Forest Hill Rail Station
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ChrisR
Posts: 98
Joined: Nov 2007
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26-04-2010 05:56 PM
Used the lifts for the first time on Saturday - it was lovely not to have to struggle up and down the stairs with a suitcase and laptop etc. Now all I want is for the same to happen at Clapham Junction where I have to change trains. The work to install lifts there started over a year ago, but progress is very slow, but then there are a lot more platforms!
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blushingsnail
Posts: 371
Joined: Dec 2005
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05-05-2010 01:23 PM
Does anyone know when the ticket office will actually be able to sell tickets on Oyster? Went along on Saturday, naively thinking I would be able to get an annual travelcard on Oyster (after all it's now been 4 months since Oyster became accepted at the station and the ticket machines were updated some time ago). Oh, how deluded of me! I was told the ticket office still can't sell Oyster tickets and to go to London Bridge. Was so flummoxed I didn't think to ask when they expect the damn equipment to be installed. (Checked the ticket machines and they sell monthly, but not annual, travelcards.)
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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05-05-2010 01:37 PM
I can't believe we're weeks away from the ELL serving Forest Hill and yet we're still treated as a standard National Rail station with regards to Oyster.
It's worth remembering that stations operated by Southern and Southeastern were Oyster ready at the self-service machines on the 2nd January, but LOROL stations had to wait an extra 2/3 weeks.
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Muss
Posts: 50
Joined: Jun 2008
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05-05-2010 01:43 PM
Blushingsnail,
Would it not be better to buy an annual travelcard as a paper season ticket as that offers extra benefits for Goldcard holders? If you use the season ticket for travelling, beyond the normal work commute, in the evenings and weekends.
Last weekend's journey : Forest Hill - Reading return, travelled on Sun, came back Mon. Normal fare : £32. With Goldcard discount : £14.
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blushingsnail
Posts: 371
Joined: Dec 2005
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05-05-2010 01:58 PM
Muss,
My understanding is you still get the 'Gold Card' benefit with an annual travelcard on Oyster. Apparently you get a little receipt which you have to show when buying rail tickets, to get the Gold Card discount.
I thought I'd finally switch to Oyster to benefit from the ease of journey extensions outside zone 3 with the PAYG element (apart from getting OEPs of course).
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FHSoc
Posts: 134
Joined: Nov 2009
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05-05-2010 06:18 PM
My understanding from a meeting with LOROL on 4 March is that there are no immediate plans to sell monthly or annual oyster cards froim the station as the Oyster cards have to be registered (and they will not have the facilities to do this).
Shere had run into problems getting accreditation for their Ticket Machines, which had delayed installation of Oyster vending facilities at the Ticket Offices. However, Oyster Vending facilities for PAYG/Weekly travelcards will be available by 23 May 2010, possibly earlier. (This is a contractual obligation with TfL)
We have another meeting with LOROL on Tuesday.
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Applespider
Posts: 285
Joined: Feb 2006
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05-05-2010 08:49 PM
Blushingsnail is correct. You do get a little paper 'Travelcard' that lets you still get your gold card benefits. But it only works at the ticket office - it doesn't work if you want to do PAYG Oyster fares which is irritating.
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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06-05-2010 01:55 PM
PAYG, 7 Day Travelcards and 7 Day Bus and Tram Passes have been on sale from the FH vending machines since late January.
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Foresters
Posts: 212
Joined: May 2006
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06-05-2010 01:59 PM
on sale from the FH vending machines since late January
I know this has been mentioned before, but the new colour scheme on the display of these ticket machine makes it dreadfully difficult to read them. It really has to change.
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blushingsnail
Posts: 371
Joined: Dec 2005
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06-05-2010 03:24 PM
FHSoc:
List of gripes to raise with LOROL:
1. Still no Oyster tickets at the ticket office. Yes, there are some alternatives (ticket machines, Oyster Ticket Stops) but not for annual travelcards (especially if you’ve got a season ticket loan from your employer and they’ve given you a travel warrant that can only be redeemed at an overground station ticket office).
2. Ticket machine screens: display colour and sun shining on the screen make it difficult to read. Maybe a contributory factor as to why so many first-time users of the machines aren’t reading the instruction to swipe their Oyster card again after they’ve put money in the machine? In any event, a very poor user-experience, especially for people unfamiliar with using the machines.
3. Lack of information, eg about station improvement work. Posters were put up about the footbridge closure but there was no mention of any of the other work (platform widening and new shelters). Giving passengers good news generates goodwill. Plus, when the footbridge finally opened I didn’t see any attempt to tell passengers – they just removed the sign in the station window that gave instructions to use the subway and left passengers to realise for themselves that the footbridge had opened. Pathetic.
4. Temporary platform signage: it’s ugly and the replacement signage had better be more attractive.
Can you tell I’m p**sed off with them?
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Fandango
Posts: 89
Joined: Nov 2008
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06-05-2010 03:47 PM
5. Underpass. It's beyond a joke now...
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michael
Posts: 3,261
Joined: Mar 2005
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06-05-2010 04:00 PM
6. Exit via Perry Vale car park
7. State of the railway bridge over the South Circular
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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06-05-2010 04:55 PM
A poster is now up promoting London Overground's new services from May 23rd.
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FHSoc
Posts: 134
Joined: Nov 2009
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14-05-2010 07:42 PM
We had our meeting with LOROL and raised the above points. A report of meeting can be viewed on our website.
They are going to upgrade the TVMs next week.
Peter Kalton who is leading this project on behalf of London Overground would value any input to help us get the final solution right for our customers.
‘As many of you are aware we have received many complaints about the computer monitor colours on the Shere TVMs. The main complaint relates to the lime green buttons with white lettering /symbols at their centre. This making it very difficult for customer to navigate the screens when purchasing a rail product.
On Monday Shere will begin down loading an improved colour scheme for the TVMs which should make ticket buying easier. This is an interim change whist we continue to develop an optimum colour scheme etc.
Also in early June the TVMS will have a ‘travel card’ button added to the home screen and the number of national rail designations significantly increased (this will cover all Network SouthEast and key intercity designations).’
The mock ups are available through the same link. Please provide feedback to us or through this forum.
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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14-05-2010 08:06 PM
Thanks for your work meeting LOROL.
Like FHSoc, I'm not happy about the second rate Oyster service we'll be getting from the ticket office, as well as not being able to purchase monthly or annual travelcards, you won't be able to register an Oyster card, add a discount photocard to an Oyster, which leaves us with the same service as the TVM's.
LOROL stations from Surrey Quays northwards and the ex Silverlink stations offer the same service as a tube ticket office.
I thought that LOROL would be removing the ex Southern ticketing equipment, but of course, seeing they're a private company running a PPP on behalf of TfL, it's down to cost isn't it?
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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20-05-2010 04:42 PM
I see the new temporary signs have been installed at FH today, complete with dual Overground/National Rail logos at the Devonshire Road and Perry Vale exits.
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Baboonery
Posts: 581
Joined: Sep 2007
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20-05-2010 05:22 PM
Yes, two workmen pasting the horrible orange stickers over the old station name signs on Platform 2 at about 9 this morning.
Would black-lined white lettering, or vice-versa, not have looked much better?
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rbmartin
Posts: 1,088
Joined: Nov 2007
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20-05-2010 06:53 PM
Not my cup of tea, but at least we're getting the roundel signs and LUL style benches before Christmas, which will replace the BR ones (I think there is one left?) that are still left on Platform 1.
Has Oyster been installed at the ticket office yet? According to a transport forum, they still haven't been upgraded at NJ or West Croydon.
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Baboonery
Posts: 581
Joined: Sep 2007
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25-05-2010 12:36 PM
How long do we think until the jobsworth on the platform gets his megaphone shoved into Zone One?
The platform clearly isn't wide enough for people to get past if those standing all have to stand behind the yellow line when the train's only just visible on the approach from Sydenham. I know you have a job to do, but nobody wants to get hit by a train either, and while you've just come in this week, we've been waiting on this platform for years, so pipe down a bit, eh?
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Londondrz
Posts: 1,538
Joined: Apr 2006
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25-05-2010 12:49 PM
and can the gent who insists on wondering up and standing right in front of me please learn some manners. If there are people already waiting on the platform for a train dont go and stand in front of them in order to get on first, it's rude and uncalled for.
So there...
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