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Redhill commute
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NSEFAN
Established Member
The Brighton mainline is in a bit of a mess, and will probably be that way until the Thameslink programme is complete, at least until London Bridge is finished. Make sure you have contingency plans for when the service falls apart: the line is very congested so it doesn't take much to break everything.
For seating, have a look at this PDF. The 0711 is expected to be standing room only from Redhill.
Edit: it seems that for the past week at least, the 0711 has been pretty much on time, worst delay being a couple of minutes. Hopefully this shall be representative!
For seating, have a look at this PDF. The 0711 is expected to be standing room only from Redhill.
Edit: it seems that for the past week at least, the 0711 has been pretty much on time, worst delay being a couple of minutes. Hopefully this shall be representative!
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James Wake
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Also tends to be the case that trains skip Redhill and take the Quarry line route whenever they run significantly late. Redhill is where most trains fill up, the previous Victoria train is usually fine until Redhill, then is standing room only.
The 07.11 to Farringdon is full and standing from Redhill - at least it was last Friday and yesterday. You will get a seat from Blackfriars but is it worth it for a three minute sit-down. The Redhill line currently is not very clever since N.R. started gardening at London Bridge and reduced the service level in the peak. Once upon a very long time ago we used to have an hourly Thameslink service each way. Now we have three up in the morning (the 06.33 doesn't really count as it terminates at London Bridge) and one down in the evening (circa 17.14 from Farringdon). On the plus side the 07.11 is a good runner and we don't have the 319s any more. On the minus side, when the Redhill line goes wrong it really goes wrong and becomes the line that N.R. forgot. Still, N.R. promises that there will be jam to-morrow.
If the OP were to buy a 1st class ticket, how likely are they to get a seat?
Minstral25
Established Member
Think you mean 6:43 which leaves 10 minutes after a fast London Bridge and thus is relatively unused. But don't worry in December it drops from 8 coaches to 4 (to extend the 6:46 Victoria to 12) and the squeeze will be felt.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There are 3 up in the morning of which the 6:24 has plenty of seats and the 7:11/8:11 which are often full to point of leaving passengers behind. The 6:56 (Thameslink) being cut in January is main cause of 7:04 (Victoria) and 7:11 (Thameslink) being filled beyond capacity.
In evening there are 4 trains from Farringdon at 17:13, 17:43, 18:23 and 19:15 - the last two were introduced in March this year due to lobbying by local rail users
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Don't forget in 2018 the whole timetable will change & we have been promised 4 London Bridge/Thameslink trains an hour through the peak.
RichJF
Established Member
I've been commuting from Redhill since I started working in 2012 & while I'm living with family before I have the funds to move out. The service from 2012 to now has been decimated. :cry:
Instead of the old 6:56 to Luton, 7:51 to LBG and 08:30 to LBG, we now have to make do with 3 trains to London Bridge between 7am and 9am. Granted two of these are now 12 coach trains. I've gone from getting the 08:02 to the 07:51 to the 07:15 and considering an even earlier train now!
It's not surprising to find both the 07:11 and 08:11 TL trains crush loaded at Redhill. Combined with the stops at Herne/Tulse Hill and Elephant & Castle it gets pretty uncomfortable.
In the evening if you want a pleasant (but constantly delayed) journey then catch the 18:23 from Farringdon. Every time I use it I have seats round me without fail, plus it's a mix of either 387 or 377 stock. It follows the 18:26 LBG to Horsham, which in turn is always delayed by the perennially late 18:19 Vic to Horsham. :roll:
The evening peak in general is a mess. You get late running slow trains being put in front of fast trains, thus delaying them while the slow trains stop at Purley, Coulsdon and Merstham. You tend to find southbound services routed into Pl 2 at Redhill ever more frequently now; something which never used to happen in my school travelling days.
In both peaks you often find trains skipping out stations between Croydon and Horley/Gatwick to make up time. These divert via the Quarry Lines and completely bypass the intermediate stations. Take this morning: I went to Salfords to catch my usual train but earlier due to a signal failure at Redhill, that could've diverted it round Redhill.
Also don't get Redhill commuters started on the network's most unreliable train; the 07:23 to Victoria!
It remains to be seen if the new December 2015 timetable actually works or provides a decent service.
Instead of the old 6:56 to Luton, 7:51 to LBG and 08:30 to LBG, we now have to make do with 3 trains to London Bridge between 7am and 9am. Granted two of these are now 12 coach trains. I've gone from getting the 08:02 to the 07:51 to the 07:15 and considering an even earlier train now!
It's not surprising to find both the 07:11 and 08:11 TL trains crush loaded at Redhill. Combined with the stops at Herne/Tulse Hill and Elephant & Castle it gets pretty uncomfortable.
In the evening if you want a pleasant (but constantly delayed) journey then catch the 18:23 from Farringdon. Every time I use it I have seats round me without fail, plus it's a mix of either 387 or 377 stock. It follows the 18:26 LBG to Horsham, which in turn is always delayed by the perennially late 18:19 Vic to Horsham. :roll:
The evening peak in general is a mess. You get late running slow trains being put in front of fast trains, thus delaying them while the slow trains stop at Purley, Coulsdon and Merstham. You tend to find southbound services routed into Pl 2 at Redhill ever more frequently now; something which never used to happen in my school travelling days.
In both peaks you often find trains skipping out stations between Croydon and Horley/Gatwick to make up time. These divert via the Quarry Lines and completely bypass the intermediate stations. Take this morning: I went to Salfords to catch my usual train but earlier due to a signal failure at Redhill, that could've diverted it round Redhill.
Also don't get Redhill commuters started on the network's most unreliable train; the 07:23 to Victoria!
It remains to be seen if the new December 2015 timetable actually works or provides a decent service.
Hi everyone
About 8 months later, is anyone able to give me an update on the 7:11 train from Redhill to Farringdon. Is it still jam packed? How about the 8:11 train?
Also what's it like going the other way in the evening?
I might be looking to move there so hoping to find out whether it's commutable sitting down...
Thanks!
About 8 months later, is anyone able to give me an update on the 7:11 train from Redhill to Farringdon. Is it still jam packed? How about the 8:11 train?
Also what's it like going the other way in the evening?
I might be looking to move there so hoping to find out whether it's commutable sitting down...
Thanks!
Minstral25
Established Member
As far as I know by local comments its still a problem to get on 7:11 at Redhill (same with 7:04 Vic and 7:15 LBG). The 8:11 depends if it is a 700 or 387 - it has run as a 700 (I assume this will be more normal when the 700's settle down) when most get on but its standing all the way for a 50 minute journey. Roll on 2018
when you say its a problem at 7:11 do you mean you cannot get on at all? I am moving to Reigate mid August and the travel is my main concern into London
For the level of concern you appear to have, I can only recommend booking a day or two of annual leave and hanging out on the platforms one morning. It definitely sounds like you'd benefit from direct experience.
Minstral25
Established Member
The 7:11 is relatively reliable but can get full beyond access. It is followed by the 7:15 to London Bridge which is packed and the 7:23 to Victoria which is reasonable except when they forget some coaches which is often (and it gets cancelled just less than once per week). Generally though you will get away in one of them.
Short term there will be no relief in number of trains but Class 700's are now appearing on our trains which for Thameslink trains (of which the 7:11 is one) means an upgauge from 8 to 12 carriages. (All other Redhill peak services are 12 old style to 12 new style and hence a large reduction in seats)
From 2018 we are due to have 4 trains per hour from Redhill to London Bridge and Thameslink (services are combined).
So short term you will find it stressful but come 2018 they say it will be a revolution.
Additional point that the 6:34 London Bridge and 8:11 Blackfriars /Thameslink have both converted to Class 700 and are now the most unreliable trains from Redhill with a 40% cancellation rate. That should improve quickly I hope
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