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Commuting via East Croydon
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oryx


Posts: 205
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #1
14-10-2013 07:05 PM

I wonder how many people on here work out of London and travel via East Croydon.

I've been doing it for several months now and two things puzzle me. I am thinking of contacting Southern, but wondered if anyone else had noticed:

- there's no 18.00 train from East Croydon (there's on one the half hour generally but not at this time, when it's probably most needed)
- the trains going south often leave too early - several instances recently of the 08.17 leaving at 08.16 or even 08.15, and me feeling very sorry for the passengers who think they've just made it, and haven't!

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lacb


Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #2
15-10-2013 09:17 AM

Used to do this every day and still do occasionally. Your observations are all correct. There is another thing that Southern are apt to do, and sadly you can expect more of this in winter, is run trains fast through stops like Forest Hill and Honor Oak Park - this means they catch up on lost time when there are delays and exploit a loophole where they can claim the train did run even though the advertised service did not.

All of these issues, IMO, stem from the same cause: they have only a few minutes timetabled to turn the trains round. This means that there is no slack to absorb delays.

There used to be a c. 1800 from East Croydon but it was so often delayed or cancelled that I think they dropped it from the timetable altogether. There was an issue logged with FixMyTransport but it didn't get anywhere.

Have tried comnunicating with Southern on all this but frankly they need to run more trains to sort this and they don't show much enthusiasm for this. I hope you have better luck but am hoping the new combined franchise goes to a company that is a little more passenger focused.

This post was last modified: 15-10-2013 09:19 AM by lacb.

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lacb


Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #3
15-10-2013 10:15 AM

Issue is still current with FixMyTransport, supposedly with Southern scheduling - wouldn't hurt to add your support?
http://www.fixmytransport.com/campaigns/...g-peak-ser

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oryx


Posts: 205
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #4
15-10-2013 10:10 PM

Thanks for that - all interesting stuff. Glad I'm not the only one.

I thought there were more regular train from EC before the Overground but couldn't quite remember!

The response from Southern does indeed miss the point - if I get a reply I will post back here.

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Perryman


Posts: 823
Joined: Dec 2006
Post: #5
16-10-2013 10:55 PM

If the average off peak wait is 15 mins at E Croydon and the journey takes 15 mins, then as the tlf journey planner suggests, you possibly are better off, on average, getting the 197 bus (27 mins) all the way.

Which says a lot really about what a poor service southern provide to and from an important local transport hub.

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oryx


Posts: 205
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #6
17-10-2013 11:57 PM

The 197 doesn't go near me but you are spot-on about the paucity of Southern's service from an important local transport hub.

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rbmartin


Posts: 1,129
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #7
19-11-2013 02:57 AM

While not convenient, you can either change at Norwood Junction for the four trains per hour on the Overground or walk or use Tramlink to West Croydon.

27 minutes in the evening peak on the 197 is optimistic.

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lacb


Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #8
19-11-2013 12:05 PM

That made me chuckle rbmartin. Whilst all true, "not convenient" is presumably a euphemism for c**p ;-)

When changing at Norwood Junction, I usually witness the Overground "connection" leave just about the same time as the train just disembarked from. As it is actually on the same island platform but the doors do not open that side, one usually has to wait for the next one.

As the Norwood Junction services are all lumped together before the next direct train, it is rarely worthwhile sound this. In fact, you run the risk of missing the train you could have caught by eating longer at East Croydon. Unless it is 6pm, that is.

The Tramlink suggestion really only works in one direction (west to east), due to its circuitous route.

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