Future Thameslink service from Peckham Rye

[jj2]

My understanding is that with the Thameslink Programme from the end of 2018 there will be trains every 2/3 minutes between Peckham Rye and Kings Cross, via London Bridge / City Thameslink / Farrindgon.

Does anyone know when the train frequency of this line will be increased? Possibly first improvements starting from 2016?

Thanks

JJ

[miga]

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[Earl Aelfheah]

I don't think Peckham services see much increase in frequency. I've a feeling they may actually go back to terminating at Blackfriars, but stand to be corrected.

[njc97]

jj2, sorry but I dont think Peckham Rye will get any more trains that it does now. And we won't get the new carriages until 2017.

Oh and there is a risk (albeit slight) that they'll terminate them at Blackfriars, so you'll have to change twice to get to Heathrow. (there was a consultation about whether to stop the Sutton or Sevenoaks (Peckham Rye) trains at Blackfriars. Network Rail decided on the Sutton trains, but government ordered them to continue to run them through. Given weekend/late night Sevenoaks trains stop at Blackfriars, it might be an easier decision to stop them there all day, if there isnt the capacity to run through)

[Lowlander]

Every 2 - 3 minutes on the core section (London Bridge through to King's Cross)

After the core section south of the river there are several branches (e.g. Wimbledon, Brighton and via Peckham Rye)

So in 2018 when it's completed you may see a small increase to maybe three trains instead of two per hour. But I wouldn't bet on it!

But you will get new trains from 2016!

[miga]

.

[jj2]

Thanks guys!

So I reckon that coming from East Dulwich, it will probably be better change at London Bridge (possible longer change as bigger station, but high frequency) rather than changing at Peckam Rye (quick change, but not many trains).

[Lowlander]

Depends on the timings (if you can get a good connection at Peckham Rye it should be quicker), but generally speaking yes go to London Bridge...

[Renata Hamvas]

From my understanding of the situation: Due to the decision that the Wimbledon trains that were due to be terminated at Blackfriars will continue to go across London, the planned increase of the through London Thameslink service via Peckham Rye to 4 tph will not occur. The number of through trains will remain the same but there may be an additional 2tph that terminate at Blackfriars. I have been receiving reports from users that there are already issues with capacity on the northbound morning rush hour trains with passengers being left on the platform at Nunhead, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill. Please could users of this service with these issues let me know. Thameslink has recently taken over this route from South Eastern and it's crazy that the trains are so full that people wanting to get to work can't even physically fit on them! (something needs to be done before 2018, and the more feedback I have, the better!)

Renata

[James]

Am I correct in assuming that, apart from the London Overground (great if you need to go to East/SW London, not so great for anywhere central) every major route we have from Peckham Rye has either stayed the same in terms of frequency or actually declined (e.g. London Bridge services) in the past few years? With the population (and our ticket prices) increasing all the time and still no Tube in SE London, surely this is unacceptable?

[Jeremy]

The London Bridge service did increase in frequency a few years back... and I think the current timetable is supposed to be temporary..

[Reg Smeeton]

Renata: here's my one bit of data for you - this morning I wanted to get to St Pancras (first time this year). The 8:39 at Denmark Hill was so full I thought I'd not try to get on, and instead waited the extra six minutes for the 8:45. Despite the short gap, even the 8:45am was pretty jammed, but I did get on. We then waited outside Blackfriars for ten minutes because of some technical problem at the station. Two other trains were in the queue with us.

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

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

> From my understanding of the situation: Due to the

> decision that the Wimbledon trains that were due

> to be terminated at Blackfriars will continue to

> go across London, the planned increase of the

> through London Thameslink service via Peckham Rye

> to 4 tph will not occur. The number of through

> trains will remain the same but there may be an

> additional 2tph that terminate at Blackfriars. I

> have been receiving reports from users that there

> are already issues with capacity on the northbound

> morning rush hour trains with passengers being

> left on the platform at Nunhead, Peckham Rye and

> Denmark Hill. Please could users of this service

> with these issues let me know. Thameslink has

> recently taken over this route from South Eastern

> and it's crazy that the trains are so full that

> people wanting to get to work can't even

> physically fit on them! (something needs to be

> done before 2018, and the more feedback I have,

> the better!)

> Renata

[Mutrik]

Renata: And today i was unable to get on the train from denmark hill that leaves just after 8am (but was delayed). The train after which i did get on was also delayed and once it came we had to wait further as well outside Blackfriars

[MarkE]

@Renata,

I'm a recent overspill from EDW - the frequency having dropped due to South Bermondsey terminations and regular holdups queuing into London Bridge have pushed me away.

I used to get the Denmark Hill thameslink service once every few weeks, somewhere in the 8:00-8:30 timeslot, and always managed to get on. The last two weeks there have always been some poor souls (occasionally me) left on the platform unable to squeeze on.

The crush on the services lightens a little bit by Elephant and Castle, but is still pretty bad right through to Blackfriars.

[JohnL]

MarkE Wrote:

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

> @Renata,

>

> I'm a recent overspill from EDW - the frequency

> having dropped due to South Bermondsey

> terminations and regular holdups queuing into

> London Bridge have pushed me away.

>

> I used to get the Denmark Hill thameslink service

> once every few weeks, somewhere in the 8:00-8:30

> timeslot, and always managed to get on. The last

> two weeks there have always been some poor souls

> (occasionally me) left on the platform unable to

> squeeze on.

>

> The crush on the services lightens a little bit by

> Elephant and Castle, but is still pretty bad right

> through to Blackfriars.

I've given up at present on Thameslink at this time

and catch 63 bus.

I carry laptops and they keep bumping people :)

[antantant]

I work in Farringdon and now get the 63 bus from Peckham rather than the Thameslink Train. I just can't guarantee that I'll get on the train, even though it is faster when works properly.

I still get the train home though - it's pretty empty at Farringdon and runs fairly close to schedule at the start. As I have a child to pick up at nursery I can't rely on the bus as it takes longer and the timings are too tight.

[Medley]

Oh look, Wimbledon wins - when its MP was not just in the dominant party in govt., but also a transport minister first for London and then covering rail.

http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/10174527.MP_claims_victory_as_Wimbledon_Thameslink_loop_saved/

The Thameslink service was pretty much at bursting point at some places (e.g. Crofton Park) before the London Bridge debacle. No doubt, from the stories on here, it's now falling over completely and people are having to avoid it.

I'd love to think this would be noticed, but weary experience says otherwise. Still, keep pushing (and not just to get on the train).

[ann coley]

I use the Peckham/ Blackfriars train every morning - usually the 8-42. It has been crammed every morning this week and was particularly bad this morning when the 8-36 was apparantly cancelled (no information on the platform - it showed on the indicator board but just didn't show up).

I have also noticed that the 18-04 back to Peckham from Blackfrias has got much busier since Christmas.

(Long time lurker - it took the trains to finally make me comment!).

[Earl Aelfheah]

Wimbledon, which has a high frequency train service in to Waterloo and a tube station. Yes, they really needed to take priority on the Thameslink too.

The transport in SE London is a joke.

[Earl Aelfheah]

There is currently a huge development site around Camberwell Green (from Camberwell Road, through to Camberwell new road), covering several acres. There is also the recently developed Tesco site and the Walworth Bus Garage. Why did Southwark not work with TFL / the Mayors office to consolidate the site and sell it off as a single development site. They could then have made the provision of moneys for either a thameslink station or Bakerloo line extension a condition of planning permission via a planning gain/section 106 order?

[davidq100]

More ammo for Renata: I take the Thameslink from P'Rye into Farringdon daily (8:16 or 36 usually). It's been very rough so far this year: late by at least 5 minutes everyday. Jammed like sardines everyday. This morning the train couldn't leave the platform at Peckham for 5 mins or so because it was too full for the doors to close. And that was at 9:30am.

Coming back, as antantant says, it's less busy at Farringdon (can sometimes get a seat!), but by the time it reaches Elephant and Castle there's still often no room left for people to get on.

It wasn't quite as bad before Xmas and the London Bridge shambles, but was still packed in both directions most days.

Give it a go any weekday morning and you'll get a good idea why more trains are needed.

Btw it would be also helpful if this line ran through the centre at weekends. Hopefully that will come with the "new Thameslink"...

[Renata Hamvas]

Thanks everyone, keep posting/emailing me.

Renata

[Too Good To Be True]

I've given up trying to get on the Thameslink Northbound from Denmark Hill in rush hour. Get the bus or cycle now.

[Jeremy]

It's doable a little bit earlier... I always manage to get on the 7:34(ish) from Peckham Rye. Was 10 mins late this morning though..

[djaq2000]

I'd agree with earlier posters that northbound Thameslink trains from Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill are now more crowded (and more delayed) in the mornings than before.

Longer term, it would be a big improvement if the line could be operated much more like the Overground: 4 trains an hour, at the same time each hour, for most of the day throughout weekdays and weekends, going through at least to Kings Cross St Pancras. As things stand, I think longer distance semi-fast trains eg Cambridge to Caterham or similar will be prioritised over inner London services.