Trains cancellations - latest

[Earl Aelfheah]

Fundamentally, there is a conflict between the needs of an efficient suburban railway service, designed to move people into the city from outside London quickly, over a longer distance (meaning fewer, but regular trains which don't make too many stops) and an inner London metro service, moving high numbers of people short distances (which requires lot's of stops within a relatively small area with high frequency).

[Earl Aelfheah]

Basically, we need the tube, or a tube type rail service for SE London, which isn't in conflict with high value Kent / Surrey commuters requirements - as exists across the rest of the capital.

[Nigello]

We could have had a tram, from Peckham to Aldwych (and perhaps further) but it was scrapped. Gudided buses could work, but they're not trendy and swanky enough for the local politicians, who want shiny, heavy rolling stock.

[Jeremy]

Nigello Wrote:

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> Guided buses could work, but they're not trendy and

> swanky enough for the local politicians, who want

> shiny, heavy rolling stock.

What would be the advantage of a guided bus, over conventional buses running an express service? (aside from environmental)?

[Nigello]

They have a specific, dedicated lane (which can also allow buses and bikes/cycles) that allows them to "race" along, aided by a guiding wheel that skims along a curb. They're cheaper (the buses are just normal buses and are simply modified) and much more easy to install.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guided_busways_and_BRT_systems_in_the_United_Kingdom

[wulfhound]

@ Nigello Bikes don't go in a guided busway, they go in a path alongside. A hard-sided concrete gulley with buses approaching at 50mph is not somewhere to be on a bike.

[Jeremy]

Problem is with a guided bus (or a tram I suppose) is that any route into London is going to be criss-crossed with side streets requiring access, so hard to envisage as a speedy express service.

I always thought this was pretty cool : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppertal_Suspension_Railway

[ianr]

ianr Wrote:

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> There are two related Westminster Hall debates next week.

> Wednesday 13 July, 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm Performance of Govia Thameslink rail service - Tim Loughton

Viewable now at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

There will be a recording and transcript available later.

> Tuesday 12 July, 11.00 am - 11.30 am Compensation for rail passengers - Will Quince

[danielson00]

1740 seems to have been added from London Bridge to ED, was only 4 carriages today though!

[Lowlander]

danielson00 Wrote:

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> 1740 seems to have been added from London Bridge

> to ED, was only 4 carriages today though!

Yup, let's hope the 4 carriage ensemble was just a one-off! I got onboard around 1733 and got a seat, standing room shortly after.

That 1740 looks to be in the timetable all this week then from next week the 1730 and 1750 are reinstated and the 1740 disappears.

Morning trains also go back to normal.

[Zebedee Tring]

Lowlander, have I misunderstood you? Are you saying that the old timetable is being restored in place of the new heavily pruned (and disastrous) timetable?

[Ladygooner]

https://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable#Journey/EAST%20DULWICH/LONDON%20BRIDGE/18/07/16/08/15/Leave After/18/07/16/18/00/Leave After/1/0//

Looks like more train have been added from Monday

[andyjake]

Journey Planners are not currently showing the amended Southern and Gatwick Express timetables from Monday 18 July, but will be updated as soon as possible. Passengers are advised to check back closer to time of travel.

[Lowlander]

Zebedee Tring Wrote:

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>

>

> Lowlander, have I misunderstood you? Are you

> saying that the old timetable is being restored in

> place of the new heavily pruned (and disastrous)

> timetable?

I'm just quoting the online journey planners - which also show a 1740 train running this week, but not next.

[doogsey]

The commons meeting is now online: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/62ce4633-66e8-4bb4-87a2-c7f99aafbf68

I've only listened to about half of it so far. Some observations:

Cheeky Chuka uses the platform to appeal for the Crossrail 2 route to serve his constituency.

A passing comment was made that the franchise is too big. I'd certainly agree and I do wonder why MPs are asking for the franchise to be removed, when surely giving the franchise to someone else would not solve all the problems. If we want East Dulwich to be served by TfL Overground then I imagine this part of the franchise would need to be broken off first?

A quite irate man went on a tirade on the unions position over this issue. He was very worked up indeed!

I don't think Helen Hayes mentioned East Dulwich losing 75% of peak hour services (85% when compared to 2 years ago), which is the really stark statistic that never seems to get reported. If she did mention it then I missed it.

[wroed]

Lowlander Wrote:

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> danielson00 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > 1740 seems to have been added from London

> Bridge

> > to ED, was only 4 carriages today though!

>

> Yup, let's hope the 4 carriage ensemble was just a

> one-off! I got onboard around 1733 and got a

> seat, standing room shortly after.

>

The 5.40 also ran on Tuesday, again with just 4 carriages.

[lavelle72]

Has anyone got the 7:30 to LB from ED this week? How has it been? I've avoided altogether as I assume it's a disaster.

[Lowlander]

Monday pm - 1808 train from London Bridge to ED, uneventful and on time

Tuesday am - 0830 train from ED, standing room only by Peckham Rye

Wednesday pm - 1740 train from London Bridge, only 4 coaches

Thursday am - 0830 train from ED, standing room only by Peckham Rye

[Baroness Millhaven]

I was on the 07.30 yesterday. It was barely as busy as a normal morning. I was talking to Michelle, who runs the coffee stall outside the station, and she told me that it's absolutely dead around there and even when there are trains scheduled to run, it's quiet compared with normal (which my experience bore out).

Most mornings, I've caught the bus. I think there are extra buses on the roads at the moment, and also it's worth noting traffic is quieter and people are starting to disappear on holidays, the exam season is over, and schools are about to break up.

[Jeremy]

I suppose most people have just decided that the train's not worth the bother until normal service is resumed. I've mainly been keeping clear, although did get the LB>PR train yesterday evening, and it wasn't at all full...

[traveler2]

I have taken it once this week at 7.30, instead going via Victoria from Denmark Hill. Other then horrible bus coming back from Denmark Hill to Lordship Lane not too bad. I agree though that the 7.30 on Tuesday was not too bad except once we got to Peckham Rye when it was overloaded. But, Limited trains to / from ED and LB make the commute very challenging. If you don't time it just right, you are in for a long wait.

[Henry_17]

You will never please everyone with a train. Public transport in general suffers from this but trains are particularly prone. The narrow corridors, the incumbent window squatter, the last polite man to board, these will never work in London with the culture.

[goldilocks]

9:30, 3 mins late. I accept it's not terrible on its own, but in the context of only running 1 train per hour it's pretty poor. It's quiet too so it's not as a result of loads more people trying to get on at the stops

[KidKruger]

I think the train unload/load takes a fraction longer than usual exactly because of the reduced service (greater contention for limited space delaying each departure, station after station). The advertised departure times possibly have not factored this in.

[lpool]

My guess is that there will be some rapid movement on this issue. Claire Perry has gone and Chris Grayling as Sec of State for Transport sits in a constituency that relies on Southern. New Rail Minister yet to be appointed but I suspect it will be from the "no nonsense tough talking" wing of the party.