I am pretty sure that all people of such an age qualify the freedom pass Michael. However I guess it is wrong to assume that all pensioners go through the procedure of getting one, I know my mother didnt for quite a while.

It is a touchy subject for sure, so hopefully the works which require the underpass being shut will be over with as quickly as possible. I did see a lot of digging and dust this morning from Platform 1, so looks like they are now getting properly stuck into it.

Equally - it will depend on time of day as I think you can only use your freedom pass after 9:30am - so off-peak only.

It would also depend on whether the person in question had brought their Freedom pass with them, if they were just popping out locally.

I can see how it would seem like the most sensible thing would be to open the railway bridge to the public, but I can also imagine there would be a lot of health and safety rules Network Rail would have to address. Presumably there will be extra passengers using the bridge in both directions with the subway out of action. If you add general pedestrians, will Network Rail (or whoever are responsible, I lose track) be responsible for their safety too? I'm not saying there would be a problem, and there may be willingness in principle, but it might not be as simple as opening the gates and saying come one, come all. To imply that the station staff are just be obdurate is probably not very fair.

Freedom Passes are valid on London Overground services before 0930 weekdays, so will open the gates at FH at all times.

I noticed London Overground have put a 'helpful' map outside the ticket office showing the long winded diversion route for pedestrians who can't use the footbridge without a travelcard/freedom pass.

I think you can use a Freedom Pass 24/7 on the Under/Overground - the 'after 9.30 am' restriction only applies to National Rail - so presumably the passes will automatically open the gates at FH at any time.

Ah, I see rbmartin got in first!

You learn something new every day!

Why would staff have to accompany anyone over the bridge?
Just find some common decency (and sense) leave the gates open- people can bleep their Oyster cards and pedestrians can use the bridge. I'm sure 99.9% of people can be trusted, despite the low opinion if people on here.
The train company's refusal is selfish, unimaginative, and frankly cruel.
If they had a iota of goodwill towards the people of forest hill (and give themselves some good PR, they'd allow use of the bridge

But it's not just about fare dodging, is it? I'd lay odds that there is a raft of health and safety legislation that means they can't just open the gates as a gesture of goodwill. I agree it would have been good if it could have been negotiated, but let's find out WHY it's not being done before throwing around accusations that they are just being 'cruel'. Maybe they are, but let's have the facts first. Are the rail company 'refusing'? Has anyone asked them to open the bridge (and by anyone I mean anyone official, such as the Council or Forest Hill Society)? Maybe the council are at fault for not requesting this access, I don't know.

Considering how long it's taken to get all the relevant bodies (Network Rail, Lewisham Council, LOROL to get the Subway works done in the first place, negotiating with London Overground/LOROL over access to their footbridge for non fare paying customers would be pretty low down the chain when it comes to getting the much needed work needed on the neglected walkway.

I'd like to hope that most of the vulnerable pedestrians will have Freedom Passes (which incidentally are also given to disabled people under pensionable age) and for the rest of us that we'll have to tolerate this short inconvenience for the long term benefit for all users of the subway.

I do love a good moan, number one skill on my CV but please! A reliable mapping tool puts the detour from the subway entrance, around the footpath to a point outside Smiths at approximately 340 metres. The same tool maps a route between the same points but through the station and over the bridge at about 240 metres. Wouldn't be saving much would it?

Couldn't agree more IWAF. And I know which option my mother (with 2 replacement knees and a walking stick) would choose - "long" way round avoiding steps and commuting hoards every time...

Years ago there used to be platform tickets.
(You could buy a ticket to access the platform.)
Do they not exist now?

Am I missing something here?
Going through the station does not help anyone with a pushchair, is old or disabled, as there still is a significant flight of stairs to negotiate.
They have to go the long way round as they always did.
Which is disgraceful.

It may only take Usain Bolt 30 secs to negotiate those 350m, but it is a fair old distance to be put out of your way, whether you are fully mobile or not - the same sort of distance as from say the launderette to the start of Honor Oak Rd. Surprising but true.

But hey, with funding from the flats this is a golden opportunity to finally put this right, and I look forward to congratulate our MP, Lewisham council, Network Rail and FH Society in a few weeks time.

The topography of the area doesn't allow the subway to be any more than a convenient route for those who are able to negotiate steps easily. What is disgraceful about taking the route that is both publicly accessible and suitable given your personal constraints?

The station has lifts for those who find stairs difficult.

The station lifts only service the platform levels and although I appreciate that the extra distance may be more inconvenient to some, I am very pleased to see that progress is finally being made. Often statutory contributions by developers are not really seen and/or felt by the public, but in this case, the works if carried out to the requisite standard will really benefit the look and feel of the area.

1. Not true Fuming - there is nothing wrong with the topology - the Victorians managed it.

http://sydenhamforesthillhistory.blogspo...%20Station

I accept that today they would probably have to remove WHSmith's extension to provide a nicely sloped ramp, so the better option as repeatedly pointed out by more than one poster would be to install a lift.

2. Not true Sherwood - there is a double set of concrete stairs leading to platform 2. You clearly have never visited the Perry Vale side of the station, but thanks for your contribution anyway.

My expectations quite reasonably remain that a busy subway like this in the middle of the 'town' should be fully accessible to everyone.

What's that, knock down WHSmith and the William Hill building and build more attractive looking buildings in their place incorporating a slope for the subway you say?

Yep, gets my vote too!!

Bloomin 'eck. How much fuss over this?
The subway is closed, for much needed work, lets just put up with the disruption til its done.
As pointed out already, using the station steps doesnt help quite a lot of groups of people. I always had to push mum in her wheelchair around to platform 1 the long way.

Plain and simple, the footbridge is not a public right of way, and lets be honest about this, opening it up for a few months would encourage fare evasion, as well as many other issues.

I do love how it becomes a public flogging of london overground just because of this. Seriously!