Information for GTR Southern passengers during strike (no DOO discussion)

[dcsprior]

Gatwick Express actually better than normal in some regards today - the trains are only running Victoria<->Gatwick so I got a seat on the 08:20. On a non strike day I'd have probably been standing on the 08:05ish.

Does anyone know if the maximum journey times on oyster/contactless are being increased on strike days? I'm seriously considering East Croydon to Victoria via Gatwick tomorrow, but if I arrive at GTW just after a GatEx has left I may go over the normal 110 minutes max for a Z1-5 journey.

Also am I right in thinking that with Oyster/Contactless such a journey isn't breaking any rules and will be billed according to start & end point rather than where I've gone via?

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[vrbarreto]

Gatwick Express actually better than normal in some regards today - the trains are only running Victoria<->Gatwick so I got a seat on the 08:20. On a non strike day I'd have probably been standing on the 08:05ish.

Does anyone know if the maximum journey times on oyster/contactless are being increased on strike days? I'm seriously considering East Croydon to Victoria via Gatwick tomorrow, but if I arrive at GTW just after a GatEx has left I may go over the normal 110 minutes max for a Z1-5 journey.

Also am I right in thinking that with Oyster/Contactless such a journey isn't breaking any rules and will be billed according to start & end point rather than where I've gone via?

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Won't they channel you through the Gatwick Express only barriers and charge you the full Gatwick Express Fare? Or do they look at start station as well for the journey? An easier way to get to London from East Croydon would be to catch the Tram to Beckenham junction and catch a train to Victoria from there.. Even though it was short formed and packed this morning, everyone got on.

 

[dcsprior]

Won't they channel you through the Gatwick Express only barriers and charge you the full Gatwick Express Fare? Or do they look at start station as well for the journey? An easier way to get to London from East Croydon would be to catch the Tram to Beckenham junction and catch a train to Victoria from there.. Even though it was short formed and packed this morning, everyone got on.

Today at Victoria they were directing everyone away from the GatEx Gateside towards the big emergency exit gate opposite the cheese shop (which has an oyster reader at it)

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[HowardGWR]

Good to see TL and GW operating normally. I always think of pax from west and north getting their flights, and it seems to me that they would not be inconvenienced. If they all maximise their stock provision, it looks as though many commuters could also cram in (if need be). GX seem to be running a half service too. As that normally looks half empty when they rush through the platform at CLJ on which I am awaiting the stopper to Gatwick, they could take up the slack from the Smoke. They should not charge folk extra through.

Any direct evidence from colleagues as to what they personally are doing to circumvent the strike?

 

[DarloRich]

Any direct evidence from colleagues as to what they personally are doing to circumvent the strike?

Work form home! I don't understand why so many people needto be in the office. As a sensible employer I would be making arrangements for my staff to work from home on these days.

OBVIOUSLY (!) there are staff in roles that MUST be at a certain location by a certain time but i bet many of those interviewed on the radio over the last few days don't.

 

[infobleep]

Work form home! I don't understand why so many people needto be in the office. As a sensible employer I would be making arrangements for my staff to work from home on these days.

OBVIOUSLY (!) there are staff in roles that MUST be at a certain location by a certain time but i bet many of those interviewed on the radio over the last few days don't.

Today I needed to be in the office and then I need to get to Brighton. I can work from home usually but today for operational reasons I can't.

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[Deepgreen]

Even by the media's standards - the attached is a gem of a stock picture to illustrate a Southern 'service' - from the BBC News web site!

 

[Deepgreen]

Today I needed to be in the office and then I need to get to Brighton. I can work from home usually but today for operational reasons I can't.

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This also assumes that most people work in 'an office'. Many 'commuters' (as the media now calls all passengers) do, but also very many don't. Even those who do work in offices often cannot work from home for a plethora of reasons. I'm sure that those who have the luxury will already be taking the opportunity anyway.

 

[OuterDistant]

Work form home! I don't understand why so many people needto be in the office.

In my experience, this is usually down to poor management. I.e. managers who, instead of measuring work properly, think "bottom on seat in office = working".

 

[GodAtum]

In my experience, this is usually down to poor management. I.e. managers who, instead of measuring work properly, think "bottom on seat in office = working".

I have to be in the office as I look after servers that cannot be accessed remotely.

 

[Deepgreen]

Plus this gem from the same article. What has the BBC come to - they've printed Horton's name countless times before?!!

 

[infobleep]

Plus this gem from the same article. What has the BBC come to - they've printed Horton's name countless times before?!!

Perhaps the Emre regular journalist company get in due to the stike! Lol!

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--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It says the below train was delayed due to overcrowding but I'm not sure how it can lose another 15 minutes between Haywards Heath and Brighton when it has no stops in between and the train to arrive before it was an hour before. An in between Bedford train was cancelled at Haywards Heath due to a broken windscreen.

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[Deepgreen]

Good to see TL and GW operating normally. I always think of pax from west and north getting their flights, and it seems to me that they would not be inconvenienced. If they all maximise their stock provision, it looks as though many commuters could also cram in (if need be). GX seem to be running a half service too. As that normally looks half empty when they rush through the platform at CLJ on which I am awaiting the stopper to Gatwick, they could take up the slack from the Smoke. They should not charge folk extra through.

Any direct evidence from colleagues as to what they personally are doing to circumvent the strike?

Apart from those who would use otherwise Southern trains via Gatwick from, say, Redhill, who will have to cram onto the remaining trains!

GW has three cars as its maximum on the NDL, and TL runs 12 cars most of the time - nothing more can be provided.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Perhaps the Emre regular journalist company get in due to the stike! Lol!

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--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It says the below train was delayed due to overcrowding but I'm not sure how it can lose another 15 minutes between Haywards Heath and Brighton when it has no stops in between and the train to arrive before it was an hour before. An in between Bedford train was cancelled at Haywards Heath due to a broken windscreen.

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Too many passengers crammed into the cab?!

 

[HowardGWR]

Apart from those who would use otherwise Southern trains via Gatwick from, say, Redhill, who will have to cram onto the remaining trains!

GW has three cars as its maximum on the NDL, and TL runs 12 cars most of the time - nothing more can be provided.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Too many passengers crammed into the cab?!

No, they are of course inconvenienced. The airport pax from further away (to whom my post referred ) will not be, much. I understand very well the problems for SN area inhabitants and visitors.

 

[Deepgreen]

No, they are of course inconvenienced. The airport pax from further away (to whom my post referred ) will not be, much. I understand very well the problems for SN area inhabitants and visitors.

The GW (to which TOC you referred) passengers ARE from further away - the Blackwater valley, around Reading and points west. The GW route is the only one that serves Gatwick, apart from GTR.

 

[GodAtum]

can anyone confirm if the queue at East Croydon is for London passengers only, or London and out-bound?

According to Southern, i cannot get to Guildford via gatwick:

Great Western Railway:
Only tickets that are normally valid for travel on Great Western Railway services can be used on their trains.

 

[infobleep]

can anyone confirm if the queue at East Croydon is for London passengers only, or London and out-bound?

According to Southern, i cannot get to Guildford via gatwick:

What time you looking to get there? I'm on route there but won't be there for another 40+ minutes. I'll post an update once I arrive.

Be interesting to see what the queue is like then.

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[GodAtum]

What time you looking to get there? I'm on route there but won't be there for another 40+ minutes. I'll post an update once I arrive.

Be interesting to see what the queue is like then.

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It's just for tomorrow morning peak. If 99% are going to London, then I'll speak to a member of staff and see if I can skip the queue.

 

[bicbasher]

I was at East Dulwich earlier where the gates were still open for access to the London bound platform. I had to let a passenger know that no trains are operating until Thursday and they looked at me with bemusement.

Despite the massive publicity, there are always some passengers with no idea.

 

[infobleep]

So how is my adventure to Brighton going. So I missed the train I'd planed to get to Wimbledon so I got the next one.

Then I boarded the tram that turn up first but was due to leave second. I misread the timetable.

Then as we get passed Mitcham Junction and towards another tram stop, the driver said it would be terminating early. There is one behind in a minute.

Neesless to say it was longer than a minute and then when the next tram did turn up it was busy. So now two sets of people on one tram and I no longer had a seat. Nit that anyone was left behind mind you but it was more rimmed than. Mr Corbyn's Virgin train.

This will of course slow the tram down as more people try to board as we go along, no doubt delaying this tram.

They must have had a good reason for terminating the other tram early.

Not sure how far I am from East Croydon but hopefully this one will go all the way and queue to board a train would be too bad.

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[Kite159]

I wonder how busy this evening's GWR towards Bristol will be from Brighton, with anybody wanting Portsmouth/Havant/Cosham etc. (I assume it will be a 5-car 158+150 as per other strike days)

I see on RTT there is a few Southern services on the move, 1615 Brighton to Haywards Heath (and returns)
http://www.realtimetrain.co.uk/train/O55498/2016/12/13/advanced

16:49 Victoria - Brighton (RTT is suggesting returning as a Gatwick Express branded service)

 

[infobleep]

It's just for tomorrow morning peak. If 99% are going to London, then I'll speak to a member of staff and see if I can skip the queue.

I go to East Croydon and no queue what so ever.

I asked about the queues and they said in the morning peak only there are two queues. One for south bound and one for north. In the evening it isn't required.

Anyone thinking of using the footbridge entrance. It's exit only as I found out.

I doubt any newspapwr would be wishing to publish a photograph of East Croydon station now as its not in chaos and is ordered and quiet. You wouldn't qknow if anything was wrong. If it weren't for the announcements and posters.

Interestingly some Thameslink services are using platform 5 to head to Brighton. Is this unusual? One train was in early. Nothing to hold it up it seems.

Train busy but nothing like the 8.39 Clapham Junction to Milton Keynes back in 2012. More like the 18.46 Clapham Junction to Poole when it use to be 5 cars only. Obviously still busier than the Virgin train My Corbyn got.

In fact he'd be well. Advised to travel. On one of these services today, in order to highlight issues if he's that concerned about our railways.

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[PHILIPE]

I wonder how busy this evening's GWR towards Bristol will be from Brighton, with anybody wanting Portsmouth/Havant/Cosham etc. (I assume it will be a 5-car 158+150 as per other strike days)

I see on RTT there is a few Southern services on the move, 1615 Brighton to Haywards Heath (and returns)
http://www.realtimetrain.co.uk/train/O55498/2016/12/13/advanced

16:49 Victoria - Brighton (RTT is suggesting returning as a Gatwick Express branded service)

Only 158798 on the morning one. Desperately short of 150s anyway. It is mentioned earlier in thread, also, that GWR are not calling at Coastway stations due to their being closed and running non-stop between Brighton and Havant and vice versa.

 

[TC60054]

Couple of London to Brighton services put in as VSTPs showing as Southern services this evening...

 

[All Line Rover]

Even by the media's standards - the attached is a gem of a stock picture to illustrate a Southern 'service' - from the BBC News web site!

Not as bad as a photo of queues at East Croydon station with the caption: "Despite no trains passengers still queued at East Croydon."

 

[danielson00]

Wimbledon station has been closed and evacuated, due to dangerous overcrowding.

I am guessing everyone is trying to get trams to Croydon.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/southern-rail-strike-wimbledon-station-in-complete-meltdown-as-commuters-battle-to-get-home-a3419496.html

 

[bb21]

Wimbledon station has been closed and evacuated, due to dangerous overcrowding.

I am guessing everyone is trying to get trams to Croydon.

No different to this morning. Tramlink was suspended due to overcrowding.

The advice unfortunately is not to travel via Wimbledon, as that seems to be a major diversionary route many people who normally go via East Croydon are taking.

There is no mention of evacuation in that article, and trains appear to be running normally, albeit with delays.

 

[danielson00]

I was there and they were evacuating it about an hour ago, was total chaos. There were no announcements.

 

[bicbasher]

I take it Elmers End and Beckenham Junction coped well as it appears most used Wimbledon as an alternative to get to Clapham Junction.

 

[All Line Rover]

The normally busy... stations including Victoria, Blackfriars and London Bridge were left deserted.

Err... why?