Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster! Does anyone know what happened to the departure board on platform 1 at Forest Hill station- there doesn't seem to be any info anywhere! Is it going to be put back at some point??

Thanks

Greetings and Welcome LeeH,

I don’t have an answer for you.

Although, I have taken a mild interest in the comings and goings of this departure board over the last month or so. You may have noticed the same thing. So, if none of what I’m about to write is news to you, then I apologise.

Firstly, they got rid of the previous yellow one a little while ago.

Then, installed a new, slightly smaller departure board (a rather lovely little black number, if departure boards are your thing), into the old pole and bracket. It looked a bit clunky, though, as it was not quite fitting properly into the old bracket perfectly.

Then, the whole old pole and bracket including the new departure board departed.

Now, this morning, for the first time, I noticed a new pole and bracket have been installed in roughly the same spot. Things are happening, in the right direction, I can report to you. So, it looks like we are just waiting for the new departure board to arrive. Again. Sometime soon.

Anyway, welcome again LeeH and I’m glad that you are no longer lurking in the shadows of SE23.com.

I saw on Twitter that the new one had to be removed for health and safety reasons. The latest post to add to the collection on the platform was installed at the end of last week. But I feel something is missing...

I still stare at the space around the top of the post hoping to find out the time. Since I have been going to work earlier than is decent I have found the absence of time on the platform has helped me to avoid thinking about it at a time when I should be tucked up in bed asleep, rather than standing on a platform asleep.

Fabulously existential post, Michael

There is however a sign on the window of the ticket office facing Platform 1 saying "temporary departure board" .... However there is nothing there. Hmmm

Perhaps the clue is in the name. What do people expect a departure board to do?
It has gone, it is not more, it has ceased to be, in short - it has departed.

lol very good

Now a dearly departed board

If they could replace it with a board that I can read from more than a foot away, that would be nice. When I descend the footbridge at Whitechapel, I have to walk nearly the length of the platform to be able to make out the time and destination of the next train. Then I walk all the way back again to be at the right end of the train. Putting my 'middle-aged-lady glasses' on doesn't help much.

The old departure board had one grotesque failing. If you got on at the door that corresponds to the stairs at shoreditch high street then the time of the next train was obscured by a post. Very frustrating as it meant deserting your prime position by the doors to see the time, thus losing your already slim hope of a seat. Anyway. The new slightly smaller departure board was perfect and the post didn't obscure the time. Then it disappeared.....

Never heard so much love for a departure board before- I like it though!

The temporary departure board is there but is passing indistinct....its also mostly out of sync with the main board in the ticket acquisition space (sadly it doesn't warrant being called a hall).
As a protest against the long interval between the removal of one and the arrival of the other I make a point of enquiring each day of any passing member of staff as to the progress of the replacement.
I fell I am however slipping / growing weak as in the days of Connex SS I would have written daily on the matter....probably both by email and letter. And then written weekly to enquire why my previous letters had not been answered - such was the sport to be had with them it was almost cruel.

Time to dust off that green pen, Erekose! Maybe I'll write them a poem. They could display it on the whiteboard they have in aforementioned ticket acquisition space. Or as I call it extension non-acquisition space after the concept of a extension to High Wycombe seemed beyond the member of staff.
It's just a shame they seem to be putting the new one up where you can't see it from either shelter.
Has made me realise quite how much I looked up for the old one; is like a nervous tic.

The departure board's gone. Oh dear, what a pain
Now I don't now how long till my next train
Unless I download the timetable myself
Or dust off the hard copy there on my shelf
I could always ask a member of staff
they're always so friendly, he says with a laugh.
Perhaps we've forgotten that it can be fun
waiting for ages for southern to come....

This post was last modified: 23-07-2012 10:51 PM by Deano.

Well, it seems the whole thing is a mystery.. To sub-thread, it seemed to happen around the time of the infamous ram-raid (amke of that what you will..). Does anyone know when the cash points are likely to be re-instated?

Lol @ Deano well done mate.

Well here is the temp one. Plenty of info, and you can't say they are not transparent with the info either!
   

The temporary board appears to be a feed from the National Rail Enquiries website which is a couple of minutes out of sync. It was still showing the 0912 after it left platform 1 on Friday.

I'm surprised LOROL didn't assess the health and safety issues before installing the new departure board, the old Connex yellow board was still working well, so don't understand why it needed to go in the first place?

Incidentally, I emailed LOROL to enquire over a month ago and still have no reply.

The new board has been installed, but not switched on yet.

Which cafe-dwelling celeb will do the big switch on?

Frank Bruno should come back with another commemorative plaque to replace the old one!

Yep, it does seem to be spectacularly positioned to minimize its visibility to most of the platform however... Still, better than no board at all!