Train Help!

[hennth2005]

Hi All,

I'm looking to move to East Dulwich in the new year - both myself and my girlfriend love everything about the area but I have one question that I hope you may be able to assist with!

My question is around the trains... I work in the city so would want to go directly into London Bridge in the mornings. Has anyone got experience of travelling in on the trains during the morning rush hour? It is difficult to jump on a train a la Herne Hill thameslink line or is it a relatively easy process?!

Thoughts and comments appreciated,

Tom

[red devil]

London during rush hour = packed trains, wherever you live...

[Jeremy]

I used to get the 7:33am from Peckham Rye until recently, now I get the 8:13 or 8:23. It's never so crowded that you can't get on. But you'd be lucky to get a seat.

Reliability on the return journey is a problem though.

[hennth2005]

Fantastic thank you for the advice - as long as I can get on the train then I'm happy!

[Ruffler]

I don't think there's a direct Thameslink line from Herne Hill to London Bridge. You'll probably have to change at Blackfriars or go directly from either East or North Dulwich.

[Jeremy]

Think you misunderstood the post, Ruffler...

[Nigello]

Will you be living near to the station? If you are up past the police station/school-to-be, you will have to add a ten-to-thirty minute walk (depending on where you are) or factor in a crowded bus journey (that could take at least ten minutes in traffic).

[ruffers]

Depending how far up Lordship Lane you are Forest Hill becomes an option, which then gives Overground choices depending where you need to get to in the City.

[red devil]

Running late for your train?

I always find this helps*...

*Subtitles for indecipheral Yorkshire accent, optional

[Jeremy]

I wouldn't even consider getting a bus to the station. Would rather walk for 25 mins. Thoroughly unpredictable journey time, and a generally miserable start to your day.

[Nigello]

I am a bus fan but the current state of affairs - lengthy journeys and random changing of destinations due to the roadworks at Elephant - is very poor.

I would love there to be an express option at least every half hour and I really think some stops ought to be taken out of service. Why are there, for example, three stops between the bottom of Barry Road and the crossroads of Peckham Rye and ED Road. Why are there four stops from Denmark Hill to Dog Kennel Hill? It baffles me.

Also, has the amount of services increased in the past five years to take into account increase in population etc?

As for the trains, the Overground option is good. If only the 63 went all the way to HOP station..

[hennth2005]

That's great advice - thanks all! I'll make sure that when looking at places I take into account that the bus in many cases is a 'no go' as is too busy so being within walking distance is an important criteria!

[offspinner]

> Why are there four stops from Denmark Hill to Dog Kennel Hill?

Because elderly or infirm people and those with small children or heavy shopping may not be able to walk very far, particularly where the hill is steep.

[offspinner]

ED to LB at 7.50 or 8.10 is usually fine - there's plenty of room at the back of the train. Allow a few minutes for getting off the platform at LB, though.

[Nigello]

offspinner

I disagree. I am all in favour of buses being accessible to all, but a stop every three hundred yards is de trop. One has to think of the common good: bus stops are not bespoke! These clumped-together stops are not just on hills.