peterborogh to horsham

[hi2u_uk]

Ive just been looking at the revised timetables and it seems that the London bridge to Horsham service is being replaced with a Peterborough to Horsham service . Is this correct ? when they took this decision did they do an analysis to show that there will be seats available for people who currently board the train between London bridge at Horsham as i'm concerned that i wont be able to board this service now or that it will be uncomfortably full

 

[jon0844]

Ive just been looking at the revised timetables and it seems that the london bridge to horsham service is being replaced with a peterborough to horsham service . Is this correct ? when they took this decision did they do an analysis to show that there will be seats available for people who currently board the train between london bridge at horsham as im concerned that i wont be able to board this service now or that it will be uncomfortably full

I very much doubt there would be a problem. Trains through the core drop off an awful lot of people, replaced by new people as it leaves. Trains may be busy but you'd almost certainly be able to get on.

 

[hi2u_uk]

Im just very worried as the early morning service is busy at london bridge with people going to east croydon and gatwick and other intermediate stations. People going to gatwick also use seats for their luggage as well so i can imagine the situation getting worse when the train already has people on it from north of the river
also why do this extension if there is no significant demand for it. The changing times and routes just causes inconvenience for current users

 

[jon0844]

Im just very worried as the early morning service is busy at london bridge with people going to east croydon and gatwick and other intermediate stations. People going to gatwick also use seats for their luggage as well so i can imagine the situation getting worse when the train already has people on it from north of the river
also why do this extension if there is no significant demand for it. The changing times and routes just causes inconvenience for current users

People should not use seats for bags. Passengers should ask for them to be moved and if it becomes a big problem then TL should be told and passenger hosts or rail enforcement officers should pay a visit. 700s have lots of luggage space and most people with carry on bags can fit them overhead or even in the aisle and still leave room to pass.

 

[AM9]

... The changing times and routes just causes inconvenience for current users

That's life! From when would you like the timetable to have been set in stone?

 

[JonathanH]

Im just very worried as the early morning service is busy at london bridge with people going to east croydon and gatwick and other intermediate stations. People going to gatwick also use seats for their luggage as well so i can imagine the situation getting worse when the train already has people on it from north of the river
also why do this extension if there is no significant demand for it. The changing times and routes just causes inconvenience for current users

There isn't going to be a step change in the number of people working in Croydon on Monday 21 May so those people who happen to travel on the route of the through service already travel by some means or other. London Bridge to East Croydon is a route on which there is at least as much if not more capacity in the new timetable so I don't think that having people travel through from north of the river should cause an issue.

All Horsham trains should have 12 coaches - some early ones are currently only 4. Moreover, the following Bedford to Brighton train gets to Gatwick first.

 

[hozza94]

There isn't going to be a step change in the number of people working in Croydon on Monday 21 May so those people who happen to travel on the route of the through service already travel by some means or other.

Some people will be using the Overground instead as the services no longer stop at New Cross Gate for interchange from ELL.

 

[OxtedSignaller]

From travelling on Thameslink trains as mentioned above you will find that it will pretty much empty out by the time it gets to London Bridge. The majority of the train are not making southbound through journeys and customers wanting Gatwick probably won't be boarding a Horsham stopping service when there is much faster alternatives. The whole reason for the recast is to provide extra choice in the City of London area as well I imagine some customers will be using different stations to London Bridge anyway. These are 12 car trains there will no longer be any 4 or 5 cars running the Horsham train, and they have much more space on them standing wise so I would not worry about not being able to board.

 

[Wirewiper]

Talk about having blinkers on. Billions spent on making a crucial part of London's railway infrastructure fit for purpose in the 21st Century, but no matter - I don't want MY train to change!

 

[AM9]

Talk about having blinkers on. Billions spent on making a crucial part of London's railway infrastructure fit for purpose in the 21st Century, but no matter - I don't want MY train to change!

I agree. It seems that many posts here, (particularly involving changes introduce by the the Thameslink Programme) read like complaints to TOCs' customer services departments.

 

[nickswift99]

I agree. It seems that many posts here, (particularly involving changes introduce by the the Thameslink Programme) read like complaints to TOCs' customer services departments.

But on here, people actually read them and there's a chance there may be a reply.... However, I suspect the actual impact on the timetable as a result will be the same (nil).

 

[Warwick]

Just how many people who boarded north of King's Cross are still going to be on the train when it arrives at London Bridge?

 

[tsr]

It must be pointed out that a lot of morning peak services from London Bridge towards Horsham are only really crowded in the bits where passengers board by the escalators or the upper concourse gateline at London Bridge, though one or two can be busy through the whole train.

It’s much easier to walk through a Thameslink service, so if you board a busy part of the train, it should be easier to get through to a more comfortable section.

I would expect passenger loadings during the morning peak for stations north of Blackfriars to stations south of East Croydon to be fairly small, even when airport traffic is accounted for, so any crowded conditions will be for a fairly short time anyway. Not forgetting that East Croydon should feel much quicker to get to, as you’ll usually get a run on the Down Fast from Bermondsey at least as far as Norwood Jn.

 

[swt_passenger]

Ive just been looking at the revised timetables and it seems that the London bridge to Horsham service is being replaced with a Peterborough to Horsham service. Is this correct ?

New service origin & destination pairs were probably picked at random, or straws drawn, just in the last few weeks. All that advance info that’s been in the public domain for getting on for 3 years or more was probably fake news...
It has changed a little since 2011 though. Back then it was going to be a Horsham - Cambridge service...

 

[Minstral25]

In all the London journey times efforts the local services are being wrecked

Up until May the London Bridge to Horsham service calls all stations from Purley to Horsham (plus NXG and NWD) providing a very useful local service enabling passengers around the local area to get to work, college, shops ad relatives (as did the old Victoria to Horsham service before it was diverted to London Bridge).

To gain slightly faster journey for Angie Doll's home town the new Peterborough to Horsham service skips Purley, Earlswood and Salfords complicating journeys and creating long waits to get between stations. ELD and SAF are worse hit and they are not minor stations (especially as 1,800 houses are being built near Salfords station with another 6,000 in planning currently).

So currently the 9 miles Earlswood to Crawley (largest local shopping & employment centre) takes just under 20 minutes each way on a direct train and is relatively well used. In May it will require a change at Horley or Gatwick be 26 mins to Crawley and 34 back, the latter with a 15 minute wait at the delightful Gatwick Airport station.

You have also lost direct services from Coulsdon or Merstham to Earlswood and Salfords during the off peak and weekends (peak Gatwick to Victoria services do call at all)

Similar Issues for Purley to Crawley which is now fastest via East Croydon and presumably a more expensive fare.

Why can't Peterborough to Horsham train follow pattern of old London Bridge to Horsham train it is replacing, it would be much simpler for all local passengers.

 

[jon0844]

The new timetable is bound to be tweaked in the years ahead. There's a lot of change based on estimations and, let's be honest, the need to move trains and crew around effectively, but time will enable planners to see ways to optimise things based on real-world figures and passenger surveys.

 

[Bayum]

Talk about having blinkers on. Billions spent on making a crucial part of London's railway infrastructure fit for purpose in the 21st Century, but no matter - I don't want MY train to change!

Hang on a moment... Does the original poster (OP) know that the trains are going to be longer and newer Thameslink trains, particularly if their service at current is a shorter diagram?

 

[387star]

In all the London journey times efforts the local services are being wrecked

Up until May the London Bridge to Horsham service calls all stations from Purley to Horsham (plus NXG and NWD) providing a very useful local service enabling passengers around the local area to get to work, college, shops ad relatives (as did the old Victoria to Horsham service before it was diverted to London Bridge).

To gain slightly faster journey for Angie Doll's home town the new Peterborough to Horsham service skips Coulsdon South, Merstham, Earlswood and Salfords complicating journeys and creating long waits to get between stations. ELD and SAF are worse hit and they are not minor stations (especially as 1,800 houses are being built near Salfords station with another 6,000 in planning currently).

So currently the 9 miles Earlswood to Crawley (largest local shopping & employment centre) takes just under 20 minutes each way on a direct train and is relatively well used. In May it will require a change at Horley or Gatwick be 26 mins to Crawley and 34 back, the latter with a 15 minute wait at the delightful Gatwick Airport station.

You have also lost direct services from Coulsdon or Merstham to Earlswood and Salfords during the off peak and weekends (peak Gatwick to Victoria services do call at all)

Similar Issues for Purley to Crawley which is now fastest via East Croydon and presumably a more expensive fare.

Why can't Peterborough to Horsham train follow pattern of old London Bridge to Horsham train it is replacing, it would be much simpler for all local passengers.

It appears all Peterbourough services will stop Coulsdon South and Merstham

I think a few Horsham starters will run to Bedford and call Purley and South Croydon

 

[Minstral25]

It appears all Peterbourough services will stop Coulsdon South and Merstham

I think a few Horsham starters will run to Bedford and call Purley and South Croydon

You are correct - have amended post to state Purley missed. Problem still remains all local stations are not on same group of services which means local journeys now require changes which is silly and inconvenient

There are a couple of morning peak services that stop with different patterns, as the Horsham's go to Bedford and Three Bridges to Peterborough but swaps back at end of peak service for rest of day.