Denmark Hill refurb

[bicbasher]

According to local forums, Denmark Hill's refurb is finally coming to an end with the opening of a new ticket office on Champion Park (the main road outside the station).

The old ticket office on Windsor Walk was notorious for overcrowding with only one TVM with Oyster facilities and ticket office counter.

As I don't travel that way, does anyone know if Southeastern have added extra TVM's or counters and has it improved the bottleneck to the platforms?

 

[Bedpan]

I was there a week or two ago - first visit for years - and the new footbridge was in place but not yet open. I was surprised at the amount of congestion, a queue forming to get out through the Windsor Walk ticket office at around 2pm which I have always thought as being a slack time of day.

Not sure about the ticket machines as I was travelling on a travelcard, but Harpenden doesn't appear on the departure list despite (I think) a half hourly service in the evening peak and just after - the train I caught back was the last direct one and it had a strange calling pattern north of London - St Albans, Harpenden, Luton Leagrave and Bedford. The pub in the old station buildings was quite good, but a pity that you can't see the trains from it. Sorry if the post sounds a bit negative, actually I thought it was quite a nice station!

 

[W230]

- the train I caught back was the last direct one and it had a strange calling pattern north of London - St Albans, Harpenden, Luton Leagrave and Bedford.

There are a few semi fast Bedford - Elephant & Castle services throughout the day which have the stopping pattern you describe - I wonder if the odd one extends through to Sevenoaks?

 

[bicbasher]

I think the 'Thameslink' services which are operated by Southeastern south of Blackfriars only say Blackfriars on the CIS? During the off-peak, they continue to Kentish Town.

 

[SF-02]

Glad to hear the refurb is almost done. The overcrowding was/is horrible there. One small doorway to enter and exit for 4 platforms, and you can't see people coming the other side, or get 2 through at the same time. Another doorway was desperately needed but I think as it is a listed building never happened. The other entrance and exit should help massively.

Now Southeastern need to put on longer trains to Dartford and Victoria at peak times. 4 cars on the first train for 30 minutes after 5pm when many many workers from the two hospitals and the university get out is woefully inadequate, and the overcrowding on that train is extreme.

 

[bicbasher]

Now Southeastern need to put on longer trains to Dartford and Victoria at peak times. 4 cars on the first train for 30 minutes after 5pm when many many workers from the two hospitals and the university get out is woefully inadequate, and the overcrowding on that train is extreme.

That may be an even harder problem. The London Evening Standard quoted a source earlier in the week quoting that TfL have lost acquiring Southeastern Metro services as a concession from the DfT and are concentrating on gaining Greater Anglia services instead.

 

[bicbasher]

Pics of the station refurb on Twitter.


Credit: @jacques_delogue


Credit: @ShelleyBurke23


Credit: @thejerseygirluk

 

[Bedpan]

There are a few semi fast Bedford - Elephant & Castle services throughout the day which have the stopping pattern you describe - I wonder if the odd one extends through to Sevenoaks?

The extra hourly up trains that run from Bedfoprd - Elephant after the morning peak miss out Harlington and Leagrave, but they stop at Flitwick and Luton Airport Parkway. (I've just looked this up as I had no idea of their callingt pattern until you mentioned them).
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I think the 'Thameslink' services which are operated by Southeastern south of Blackfriars only say Blackfriars on the CIS? During the off-peak, they continue to Kentish Town.

The one I caught from Denmark Hill had "Bedford" on the CIS on the platform.