Thanks I appreciate can get tickets the day before but that would still mean the 0929 from FH to WC is a no go area , whereas when it arrives in Sydenham as thw 0931 it is OK.
I believe most people who used this train from FH were on discount tickets , freedom passes etc.

If the gates have time restrictions at Forest Hill for off peak, this will have problems for people trying to give themselves lots of time to get over the bridge especially if not young and sprightly, with afore and oft mentioned pushchairs, shopping and suitcases.

I will this afternoon be travelling back from LB to Sydenham with a heavily laden buggy, baby and a rucksack so this should be interesting especially as I have to walk around and catch the train back up to FH. Last week the gate opened ok however only after pushing the button for several minutes as the staff were clearly busy.

Oh the FUN to be had if the new barriers don't read oyster cards...that is going to be a right treat in the mornings

The latest on the Sydenham Forum is that only some Oyster tickets aren't being read and, of those, they work when entering the station but don't work when exiting.

Hopefully the glitch will be sorted out before the FH barriers become operational.

This is true. TfL's website is not very clear about this, but it would appear that you cannot go past the gate until the allotted time:

Although it looks like there are now four minutes' grace in the evening (not sure about the morning...) That report doesn't say anything about Travelcard peak/off-peak which applies to the Oyster daily capping, but I'd assume that the same applies.

Reading between the lines you will be have to call them to dispute the charge each time (at 3.5p/minute)....

The rules are quite simple. Cheap day returns and Freedom Passes are valid from 9.30. Using them on the 9.29 is fare dodging. The barriers will stop this.
Perhaps this is why they've been installed?

Steve
You are of course 100% correct and I consider myself reprimanded.
However the 0929 was usually late say 4 days out of 5 went after 0930 , but at FH station a long way over the bridge if you have to wait until the gates allow you through.
I am fortunate being only 5 mins further away from Sydenham station where no such problems arise.

Surely you just ask to be let through 3 minutes early if you need to cross the bridge to get to platform 2?

Some common sense is surely needed. If the 9:29 at FH were the 9:30, or even the 9:31, then when the barriers go live you'll have very little chance of making it over the bridge in time to catch the train, if you're entering on an off-peak ticket (unless you're an athlete!).

The 9:30 switch to off-peak ticket validity largely stems from the fact that TfL didn't historically operate timetabled services but "turn up and go" instead. This is progressively changing, with the introduction of London Overground etc.

So, some common sense and a little bit of trust is needed. The barriers should let you in on an off-peak ticket at 9:27, which allows enough time to get to either platform. Or, alternatively, the gate on platform 2 could be left open with a ticket inspector, which, oh shock horror, means we're back where we began in the first place!

Or catch a later train!

Seems the new barriers are starting on the 7th and downside gates only open from 1500 to 2000 hours if I have read correctly.
Let us give it a fair trial it may not be so bad.

I wonder if they'll staff the gate throughout the day when they close the subway... (See Changes to Perry Vale)

And if you read the notice, it tells us about the opening times of the gates to the Perryvale Road. Where exactly is Perryvale Road? Oh it would be good if these people could get their facts right.

Why, it runs into Perrystreete, silly.

Post #98 raised an interesting issue regarding access from Perry Vale during the closure of the subway.

Deputy mayor of Lewisham, Heidi Alexander, has received an assurance from Southern that during the time the subway is closed for renovation the entrance from the Perry Vale side will be kept open (manned or unmanned).

Passengers will be able to use exits on either side of the railway but non-passengers will need to walk round the south circular during this time. My understanding is that the subway will only be closed for two weeks and the improvements will be most welcome.

Well, it's 7 July, and the barriers were open this morning...

..but closed today. I had a word with station manager Chris Daly this morning. He reckons that the platform 2 gate will be open after 8pm. I pointed out that the gate being closed during rush hour will cause chaos and unsafe situations to him and the Safety Risk Assessor there. To which Chris Daly promised that "it will all be fine in 2 weeks". Of course it will! A lot of people will be on holiday but in September it will be a nightmare.

Indeed they were. A lot of people approaching the barriers as if they'd never ever seen one before.

Southern have also told me that gate 2 will be open when the gates are unmanned. That means after 8pm.

They are obviously not prepared to staff that gate in the mornings which is why they keep it closed.

I had asked them to install a buzzer for people with limited mobility, as they did at Sydenham. Although I was told they would consider this it does not appear to have a buzzer system. Apparently the stairs were already inaccessible, so an extra 3 flights of stairs is no problem at all!

If you have a buggy or have difficulty with stairs please press the HELP button on platform 2 and a member of staff should help you across (you should not have to rely on fellow passengers, although I am sure they would be happy to help). It is important that Southern Railways and their staff understand the inconvenience that they are causing to passengers on a daily basis.

Please keep posting your experiences (good or bad) of using the ticket barriers, the Perry Vale gate, the ticket inspectors, crowding on the platforms, etc. Your comments are useful to understand the issues throughout the day, how it affects your travel patterns, and the overall impact that the gating has had on passengers.