Burgess Hill to London Bridge

[Dudes]

I am thinking of moving to burgess hill and commuting to london bridge.

Can anyone give me advice on what it is like.

Will I get a seat?
How often are the trains late?

Thanks

 

[GodAtum]

Hi,

I think the trains from Brighton don't get busy until Haywards Heath. Certainly at East Croydon you wont get a seat. The trains are usually only a few mins late although there are regular problems on the Brighton mainline.

 

[radamfi]

Any reason why you are moving to Burgess Hill and not Haywards Heath? The train service at Haywards Heath is more frequent. I suppose there is less chance of a seat at Haywards Heath so that is one reason in favour of Burgess Hill. If you will also be travelling off-peak then I would definitely favour Haywards Heath. Seats are pretty scarce from Haywards Heath in morning peak, unless you get the Gatwick Express and change at East Croydon.

If you require overnight services then Three Bridges would be more use, and you also benefit from Horsham line trains which are less crowded.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Yes, you should get a seat in Standard class on a London bound train during the morning peak at Burgess Hill, but you possibly won't north of there.

Please note that quite a few London bound trains during the peak morning (and afternoon) period operated by First Capital Connect from Burgess Hill do not call at London Bridge.

This means that there is no direct service from Burgess Hill to London Bridge between 0647 and 0747.

Train punctuality and reliability on the Brighton mainline is normally quite good, although when things do go wrong, they do tend to go wrong big time.

 

[swt_passenger]

Please note that quite a few London bound trains during the peak morning (and afternoon) period operated by First Capital Connect from Burgess Hill do not call at London Bridge.

...and it will get worse before it gets better during the upcoming Thameslink rebuild of London Bridge. There will be a period of a few years when Thameslink won't be stopping at all.

 

[GodAtum]

According to wikipedia:

The typical Monday-Friday service from this station is:

* 3 trains per hour to Brighton (2tph FCC, 1tph SN)
* 1 train per hour to Littlehampton (SN)
* 2 trains per hour to Bedford, via London Bridge and St Pancras Intl (FCC)
* 2 trains per hour to London Victoria (SN)

The typical Saturday service from this station is:

* 3 trains per hour to Brighton (2tph FCC, 1tph SN)
* 1 train per hour to Littlehampton (SN)
* 2 trains per hour to London Bridge (FCC)
* 2 trains per hour to London Victoria (SN)

The typical Sunday service from this station is:

* 3 trains per hour to Brighton (2tph FCC, 1tph SN)
* 1 train per hour to Portsmouth Harbour & Littlehampton (SN)
* 2 trains per hour to London Bridge (FCC)
* 2 trains per hour to London Victoria (SN)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess_Hill_railway_station

 

[Dudes]

I was choosing Burgess hill because I thought I might be able to get a seat easier. Also the houses seem nicer and cheaper than haywards heath. It is not set in stone so I may still end ,up in haywards heath or some where else for that matter.

The wivelsfield station in Burgess seems to have more stops at london bridge.

...and it will get worse before it gets better during the upcoming Thameslink rebuild of London Bridge. There will be a period of a few years when Thameslink won't be stopping at all.

That does not sound good. Does that mean no rush hour trains to London bridge.

Thanks for all the replys they are really usefull for me.

Adam

 

[34D]

Another practical point if you're thinking of changing jobs anytime soon, a lot of recruiters and hiring managers in central London tend to give not a lot of consideration to people with addresses that are quite a bit away - I found this when I was living in the home counties. In hindsight I wouldn't do it.

 

[Dudes]

Another practical point if you're thinking of changing jobs anytime soon, a lot of recruiters and hiring managers in central London tend to give not a lot of consideration to people with addresses that are quite a bit away - I found this when I was living in the home counties. In hindsight I wouldn't do it.

Interesting, I had not even considered this an issue. However my wife point blank refuses to live in London also I can't afford the sort of house I want for my family in London. Also I have spent the last 5 years too far from the sea and I want to be able to have a short journey, perhaps by train to the coast. My brother + family lives in brighton.

 

[Evvy73]

Hi, I live in Burgess Hill myself and commute to London Bridge daily.

Depending on where you actually live in Burgess Hill, and how far you are prepared to walk means that you could have the choice of Two stations (Burgess Hill and Wivelsfield).

I live closer to Wivelsfield so in the mornings I catch the 07:08 to London Bridge which comes up from Eastbourne and there is never too much trouble getting a seat (unless the train is short formed for example).
Trains which come up from the Coastway West (Littlehampton/Worthing, etc) after often busier and you do run the risk of possibly having to stand. The same could be said of Brighton services.

The biggest problem with Wivelsfield is getting home in the Evening Peak. There are only two direct trains from LBG (17:23 and 18:23). Even changing at Haywards Heath can leave you with a 15minute wait for a connecting service.
There is a better service to Burgess Hill with the 16:57, 17:42, 17:57, 18:12 and 18:27 all running direct. Also, should you catch an Eastbourne Train you can pick up a Burgess Hill train quite easily from Haywards Heath as some of the Victoria 'Gatiwick Express' services stop there.

For some reason there are three 'Gatwick Express' services that stop at Wivelsfield in the Morning Peak, but NONE at all in the Evening Peak, which I always think makes the Service at Wivelsfield a bit lop-sided. It is as though Southern are saying "We'll get you to Work, just don't expect us to get you home again!"

I did question this with Southern a few years ago and was told that Wivelsfield was now classed as "Coastway East" station - which I didn't fully understand as it is clearly on the BML!!

Off peak, the London Bridge - Wivelsfield/Burgess Hill Service is every 30mins provided by FCC.

I hope that helps - plus there are TONS of new houses being built in Burgess Hill at the moment, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding somewhere to live!

 

[Dudes]

I would probably get a later service, around 8am as I like to get to the office a bit later as I always leave late anyway.

I am considering being really decadent and forking out for a 1st class ticket as sitting down on a direct train makes me really happy. Also some people spend 1000s on a car. My car is worth £300 so it seems okay to me.

I am assuming I will get a seat in first class. Having said that if I get a seat in standard then there is no point getting a first class ticket.

I am really looking to living near the coast and having a direct train to london.

Where I am now (camberley) I have 20m drive -> 45min train -> 15min wait for the stinky tube -> 5min stinkey tube -> 5 min walk (bank)

Hopfull I will have (burgess hill) 10min walk -> 50min Direct train -> 10min walk (bank)

Happy days...

 

[John @ home]

it will get worse before it gets better during the upcoming Thameslink rebuild of London Bridge. There will be a period of a few years when Thameslink won't be stopping at all.

That does not sound good. Does that mean no rush hour trains to London bridge.

No. See this Q&A.

What’s the plan for London Bridge station?

Network Rail is redeveloping London Bridge in phases after the Olympics. There will be changes to the way the track is laid out as well to reduce the bottlenecks that plague the area. By the time work is completed, from December 2018, the new station will have space for two-thirds more passengers.

The station won't have to close during this work but plans suggest First Capital Connect services will not be able to call there in 2015 to make space for building works which require a number of platforms to be taken out of use. Instead they would be diverted via Herne Hill. We'll keep you updated!

http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/faqs/faqs_categories/public_index#question_23

If you move to Burgess Hill, you will become an expert on the Thameslink Programme.

 

[radamfi]

I did question this with Southern a few years ago and was told that Wivelsfield was now classed as "Coastway East" station - which I didn't fully understand as it is clearly on the BML!!

Even though Wivelsfield is physically on the BML, the 'logic' (as far as Southern is concerned) is that Wivelsfield is mostly served by Eastbourne trains. Southern do serve Wivelsfield on Brighton services but mostly in the peak. FCC provide the off-peak London - Brighton service at Wiveslfield.

 

[Evvy73]

Dudes - I wouldn't say the extra cash for a first class ticket is really worth it. Remember that on Southern 377's, the only significant difference between 1st and standard class is a small white sheet for your head!!

I guess the best thing to do would be to buy a weekly or monthly season at standard class and see how things go. If you find you are having to stand a lot then maybe consider paying the extra for 1st.

I would be surprised if you didn't get a seat to be honest - especially if you are looking at a later train.

One more tip - if you are planning on eventually getting an Annual Gold card, then buy it from Hassocks. It is the same cost as an Annual from Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Haywards Heath, but when you go to Brighton to visit your family, you will only have to pay for a ticket from Hassocks, so saving yourself about a £1 every journey!
A very helpful clerk at Wivelsfield gave me that tip!

 

[telstarbox]

Another practical point if you're thinking of changing jobs anytime soon, a lot of recruiters and hiring managers in central London tend to give not a lot of consideration to people with addresses that are quite a bit away - I found this when I was living in the home counties. In hindsight I wouldn't do it.

There must be thousands who commute from Brighton to London though?