London Bridge reconstruction works

[DynamicSpirit]

So they are. Southwark may actually not be an error as that is the fare you are charged when you change at Waterloo East and exit through Southwark station.

That's possible. However, the Abbey Wood-Southwark fare also shows an alternative fare for "Using National Rail services only to Waterloo East" - and which happens to be exactly the same price, which seems to cover that scenario. That suggests the main fare is intended to be for routes that combine national rail and underground.

I Wonder if a possible issue is that Oyster fares generally change on 1st January. Might TfL be reluctant to increase some fares midway through the year? (Or, at all, given that questions would immediately be asked about Sadiq's fare freeze)

 

[ComUtoR]

Another Network Rail video that covers the later stages of last week's work, up to Sep 2nd:

https://youtu.be/cB_DYeLUm_U

That signal sighting is ££%"£*&(&&"£!£ !

 

[sparky18]

On the subject of ticket acceptance, I'm sure I saw a page on either the Thameslink or Southeastern website saying that during the August Bank Holiday week London Bridge closure, Bromley South would be treated as a Zone 4 station [for Oystercard holders, but not contactless users.]

I made a journey Bromley South -> Victoria with my Z1-4 annual travel card (on Oyster) but was charged.

I can no longer find this page, so I'm wondering if anyone could confirm my recollection and point me to something that would refresh my memory?

 

[MikeWh]

Interestingly - on checking TfL's Oyster fare finder, it looks like Waterloo and Southwark are both still included in the reduced prices for people on Oyster. That's very inconsistent with the rules for people on national rail tickets.

Further to previous answers, there appears to have been a bit of a cock-up at TfL. The single fare finder is still displaying May fares even though September fares are being charged. A visitor to my site wondered why he was charged 20p more for Watford Junction to Elephant & Castle off-peak. The helpdesk have confirmed that there is an issue and are flagging it up.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Further to previous answers, there appears to have been a bit of a cock-up at TfL. The single fare finder is still displaying May fares even though September fares are being charged. A visitor to my site wondered why he was charged 20p more for Watford Junction to Elephant & Castle off-peak. The helpdesk have confirmed that there is an issue and are flagging it up.

Ah. So some of the fares really have become higher. That's a shame. But thanks for the info.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Is there any news about what happens with the Thameslink timetable in January?

I'm a little confused because I was under the impression the London Bridge works would be complete in January, but on doing some Googling, the only references I can find to the new enhanced Thameslink timetable suggest it won't come in until December 2018.

Will London Bridge see any trains through the Thameslink Core in January? Or is there still lots of other work somewhere else that will be being done during 2018?

 

[ijmad]

Will London Bridge see any trains through the Thameslink Core in January? Or is there still lots of other work somewhere else that will be being done during 2018?

Have a read of this

In Jan 2018 trains between Blackfriars and the Brighton Main Line will be sent through London Bridge rather than the Herne Hill diversionary route. This will be around 4tph so not particularly impressive for the moment. Also "the timetable structure north and south will be largely unaltered at this stage which means that these services will be held at London Bridge for around 10 minutes.".

The Dec 2018 timetable is being introduced in phases from May 2018, the biggest change in May for Thameslink will be 20tph through the core, with the full 16tph through London Bridge. 4tph from the Catford Loop will terminate at Blackfriars while they finish the ATO signalling work. Then in Dec 2018 the full 24tph service will be operating through the core.

 

[evergreenadam]

Further to previous answers, there appears to have been a bit of a cock-up at TfL. The single fare finder is still displaying May fares even though September fares are being charged. A visitor to my site wondered why he was charged 20p more for Watford Junction to Elephant & Castle off-peak. The helpdesk have confirmed that there is an issue and are flagging it up.

I am confused, have fares risen mid year? Why?

 

[adrock1976]

I am confused, have fares risen mid year? Why?

Perhaps this may be better in the Fares Advice section of the forum.

To attempt to answer your question, I believe that Transport for London/Greater London Assembly do not have an input into fares within the zones south of the mighty Thames (except with their own London Overground and Govia Thameslink Railway/Southeastern Railway local all stations services within the zones).

North of the Thames, there are interavailable fares for some routes, such as Marylebone or Baker Street to Amersham via Harrow-on-the-Hill, and the Bakerloo Line on the shared section of the Watford DC Line that runs out of Euston.

Fares that are the responsibility of TfL/GLA are normally revised in January of each year.

Perhaps somebody who knows more about fares in London could maybe add some comments?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Have a read of this

In Jan 2018 trains between Blackfriars and the Brighton Main Line will be sent through London Bridge rather than the Herne Hill diversionary route. This will be around 4tph so not particularly impressive for the moment. Also "the timetable structure north and south will be largely unaltered at this stage which means that these services will be held at London Bridge for around 10 minutes.".

The Dec 2018 timetable is being introduced in phases from May 2018, the biggest change in May for Thameslink will be 20tph through the core, with the full 16tph through London Bridge. 4tph from the Catford Loop will terminate at Blackfriars while they finish the ATO signalling work. Then in Dec 2018 the full 24tph service will be operating through the core.

Ah, thanks, that clarifies things nicely.

 

[MikeWh]

I am confused, have fares risen mid year? Why?

Only the off-peak fares between Watford Junction and Euston which are set by London Midland. These traditionally change in September.

 

[ijmad]

Are there any plans for a pub to be located in the station (ie Wetherspoons)? Would be useful if you fancied a quick bite to eat and pint before getting the train home.

Guessing the Shipwrights Arms might serve that purpose!

 

[hwl]

Are there any plans for a pub to be located in the station (ie Wetherspoons)? Would be useful if you fancied a quick bite to eat and pint before getting the train home.

Drinking establishments (Inc coffee) along side the P9 wall at the upper concourse level from where the temporary ticket office was and further East. Completing by Easter 2018.

 

[ijmad]

After five months away, it seems James Nelson and his webcam are back!

 

[swt_passenger]

After five months away, it seems James Nelson and his webcam are back!

Yeah. I hope you haven't been checking too regularly, I last looked about a month ago...

 

[ijmad]

Yeah. I hope you haven't been checking too regularly, I last looked about a month ago...

If you are signed in to YouTube, you can subscribe and get alerts for channels you like

 

[swt_passenger]

If you are signed in to YouTube, you can subscribe and get alerts for channels you like

Ah yes, so you can. I never remember that as there's probably no other reason to sign up..

 

[James H]

I don't think much of the godawful text-to-speech announcements

 

[ijmad]

It seems like they are replacing a lot of the interior cladding in the lower concourse lately. I think that's why some of the concourse is closed this weekend. What was so wrong with it? Or is there some deeper necessity that I isn't obvious?

 

[Barn]

What are the plans for the area behind the hoardings on the left side of the upper concourse (i.e opposite M&S), and the area outside where the temporary ticket office was located? What will eventually be there and when will it be open?

 

[ijmad]

What are the plans for the area behind the hoardings on the left side of the upper concourse (i.e opposite M&S), and the area outside where the temporary ticket office was located? What will eventually be there and when will it be open?

Large on-the-go style restaurant and some further smaller retail along the edge of the 'indoors' portion as seen below.
Allegedly complete around Easter 2018.

 

[GW43125]

Apologies if I've missed this, but do we know yet what the limits of ATO through the core will be? I've seen markers at London Bridge through the core to St Pancakes so far.

 

[swt_passenger]

Apologies if I've missed this, but do we know yet what the limits of ATO through the core will be? I've seen markers at London Bridge through the core to St Pancakes so far.

There's a description here, from March. No idea if it is 100% current, but it seems to fit with what has been discussed before:
https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/03/22/thameslink-signalling-update/

May well have come up in a different thread than this though, the route issues and rolling stock appear in so many different places other than this thread...

 

[Mordac]

Apologies if I've missed this, but do we know yet what the limits of ATO through the core will be? I've seen markers at London Bridge through the core to St Pancakes so far.

That's the best autocorrect I've seen in a while.

 

[GW43125]

That's the best autocorrect I've seen in a while.

It was entirely intentional

 

[Mordac]

It was entirely intentional

Fair enough, hadn't heard that one before, but then again, I don't use the station that often.

EDIT: indeed, I thought St. Pancreas was the common 'mistake '

 

[GW43125]

There's a description here, from March. No idea if it is 100% current, but it seems to fit with what has been discussed before:
https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/03/22/thameslink-signalling-update/

May well have come up in a different thread than this though, the route issues and rolling stock appear in so many different places other than this thread...

That actually explains a fair bit, but isn't quite certain where the boundaries would be. At least keeping the lineside signals will allow southern fast services to run normally. It's not entirely certain though whether the changeover will be on the fly or if it'll have to stop and restart.

 

[Bald Rick]

That actually explains a fair bit, but isn't quite certain where the boundaries would be. At least keeping the lineside signals will allow southern fast services to run normally. It's not entirely certain though whether the changeover will be on the fly or if it'll have to stop and restart.

Changeover is on the move. The transition zones are (roughly):

1) on the Bermondsey flyover
2) just north of Elephant & Castle
3) just south of Kentish Town
4) Canal Tunnels

 

[takno]

5xxx berths are starting to appear in the signalling data feed between normal signals in the area suggested here (except not yet in London Bridge/Bermondsey). I don't know if that indicates that the ATO is being tested or used.

 

[ComUtoR]

I've noticed that some of the block markers are short of the RLU marks through the core. Anyone know how that will impact needing to stop at the RLU and being required to stop at the block marker ?

I've haven't been ATO/ERTMS trains as yet so I'm a little clueless as to how it will work.