Trains cancellations - latest

[Sally Eva]

It's not the time of year to push cycling as an alternative, I know, but on Wednesday we are running one of our rare Winter Bike Trains. Full details are on the whats'on thread.

The weather forecast for as far ahead as Wednesday is a bit meaningless but it's not actually bad at the moment.

If you are interested in the WBT or want help cycling anywhere else because of the strike(s) you can text me on 07842 640 207 or pm me any time

[KidKruger]

Reckon mess tonight from LB

[traveler2]

Big time.

[KidKruger]

The trains from LB to ED are Southern, right ?

What about the Denmark Hill to Victoria service ?

[traveler2]

I think both are Southern. I had to go via Forest Hill. Everyday a challenge.

[KidKruger]

Yeah I came home via FH too tonight, the 1808 was 'delayed' until about 1830 when they 'cancelled' it

[danielson00]

Some background info here: https://medium.com/@xciv/southern-rail-transport-secretary-misleads-passengers-1371dd775ab0#.p7p4x5miw - quite an interesting read.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Southern's profits rose 27% this year.

[intexasatthe moment]

Denmark Hill/Peckham Rye to Victoria is SouthEastern .

So no doubt rammed but running .

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/SET%20Network%20Map.pdf

[Cardelia]

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Denmark Hill/Peckham Rye to Victoria is

> SouthEastern .

>

> So no doubt rammed but running .

>

The Southeastern trains were ok this morning. A few minutes late (which happens every day) but not overly busy.

[cactus]

Southern up to their usual antics this morning!

I thought the industrial action was all of next week, but a serious lack of trains on their timetable today.

My 11 year old travels in the opposite direction, ED - Tulse Hill for secondary school, but again no trains for about an hour. Chose his school on the basis of an easy journey in, but it's becoming a bit of a nightmare for him to get in on time. Not great into London Bridge either, horrible way to start the new year, feel for the commuters this morning.

[Marco Van Basten]

Same in Forest Hill. 7:10 shown as 'delayed' until about 7:25 when they show it as cancelled. A Southern train then sails through on the central rails.

[Jeremy]

Best just to pretend the Southern trains don't exist, and find another route. The franchise has failed. Foot, bus, Thameslink/SouthEastern/Overground, tube, bike, car, taxi... whatever it takes.

[Penguin68]

Best just to pretend the Southern trains don't exist, and find another route.

The problem is, this just means they've won. They don't get your fare anyway - the government gets that and then has to pay compensation for failed services (probably the worst deal with train operators ever) - so if we don't even try to use them, then they can claim there are no passenger problems (because they have no passengers) - they won't be bothered to run any sort of service on our lines, but they still have the overall lucrative franchise, but without having to supply services to one part of it (which means that they will be more able to service others). The have been trading off services on our lines anyway (by massively reducing them) to keep up services on others - if they can get away with no services on ours (because we stop using them) they can argue our services aren't needed.

[KidKruger]

Yeah but people can't afford to risk their jobs anymore than they already have by perpetually standing around in platforms just to watch a failed train service not turn up.

The most important thing is to get in to work for many people and unfortunately Southern can't help with that.

So, all alternatives become the only realistic option. If Southern 'win' well good luck to them, but most workers I know just have to find best way into their office.

You seriously couldn't invent this.

[Jeremy]

If people want to turn up for a service that may or may not come, as some sort of principled stance, then that's up to them of course. Meanwhile, in the real world, people need to get to work on time, and get home to pick up kids, etc.

And if there ARE no acceptable alternatives, this might even be a good time to rethink where you live or work.

[JohnL]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If people want to turn up for a service that may

> or may not come, as some sort of principled

> stance, then that's up to them of course.

> Meanwhile, in the real world, people need to get

> to work on time, and get home to pick up kids,

> etc.

>

> And if there ARE no acceptable alternatives, this

> might even be a good time to rethink where you

> live or work.

or Work From Home if possible.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Best just to pretend the Southern trains don't

> exist, and find another route. The franchise has

> failed.

It's failed passengers, not Southern who've seen their profits go up 27%.

[Earl Aelfheah]

This is interesting / infuriating: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/13/taxpayers-foot-50million-bill-southern-rail-strike-chaos-ministers/

Seems that it's in Southern's financial interests for the strikes to continue.

[cactus]

Grim reading.

[KidKruger]

Awful situation.

Typical UK Govt strategy - privatisation was never about service delivery and always about getting responsibility off their back.

[JohnL]

Another strike next week unless it gets called off.

Recommendation is not to travel on rail.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Next weeks strike has been reduced to 3 days, but apparently there is 'more industrial action to come'. It's an absolute shambles.

[geobz]

Its been more than a month now that services to and from ED have been cut by half.

I'd like to hear how has it affected other people around that their work is not so open on them coming in late / leaving early and WFH when there is a strike.

[Lowlander]

The mornings have so far been tolerable even with only one train an hour (I get the 0830 from ED).

Coming home after 1730 is a gamble, as trains get cancelled, or formed of 4 coaches and I've been unable to get on board.

I've then tried to get back via Forest Hill, but on a few occasions those trains were also cancelled, giving an hour journey time back from London Bridge as I've gone to catch the 40 bus instead.

Sometimes they've run an extra train at 1742, but tonight it seems there are no services between 1711 and 1808.

If it's later in the evening, taking the tube down to Elephant and Castle thence a choice of buses has been another option.

My work are fine about it, but then I'm relatively lucky to have a flexible environment...