FCC Thameslink Route Through London Bridge

[Evvy73]

In today's Metro on the 'Metro Travel' page there is an article about the forthcoming changes to the East London/South London Overground line. In the article it also mentions that Thameslink trains will no longer call at London Bridge due to capacity problems with the Overground Trains - does anyone know when this is all likely to happen as the article does not give any dates.

As a someone who Commutes up from Mid-Sussex I can see this causing a bit of aggro for getting home outside of the Southern 'rush hour' services. Currently Thameslink are the only option from 7pm (ish) onwards.

I guess they will continue to run, but from Blackfriars down through Elephant & Castle to East Croydon and the Brighton Main Line - no real problem - just a bit further to walk for me of an evening.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[westcoaster]

i believe this is to do with the thameslink program works, what is going to happen is that tl services will not call at london bridge (during redevlopment of the station and borough market) for a few years all services will go via crystal palace/norbury. ill try and find the link for you.

 

[Edvid]

Which page is the article on? I'm looking on e-Metro but I can't find it.

 

[Evvy73]

Edvid - sorry I have thrown the paper away now. It was on the 'Transport Metro' page which is always near to the back. It is the page that gives things like details of weekend engineering work etc. I am not sure if they reproduce this page on line as I couldn't see it either.

westcoaster - thanks for the reply - if you do find a link with dates on it that would be excellent. I knew this work was coming as all of the shops/pubs/cafes around Borough Market and Borough high St have closed, but I wasn't sure when. Hopefully they won't spring it on us this December when the new timetables come out.

 

[Hager98]

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/1493.aspx

 

[Evvy73]

Yep, that is the article...although I think I may have misread it at lunchtime and panicked unnecessarily as it actually says:-

To deliver the Thameslink part of the programme, the two trains per hour service on the South London line from London Bridge to Victoria, will be discontinued.

Network Rail has found it is not technically practical to make room at London Bridge station for both South London line and Thameslink.

....which I guess means that it is Southern London Bridge to Victoria Train that is going to be cancelled - not the Thameslink services to and from Brighton.

 

[Edvid]

That is indeed the case.

Hager98, thanks for the link.

 

[Brewster]

All - there's a notice up at London Bridge now saying that the following FCC trains will no longer stop at LB:-
17:11 (starts from LB), 17:32, 17:52 and 18:42.
This is apparently due to the slots being required for South Eastern trains instead...
I guess anyone working north of the river will most likely go to Blackfriars, but there are going to be hundreds who'll try to get an East Croydon train from LB. I usually get the 17:23 to Eastbourne which is only 8 coaches and is always completely rammed. I reckon this change is going to make the Southern trains not only difficult to get on, but positively dangerous.
Can those of us with tickets encompassing both Southern and FCC services from LB expect a refund for the major reduction in rush hour services?
Anyone got any ideas about what action can be taken?

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Forgot to mention the start date is December 14th.

 

[djw1981]

a) change your work day times
b) get a different service
c) realise that this is short term pain and the long term benefits will be for you and future service users.

 

[Brewster]

djw1981,
Thanks for your extremely helpful post. I was guessing that you worked for a rail company but I now see it's the DfT - why am I not surprised...
In response to your points:-
a) Change my work day times - so obvious - why didn't I think of that. Possibly because I shouldn't have to, but also because getting a decent work/life balance is already difficult with the current services.
b) Get a different service - again, such an obvious idea - why didn't I think of it...? Because when the services available to me are being halved, the options tend to decrease rather than increase.
c) This one I'd agree with you on if there was any evidence to suggest that it's a temporary measure. The notice at LB mentions the services and the start date but gives no indication of an end. The FCC website mentions changes to timetables but without specifics about the services. If it's for a few months then fine, we'll get on with it, but when slots are being given to services on other routes then it sounds a bit more long-term.

More info on why and how long it's for would help all affected by it.

 

[jopsuk]

djw1981,
Thanks for your extremely helpful post. I was guessing that you worked for a rail company but I now see it's the DfT - why am I not surprised...

That's just a "forum title" automatically generated by the system based on post count- I'm not an Executive Director of anything!

 

[johnb]

More info on why and how long it's for would help all affected by it.

All the information you could possibly want: http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/

 

[Evvy73]

Brewster,

I emailed Southern asking them if they would finally be making the 17:23 LBG - EBN service a 12 carriage train, now that FCC are no longer going to be stopping at LBG. I am not hopeful, but you never know.
As you say, this train is packed to dangerous levels already and I can see the reduction of FCC services making it even worse.

As well as no longer calling at LBG, FCC have also removed Wivelsfield (my station!) from some of their services. This means that there will now be just two direct services from LBG to WVF between 5pm and 6:30pm - before the 'major timetable change' last year we had SIX!!!

As for getting a reduction on our season tickets - I think there is more chance of Brighton winning the FA Cup!

 

[Surreytraveller]

In the article it also mentions that Thameslink trains will no longer call at London Bridge due to capacity problems with the Overground Trains -

The Overground won't be going to London Bridge - they will be going onto the East London Line at New Cross Gate.

 

[73110]

As for getting a reduction on our season tickets - I think there is more chance of Brighton winning the FA Cup!

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON First Round Replay 18th Nov 2009 KO 19:45

Brighton & HA 2 - 0 Wycombe