Two weeks to go: South London commuters to benefit from more train services

Rail passengers travelling around the capital will benefit from even more Southern trains in the height of rush hour – meaning more convenient journeys and more seats.

Commuters across south London will notice the new and adjusted services in just two weeks' time when train operator Southern rolls out its new December timetable from 15 December.

It includes weekday services on some of its busiest routes through south London, including from Sutton and Norwood Junction, leading to more comfortable journeys into the city and connecting places with new direct trains.

There are several changes to services between East Croydon and London Victoria between Selhurst and Norbury during the morning peak – with some of these trains extended from eight to 10 carriages.

An additional East Croydon to London Victoria train will run calling at all stations via Norbury, departing East Croydon at 8.40am, with two services running the reverse journey from Victoria at 6.57am and 7.57am.

The 7.50am Selhurst to London Victoria service will now start at East Croydon.

Passengers living on the Hackbridge line, which includes Mitcham Junction, will also receive a morning and evening peak service to London Bridge.

This train currently starts at Streatham Hill but will now depart from Sutton and travel via Hackbridge, leaving at 8.07am, calling at all stations between Sutton and Tulse Hill before arriving at London Bridge for 8.49am.

To make this change, the 7.50am Streatham Hill to London Bridge service will be withdrawn – but the train before will run with eight carriages instead of six to give commuters more seats.

The benefits continue with three services from Norwood Junction to London Bridge via Sydenham in the morning rush hour. This means passengers travelling from Anerley and Penge West will benefit from direct services to London Bridge.

These trains will depart Norwood Junction at 7.37am, 8.04am and 9.04am, taking just half an hour to get into the central London station, meaning a much higher train frequency for passengers living on this route.

In the evening, two more services will run from London Bridge on the same route, going all the way to Sutton via West Croydon.

Southern’s operator, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), worked with key stakeholders and local partners to ensure the timetable put trains where they are needed most.

GTR’s Customer Services Director, Jenny Saunders, said: “The south London rail network is one of the busiest in the country, moving tens of thousands of commuters and leisure travellers between their homes and the city each day.

“We are committed to providing a reliable service to passengers - giving them more journey choices and longer, more comfortable, trains in the morning rush hour.”

It comes as part of a wider programme of timetable changes by train operator Govia Thameslink Railway, which is responsible for one in every four journeys made by rail in the UK on its train companies Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Great Northern.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Norwood Junction / Sydenham to London Bridge – weekdays

There will be three additional peak services in the morning, which will run between Norwood Junction and London Bridge via Sydenham calling at all stations.

• They will depart Norwood Junction at 07:37, 08:04 and 09:04, arriving London Bridge at 08:01, 08:31 and 09:31 respectively.

Two evening services will run from London Bridge on the same route to Norwood Junction. These have been extended to Sutton via West Croydon.

• Services will depart London Bridge at 17:10 and 17:40 respectively.
• These evening services will call at all stations to West Croydon, but after West Croydon they will run fast to Sutton

East Croydon to London Victoria via Selhurst and Norbury – weekdays

A set of changes is being made to increase passenger capacity and journey options in the morning on metro services between East Croydon and London Victoria on the Selhurst and Norbury route.

• An additional East Croydon to London Victoria service will run calling at all stations via Norbury, departing East Croydon at 08:40.
• Two additional London Victoria to East Croydon services will run, departing London Victoria at 06:57 and 07:57 respectively.
• The existing 07:50 Selhurst to London Victoria service will now be extended to start at East Croydon.

Some peak services will be extended from eight to ten carriages.

Sutton to London Bridge via Tulse Hill and Hackbridge – weekdays

A service to London Bridge, which currently starts at Streatham Hill, will have its start point changed to Sutton and will travel via Hackbridge.

• This currently departs Streatham Hill at 08:20.
• It will now depart Sutton at 08:07 and call at all stations between Sutton and Tulse Hill, arriving into London Bridge at 08:49, 4 minutes later than present.
• It will leave London Bridge at 17:52 and arrive at Sutton for 18:36, calling at all stations via Hackbridge.

In the PM peak, an additional service will travel from London Bridge to Sutton.

To enable the direct services between the Hackbridge line and London Bridge, and Norwood Junction and London Bridge to run, some services have been adjusted.

• The 07:50 Streatham Hill to London Bridge via Tulse Hill (07:56) service will be withdrawn.
• The preceding service through Tulse Hill (07:47 at Tulse Hill) will now run with eight carriages rather than the six it does at present. This will provide extra capacity through Tulse Hill at that time in the morning with more room on the train.