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Rush hour trains from HOP - Advice please
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James1


Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #1
16-03-2014 07:48 AM

Hi, I'm considering moving to Honor Oak and would be grateful to learn of the train situation at rush hour in the morning. I currently work in Victoria so would prob get the 8.04. Is this train rammed or fine to get on and seating available? Similarily what are the trains into London Bridge and East London like at that time?

Advice much appreciated.

James

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Ponyboy


Posts: 18
Joined: Mar 2012
Post: #2
16-03-2014 08:43 AM

Hi there. The 8.04 to Victoria is virtually empty when it arrives at HOP. It's a very nice new train as well. Tends to fill up at Crystal Palace. rush hour trains on the overground and rail are fairly busy but very frequent.

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squashst


Posts: 129
Joined: Mar 2009
Post: #3
16-03-2014 09:40 AM

BR trains into London Bridge (normally 8 or 10 carriages) or usually less crowded than the Overground trains (4 carriages); if you are looking to get an overground train from 8am to 8:40am to Canada Water etc its a scrum; BR Trains you may well get a seat. Note though that the London Bridge trains can be unreliable re times (esp the ones that come from Victoria!) and with all the Lon Bridge redevelopment its not uncommon to get caught in "train stacks" for 5/10 mins outside Lon Bridge station.

Going the other way - to Croydon or Victoria, no probs re a seat in the morning.

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rbmartin


Posts: 1,075
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #4
16-03-2014 10:48 AM

To be honest, you're going in the right direction at that time of the morning for getting a seat as the train takes around 35 mins to reach Victoria in comparison to the around 10/12 mins it takes to go to London Bridge.

I'd have a back-up option though, which would mean using Overground or Southern services to London Bridge and then the tube.

Are you planning to buy a rail season ticket to LB/Vic or a Travelcard if you move here? A rail season is cheaper, but will restrict you to National Rail services and isn't valid north of New Cross Gate on the Overground.

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James1


Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #5
16-03-2014 01:23 PM

Thanks all for the feedback - appreciated. Intending to get a travelcard as use the tube a lot across London. Encouraging to hear that the Vic train has lots of room!

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shzl400


Posts: 729
Joined: Oct 2007
Post: #6
16-03-2014 01:43 PM

An alternative route, if trains are cancelled, on strike or whatever - P4 bus to Brixton and then tube from there.

Probably only recommended as an emergency back up. P4 is the world's most unpredicable bus, but in school holidays is can be very good. As Brixton is the start of the tube line, it's empty when it starts.

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Chris88


Posts: 43
Joined: Sep 2012
Post: #7
16-03-2014 06:02 PM

Overground you will easily get on, but you won't get a seat. It will get insane at Brockley though just hope you're not near the doors.

London Bridge train is fine. Probably won't get a seat but far less full.

Changing at Canada Water is pretty slow due to one escalator. Might have to wait for a couple of trains to get on the Jubilee but most days it's fine.

Changing at London Bridge is hit and miss. Sometimes it's empty and sometimes it's totally backed up and you will be waiting quite a while.

I just take whichever one comes first.

Coming home I recommend going to London Bridge. You get a seat. You won't get a seat on the Overground coming home from Canada Water.

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rbmartin


Posts: 1,075
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #8
16-03-2014 07:13 PM

The OP should also get a seat on the way home from Victoria. Direct trains leave at x19 and x49 past each hour.

If you miss those services, you can board the x07 and x37 from Vic to Sutton and change at Crystal Palace for the Overground.

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James1


Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #9
16-03-2014 08:10 PM

Great, thanks all. Not fussed about getting a seat on the BR or Overground trains as the journey is short. Good to know I wouldnt have to stand on the Victoria journey which is close to 40 mins.

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ryanwyan


Posts: 10
Joined: Jun 2011
Post: #10
22-03-2014 11:31 PM

My advice: Get the direct train to Vic, in the morning as it's empty, then in the afternoon, grab the Dartford service from Victoria, change at Peckham Rye or Nunhead for the following service to Crofton Park. Takes just 20 minutes from Vic to Crofton Park.

This post was last modified: 22-03-2014 11:32 PM by ryanwyan.

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squashst


Posts: 129
Joined: Mar 2009
Post: #11
23-03-2014 08:22 AM

And at the moment look at the destination of the train - all the station destination boards and announcements at HOP have been kaput for best part of a week and no clear sign of when they will be restated.

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Poppy9560


Posts: 273
Joined: Aug 2008
Post: #12
24-03-2014 11:00 AM

the indicator boards are working again today Smile

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James1


Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #13
24-03-2014 02:32 PM

Great, thanks all. Moving to HOP in April so the suggestions will come in handy.

James

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OakR


Posts: 216
Joined: Oct 2011
Post: #14
28-03-2014 08:21 AM

Indicator boards gone again this morning

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