|
Post by greenboy on May 8, 2022 11:48:29 GMT
It doesn't really matter what stations it calls at, the Central Line serves all stations from Epping to West Ruislip. Thameslink is a mixture of local and longer distance services and I don't really see anything wrong with the current network although Dartford to Rainham could possibly be replaced by Southeastern but as @700101 explained in a previous post that isn't as simple as it appears. And with or without Thameslink there will be no return of a semi fast service on the North Kent line. It's disappointing that the Cambridge to Maidstone service hasn't happened but the Rainham service is being restored to 2tph whilst some Southeastern services are still reduced from pre covid levels. The Central line is a metro route in the true sense of the word and Epping is only just outside London, Medway is much further out, Thameslink’s problem is that it’s trying too hard to be both a mainline and a London’s second metro system, it can’t be both. If another timetable recast occurs then fast services could returns, I don’t see why we should be saddled with an inferior service indefinitely, the 2018 recast was flawed and it’s showing cracks now. Why can't Thameslink be both? The only way a fast service can be returned is by removing stops which would leave people at those stations with an inferior service.
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 8, 2022 12:54:23 GMT
The Central line is a metro route in the true sense of the word and Epping is only just outside London, Medway is much further out, Thameslink’s problem is that it’s trying too hard to be both a mainline and a London’s second metro system, it can’t be both. If another timetable recast occurs then fast services could returns, I don’t see why we should be saddled with an inferior service indefinitely, the 2018 recast was flawed and it’s showing cracks now. Why can't Thameslink be both? The only way a fast service can be returned is by removing stops which would leave people at those stations with an inferior service. 6tph isn’t an inferior service, what Thameslink offers is.
|
|
|
Post by someone on May 10, 2022 17:08:34 GMT
Why St Albans City? Luton is probably the best choice of terminus, given that it has a link to the airport via Luton Airport PW station. If you cut the route back to St Albans City, you lose the connection to Luton Airport. Because Luton is too far from Central London to be the terminus of a tube style service, the same reason why Rainham is. It’s in Bedfordshire for christ sakes. But you're forgetting that there is some reasoning behind the service operating to Luton, as I had previously mentioned. A curtailment to Dartford is enough.
|
|
|
Post by Dillon95 on May 10, 2022 17:11:24 GMT
Because Luton is too far from Central London to be the terminus of a tube style service, the same reason why Rainham is. It’s in Bedfordshire for christ sakes. But you're forgetting that there is some reasoning behind the service operating to Luton, as I had previously mentioned. A curtailment to Dartford is enough. Well it is what it is, but it’s not what I’d do.
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 15, 2022 15:21:48 GMT
I think if Thameslink is to stay then it should be made to run faster and call only at key stations if it continues to run on the Woolwich line, Deptford, Greenwich, Charlton, Woolwich A., Abbey Wood, Dartford, Greenhithe and Gravesend should be the main calling points to and from Medway
Extend the Charing X to Dartford service to Gravesend for further CrossRail connectivity and bring back the Plumstead shuttles to Cannon Street via Greenwich (ideally had they built Abbey Wood with extra Platforms 5 & 6 then you could have the shuttles run from there!)
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on May 15, 2022 15:44:29 GMT
An alternative of giving Brixton a link to the Overground - divert the Victoria to Orpington service to serve Clapham High Street & Wandsworth Road giving a much cheaper link to the Overground
|
|
|
Post by Dillon95 on May 16, 2022 11:25:59 GMT
An alternative of giving Brixton a link to the Overground - divert the Victoria to Orpington service to serve Clapham High Street & Wandsworth Road giving a much cheaper link to the Overground I’ve always thought that service should stop at those stations as well.
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 16, 2022 16:34:08 GMT
An alternative of giving Brixton a link to the Overground - divert the Victoria to Orpington service to serve Clapham High Street & Wandsworth Road giving a much cheaper link to the Overground I’ve always thought that service should stop at those stations as well. If the Orpington metro ever returns to 4tph then the 2tph that terminate at Bromley South would stop at Clapham HS and Wandsworth Road, leaving the Orpington trains to run fast from Brixton like they do now
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 16, 2022 16:40:14 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine!
|
|
|
Post by galwhv69 on May 16, 2022 17:10:35 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine! That would be a shame. I use the service quite a bit (often when I just miss the West Croydon train) so would be a shame to see the frequency along there reduced. If nothing replaces it, then I believe Clapham Junction - West Norwood will only have a train every half an hour?
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 16, 2022 17:28:38 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine! That would be a shame. I use the service quite a bit (often when I just miss the West Croydon train) so would be a shame to see the frequency along there reduced. If nothing replaces it, then I believe Clapham Junction - West Norwood will only have a train every half an hour? I think Clapham-West Norwood/Crystal Palace will be every half hour, the LB to Beckenham train will also be 1tph
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on May 16, 2022 18:43:12 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine! Sadly that’s true - it says so on Southerns website. Given I used that service twice on Saturday to tick off 455’s, it was very busy in both directions & not with enthusiasts either
|
|
|
Post by route53 on May 16, 2022 21:15:06 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine! Sadly that’s true - it says so on Southerns website. Given I used that service twice on Saturday to tick off 455’s, it was very busy in both directions & not with enthusiasts either That service is always busy, and has travellers who board at Brockley traveling all the way to Streatham and Balham, it’s a popular service. South London needs more cross links, even if it’s just a bus, it can be a nightmare just going from Lewisham to Clapham because trains are half hour or you miss a connection or it involves an awkward doubling back on oneself.
|
|
|
Post by Dillon95 on May 16, 2022 23:17:53 GMT
I’ve always thought that service should stop at those stations as well. If the Orpington metro ever returns to 4tph then the 2tph that terminate at Bromley South would stop at Clapham HS and Wandsworth Road, leaving the Orpington trains to run fast from Brixton like they do now The 2tph Bromley South terminators should be extended to Swanley.
|
|
|
Post by greenboy on May 17, 2022 9:05:40 GMT
I’ve heard that the LB-Sydenham-Clapham-Victoria service is being withdrawn? If so this is a shame, I remember living in Sydenham years ago and using this service regularly to see my mates over in SW London, or nights out in Balham or Clapham it was the nearest South London had to having a service similar to the North London Line, although circuitous, it was a highly useful service which avoided zone one apart from Victoria and London Bridge, other than the ELL from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and the Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath service there aren’t any more direct cross South London rail services. It makes travelling around this neck of the woods very hard, my Hampstead mates have no qualms about going on a night out or to see friends in Camden or Islington, yet now the thought of going to Balham from Blackheath sends shivers down my spine! It is a useful service for orbital journeys across South London although the same journeys can still be made with a change of train at Crystal Palace. Hopefully a half hourly service will be restored on the Beckenham Junction to London Bridge service. Balham to Blackheath via New Cross/Gate or Clapham Junction and Denmark Hill although probably quicker Northern Line to London Bridge and Southeastern from there, not ideal though.
|
|