Clapham Junction departure board doesn't show all train

[miklcct]

The picture shown is the departure board at the entrance of Clapham Junction. I want to take a train to London Waterloo here but the departure board doesn't show any train there! However nearly all trains bound for London are for London Waterloo or London Victoria from this station, so it is impossible not to have a train to London Waterloo! And it becomes a blind guess which platform out of the possible 3 I should take the next train to London Waterloo.

The same problem also exist for trains to London Victoria as well. Why doesn't the departure board shows the departures to these two London Terminals?

 

[urbophile]

Because they are too frequent to list? But I agree there should be a clearer indication of which platforms have the most frequent service. I can't remember the numbers but the slow lines from Wimbledon and Putney will be the platforms to aim for.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Because they are too frequent to list? But I agree there should be a clearer indication of which platforms have the most frequent service. I can't remember the numbers but the slow lines from Wimbledon and Putney will be the platforms to aim for.

Could do with a "next few trains to London Waterloo and Victoria" sign to the left of that (a bit like Vauxhall has). But there is fixed signage once you go into the "tunnel".

 

[The exile]

For most of the day, by the time you got to the platform, the “ next train” would be gone; if you walk at all slowly, the next one as well. Unlike Victoria bound trains, where you can basically direct everyone to the up Brighton slow, the next few trains to Waterloo are likely to vary between the up slow main and up fast and slow Windsor lines. Better just to give the fixed clear options for “ frequent trains” - which is certainly done once through the barriers - but also ought to be clear to those looking at departure screens.
Also worth pointing out that given the length of the bridge - if you’re at the main entrance, it may well be that you haven’t got time to reach an up Windsor Line train, but would make an up train on the main line leaving at roughly the same time. Going for the “first” Windsor line train might lead you to miss both.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For most of the day, by the time you got to the platform, the “ next train” would be gone; if you walk at all slowly, the next one as well. Unlike Victoria bound trains, where you can basically direct everyone to the up Brighton slow, the next few trains to Waterloo are likely to vary between the up slow main and up fast and slow Windsor lines. Better just to give the fixed clear options for “ frequent trains” - which is certainly done once through the barriers - but also ought to be clear to those looking at departure screens

True, a fixed sign would do that reasonably well and would avoid risk posed by people running for specific trains. That is "there are frequent trains to Vauxhall and London Waterloo from platform X, Y and Z and to London Victoria from platform P; please check platform displays".

 

[The exile]

somewhere ( possibly East Croydon?) used to have a very similar message under the old Solari departure board.

 

[Bletchleyite]

somewhere ( possibly East Croydon?) used to have a very similar message under the old Solari departure board.

Just found this slightly old picture:

Clapham Junction station entrance

Information for journalists, press, bloggers and the media about Network Rail. Contact the press office to receive news, updates, press releases, videos, pictures, and factsheets, and to arrange interviews, filming and photography

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which shows a "next trains to London Waterloo/Victoria" bit below the board which seems to have been removed. I wonder why? Could such a sign be in the making?

It looks like it might perhaps have been removed when the gateline was widened?

 

[Scotrail314209]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

But don't the auto announcements at Clapham Junction miss out the time on London-bound trains?

So for example:

"Platform 14 for the, Southern, service to London Victoria"

 

[davews]

London Bridge is similar. You want a train to Waterloo East (every train heading to CX) and the departure board doesn't show that station, you have to look for Charing Cross - or just go to platforms 8/9.

 

[Bald Rick]

There’s actually three trains to Waterloo shown. The 1848 gets you there the soonest.

 

[londonmidland]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

But don't the auto announcements at Clapham Junction miss out the time on London-bound trains?

So for example:

"Platform 14 for the, Southern, service to London Victoria"

Yes, that’s right. It doesn’t announce the times for the Victoria bound services. Probably because they’re so frequent.

 

[swt_passenger]

If you’re on the SWML side of the station it’s signed simply as P10 for Waterloo. They don’t want anyone to join trains on the main fast through P7, also IMHO there will hardly be any point in a hike over to the Windsor side, where it’s a less frequent service spread over 2 platforms.

This post really is making a mountain out of a molehill…

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, that’s right. It doesn’t announce the times for the Victoria bound services. Probably because they’re so frequent.

They don't show the time as the convention is that they can depart early if ready to go.

 

[swt_passenger]

They don't show the time as the convention is that they can depart early if ready to go.

Do they still do that on the SWML up direction trains as well? No need for a displayed departure time, just a countdown.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Platform 10 is the one for Waterloo services, but whenever I go to Waterloo I always get one from platform 7 at Clapham Junction, which is usually either originating from Alton, Portsmouth or Basingstoke service. Platform 10 has the most frequent services (ex-Guildford x2, Woking, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton, Chessington South, Kingston Loop) however they all call at Vauxhall.

Platforms 3 and 4 usually have services calling at Queenstown Road, so is usually longer again (and they also seem to be busier).

 

[JonathanH]

Platform 10 is the one for Waterloo services, but whenever I go to Waterloo I always get one from platform 7 at Clapham Junction, which is usually either originating from Alton, Portsmouth or Basingstoke service. Platform 10 has the most frequent services (ex-Guildford x2, Woking, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton, Chessington South, Kingston Loop) however they all call at Vauxhall.

Platforms 3 and 4 usually have services calling at Queenstown Road, so is usually longer again (and they also seem to be busier).

In the historic peak, the trains from platforms 3 and 4 generally were quieter than those from platform 10 (due to more passengers changing trains) so it would sometimes make sense to go there to get into Waterloo. One of the reasons not to encourage passengers onto platform 7 is that there is no peak service. It certainly used to be the case that the display board for platform 7 on the footbridge didn't show times of trains to Waterloo, even though the display board on the platform itself did so.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In the historic peak, the trains from platforms 3 and 4 generally were quieter than those from platform 10 (due to more passengers changing trains) so it would sometimes make sense to go there to get into Waterloo. One of the reasons not to encourage passengers onto platform 7 is that there is no peak service. It certainly used to be the case that the display board for platform 7 on the footbridge didn't show times of trains to Waterloo, even though the display board on the platform itself did so.

Is 7 the fast line one? I think trains from there are mostly "set down only" however unlike Watford Junction there is no enforcement whatsoever.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Is 7 the fast line one? I think trains from there are mostly "set down only" however unlike Watford Junction there is no enforcement whatsoever.

Yes. Most of them are but some do actually call and aren't set down only.

 

[JonathanH]

Is 7 the fast line one? I think trains from there are mostly "set down only" however unlike Watford Junction there is no enforcement whatsoever.

They aren't set down only.
See https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/~/media/57e77bdcf7b948fda567ec6249abe474.ashx

 

[yorkie]

Is 7 the fast line one? I think trains from there are mostly "set down only" however unlike Watford Junction there is no enforcement whatsoever.

It is permitted to board these trains.

 

[Bald Rick]

Is 7 the fast line one? I think trains from there are mostly "set down only" however unlike Watford Junction there is no enforcement whatsoever.

No, they are available for all passengers.

However fast line calls are much less frequent, and more irregular; gaps of 10-15 minutes common. From P10 it’s essentially a service every 3-4 minutes.

 

[The exile]

This post really is making a mountain out of a molehill…

Though to be fair, the post was as a result of the lack of information at the station entrance. Signage inside the barrier is useless to someone outside wondering whether they are at the right entrance / station for London. We know that that’s “obvious” - someone who isn’t familiar with the area might not ( I’ve certainly been in that position abroad - without the additional worry about going through a barrier I might not be able to get out of again)

 

[hwl]

True, a fixed sign would do that reasonably well and would avoid risk posed by people running for specific trains. That is "there are frequent trains to Vauxhall and London Waterloo from platform X, Y and Z and to London Victoria from platform P; please check platform displays".

There are fixed signs on the over bridge and underpass especially adjacent to the stairs to the relevant platforms with the most frequent Waterloo (3/4 & 10) or Victoria (10 & 12) services

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are fixed signs on the over bridge and underpass especially adjacent to the stairs to the relevant platforms with the most frequent Waterloo (3/4 & 10) or Victoria (10 & 12) services

There are indeed, but one by the departure board would be a sensible addition as it would deflect questions. There's room on the left for it.

 

[infobleep]

In the historic peak, the trains from platforms 3 and 4 generally were quieter than those from platform 10 (due to more passengers changing trains) so it would sometimes make sense to go there to get into Waterloo. One of the reasons not to encourage passengers onto platform 7 is that there is no peak service. It certainly used to be the case that the display board for platform 7 on the footbridge didn't show times of trains to Waterloo, even though the display board on the platform itself did so.

To be pedantic for a moment. There is no peak service from platform 9 either. No one would encourage people not to go to platform 9 though.

 

[Deepgreen]

Fixed signs for this purpose would be the obvious answer (for Victoria too). Ironically, although you rightly mention that almost all London-bound trains are for W or V, there happens to be one for LBG listed! I am old enough the remember the 'mechanical' signs in the subway and the footbridge showing the next trains to Waterloo).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2021 ==

To be pedantic for a moment. There is no park service from platform 9 either. No one would encourage people not to go to platform 9 though.

To be properly pedantic, what is a "park service"?

 

[swt_passenger]

Fixed signs for this purpose would be the obvious answer (for Victoria too). Ironically, although you rightly mention that almost all London-bound trains are for W or V, there happens to be one for LBG listed! I am old enough the remember the 'mechanical' signs in the subway and the footbridge showing the next trains to Waterloo).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2021 ==


To be properly pedantic, what is a "park service"?

It’ll be “peak”. An Infobleepism, I expec.

 

[74A]

There are so many trains to Victoria and Waterloo that to display them on the departure board would simply flood the board and make it difficult to see the more relevant information for travellers to other less frequently served destinations.

Also trains to Victoria and Waterloo operate on a turn up and go basis. They can leave before their scheduled departure time so you could have a train showing on the board but then leaving early.

 

[infobleep]

It’ll be “peak”. An Infobleepism, I expec.

Correct. Dam the predictive text on grammarly. May be the advanced version which one subscribes to would pick such things up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2021 ==

There are so many trains to Victoria and Waterloo that to display them on the departure board would simply flood the board and make it difficult to see the more relevant information for travellers to other less frequently served destinations.

Also trains to Victoria and Waterloo operate on a turn up and go basis. They can leave before their scheduled departure time so you could have a train showing on the board but then leaving early.

Is this why trains show on the footbridge departure boards after the trains have left, whereas at other stations they tend to clear the trains off the board before they leave?

 

[DelW]

Fixed signs for this purpose would be the obvious answer (for Victoria too). Ironically, although you rightly mention that almost all London-bound trains are for W or V, there happens to be one for LBG listed! I am old enough the remember the 'mechanical' signs in the subway and the footbridge showing the next trains to Waterloo).

Though as you may be aware, that London Bridge train is of course a down service at Clapham, it's timetabled to take 50 minutes to LBG via a scenic tour of South London.