, it would be useful to know how many coaches are affected. They say they are working with the manufacturers to overcome the problems - I've asked when it is expected that they will be fixed.

Oyster fares have now been updated.

Forest Hill - London BR £2.60 / £2.00
Forest Hill - Zone 1 Underground £2.70 / £2.40
Forest Hill - TfL Zone 3-2, 3-3 or 3-4 (No Zone 1) £1/30 all day (some exceptions)
Forest Hill - West Croydon £2.20 / £1.30
Forest Hill - East Croydon £2.20 / £1.70

Forest Hill - Clapham Junction £1.80 / £1.50 Victoria Loop
Forest Hill - Clapham Junction £2.60 / £2.00 (NationalRail Only via Zone 1)
Forest Hill - Clapham Junction £3.70 / £3.10 (Via Zone 1 changing between London Underground and National Rail at Blackfriars, Cannon St, Charing Cross, Embankment, London Bridge, Victoria or Waterloo)

Slight correction :

Forest Hill - Zone 1 Underground

via ELL £2.70 / £2.40

Via Zone 1 changing between London Underground and National Rail at Blackfriars, Cannon St, Charing Cross, Embankment, London Bridge, Victoria or Waterloo £3.70 / £3.10

I have emailed Joan Ruddock, the Lewisham / Deptford MP as to whether the length of the morning peak services were discussed with Southern. In her general letter emailed back to me a while ago, it only said that they evening peak services would definitely be 8 coaches.

I was charged £2.70 tonight via Whitechapel, but I did touch the pink validator just incase.

The problem with the new ELL is that it serves New Cross too which is no use to persons returning to HOP or Forest Hill. Perhaps we should consider presenting a petition to the railway asking for New Cross to be removed from the ELL.

We could justify this on the grounds that the residents of SE23 are of a much higher social class compared those in SE14. The New Cross users of the ELL can walk to Surrey Quays in order to connect to it.

Or they could walk to New X Gate, which is only about ten minutes away, if that. I never understood why they didn't dump new cross when they had the chance. It's is a waste of resources and an annoyance for everyone else on the rest of the line.

Hmmm, something to do with the Southeastern services that stop there, perhaps.

Those trains that go to New Cross provide an extra 4tph on the core section between Surrey Quays and Dalston and as mentioned connect with Southeastern services.

I can't think of any other examples outside central london where there are two stations so close together. It's a waste of resources. I don't think new cross as a station should exist at all.

Next time you are at Canada Water have a look at the people on the platform at Rotherhithe, only a few hundred metres away. They tried to close it but had lots of local opposition. Above ground they are not well connected at all so was a reasonable case for retention.

Well there's an example just outside of SE23, where the stations are much closer, so thankfully you don't have to think too hard.

Are all the trains in the morning going to be 4 carriages??? The 7:23 from HOP was four carriages this morning and packed.

Today was my first day this week travelling to work as I was off yesterday and it was a bit of a nightmare. Not only does the journey to London Bridge now take longer but if we get 4 carriages instead of 8, this is going to be awful.

Just before the 7:23, there was a overground train at the plaform and I noticed two things: It was almost empty and the step to get on was far far too high from the low platform (or too high train???). I have a knee injury and getting on would have been a struggle. I am not sure you can get a pushchair on it? Has anyone tried form HOP?

Now I need to get to Charing Cross in the morning. I am not a happy commutter at the best of time (phobia of being underground and not too good with crowds) but the trip used to suit me fine (two short train journeys where by travelling early in the morning I could get a seat and rest my knee).

With a 4-carriage train I have no chance of getting a seat at HOP. The last time I dislocated my knee was standing on a train between London Bridge and Charing Cross. Fellow commuters loved the fact that I did not want them to press the emergency cord at Waterloo East because I knew it would be easier to get an ambulance at Charing Cross and as a result they breathed a sigh a relief at not being delayed!

Would love someone to tell me the 4 carriages was a one off. If not I am not sure what I am going to do.

The 7:20FH / 7:23HOP is the only 4 carriage train on Southern between 7:00 and 9:00, although there is a 6 carriage train at 7:50.

If you are a regular on the 7:23 I recommend the train 8 minutes earlier which is new to the timetable and has spare seats all the way to London Bridge.

All trains in the evening peak should be 8 carriages but 15 minutes apart.

I think I am going to have to try getting the 07:14 but that train takes 17/18minutes to London Bridge (the 7:23 is supposed to take 13 which is still more than the 11min it used to take). I resent having to leave earlier to get to London Bridge at the same time I used to arrive before all this but I guess I will have too. My days are long enough as it is as I am usually on my way back from work only after 19:00.

ELL - does the announcer pronounce Brockley as 'Arkley'?

They're just missing the Brrrr off because the AC doesn't work

I decided to travel in today by ELL and then change at Shadwell and get the DLR to Bank (I usually go to LB then hop on a bus).

New train, empty, airconditioned and just a great journey. Made the mistake of taking the stairs at Shadwell so arrived at road level out of steam. Short walk across the road to the DLR and another airconditioned train.

Same journey time but far more pleasant although I have the benefit of being able to travel outside of the rush hour.

Lets see what the return journey is like tonight.