Commuting from Three Bridges to City Thameslink

[MrsKT]

Hello Everyone!

I currently live in Bromley and commute to Blackfriars / City Thameslink from Bromley South. Bromley South is just about the last station at which you can get a seat.

We're looking to move further out so I'd be commuting from Three Bridges - please could someone let me know how busy these trains usually are (in pre-Covid times) from about 7.30-8.30am and what the chances of getting a seat would be? Also, would there be a difference depending which service I used (considering the different originating stations, stops prior etc.)?

Many thanks!

 

[Scottychoo]

Post Covid will bear no relation to pre Covid so how can anyone possibly answer such a question??

 

[Surreytraveller]

Post Covid will bear no relation to pre Covid so how can anyone possibly answer such a question??

The OP was asking about pre-covid.
In answer to your enquiry, OP, trains were full and standing room only was usual

 

[MrsKT]

Thank you very much Surreytraveller!

 

[radamfi]

The back of the Victoria trains were often quite empty, even at the height of the peak. I used to work near City Thameslink so I would typically go to Victoria in the morning and go back from Farringdon to get a seat. Another option was to get a slow train, one of the ones which start at Horsham.

 

[MotCO]

There are long term engineering works planned for Gatwick, so that might affect the number of trains able to pass through which in turn might affect the crowding on trains.

 

[RichardKing]

Post Covid will bear no relation to pre Covid so how can anyone possibly answer such a question??

Not immediately after the pandemic, no, but things will eventually get back to normal.

If you take the option of travelling into Victoria in the mornings, always aim for the back of the train as it's typically less busy there.

 

[Scottychoo]

Not immediately after the pandemic, no, but things will eventually get back to normal.

If you take the option of travelling into Victoria in the mornings, always aim for the back of the train as it's typically less busy there.

Things will not 'eventually get back to normal'! Countless numbers of commuters will in future be working from home for at least part of the week leading to, you would think, more space on the trains...... But then the Govt starts reducing non profitable services until they become overcrowded again.

 

[al78]

Things will not 'eventually get back to normal'! Countless numbers of commuters will in future be working from home for at least part of the week leading to, you would think, more space on the trains...... But then the Govt starts reducing non profitable services until they become overcrowded again.

I'd be very surprised if things didn't eventually get back to normal. Major pandemics have typically lasted a few years at most and we'll be out of this one eventually. There might be a short term change in working methods, but over many years beyond the current pandemic I expect a regression to the norm. Human habits are extremely difficult and slow to change.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'd be very surprised if things didn't eventually get back to normal. Major pandemics have typically lasted a few years at most and we'll be out of this one eventually. There might be a short term change in working methods, but over many years beyond the current pandemic I expect a regression to the norm. Human habits are extremely difficult and slow to change.

Previous major pandemics didn’t occur when we had MS Teams.

 

[Ianno87]

Previous major pandemics didn’t occur when we had MS Teams.

Or when 2+ hours commutes costing £5k+ per year were the norm immediately prior!

 

[thedbdiboy]

A good way to distinguish between things that will go back to the way they were and things that won't is to look at trends pre-COVID. The Pandemic (like occurances such as wars or major civil disruptions before) won't make something happen that wasn't already in progress - but it will accelerate greatly pre-existing trends. For example, the High Street was in trouble before COVID, but the effect now will have been to fast forward changes that might otherwise have taken 5 to 10 years to happen.
Season Ticket sales and 5-day-a-week commuting has been in slow decline for a decade - the rapid socialisation since March of working from home for everyone who can will fast forward this trend. This is actually not a terrible thing for railways as the morning/evening crush loaded peak has always been a costly endeavour not just for the passengers but for operators who have to provide trains and resources used just a few hours a day. It also creates a cohort of people for whom train travel is a trial to be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
In time trains will be busy again but I'm not sure we will get back to the standing room only for an hour or more experience that was so unpleasant for many - and if the industry can adjust to this it may well be a good thing for everyone's sanity and quality of life.

 

[IrishDave]

Hello Everyone!

I currently live in Bromley and commute to Blackfriars / City Thameslink from Bromley South. Bromley South is just about the last station at which you can get a seat.

We're looking to move further out so I'd be commuting from Three Bridges - please could someone let me know how busy these trains usually are (in pre-Covid times) from about 7.30-8.30am and what the chances of getting a seat would be? Also, would there be a difference depending which service I used (considering the different originating stations, stops prior etc.)?

Many thanks!

To go back to the OP's query, I spent a year and a half commuting Brighton to London Bridge from September 2018 until March of this year.
In the morning peak, the trains from Brighton usually filled up steadily, with Haywards Heath being the tipping point when the last seats were taken.
The trains from Littlehampton (07:04 and 08:03 off Three Bridges) were regularly full (in terms of seats) from Preston Park.

In the evening though, getting on at City Thameslink would almost guarantee you a seat - in contrast when I got on at London Bridge I usually stood to East Croydon.
Again, the trains to Littlehampton (16:55 and 17:55 off London Bridge) were always busier - I think I once stood all the way to Preston Park on one of those!

Any Thameslink trains besides the Brighton and Littlehampton trains (e.g. the Horsham-Peterborough trains) will go via Redhill - you'll be guaranteed a seat from Three Bridges but it'll take 15 minutes longer!

 

[387star]

Hello Everyone!

I currently live in Bromley and commute to Blackfriars / City Thameslink from Bromley South. Bromley South is just about the last station at which you can get a seat.

We're looking to move further out so I'd be commuting from Three Bridges - please could someone let me know how busy these trains usually are (in pre-Covid times) from about 7.30-8.30am and what the chances of getting a seat would be? Also, would there be a difference depending which service I used (considering the different originating stations, stops prior etc.)?

Many thanks!

GTR used to display posters at the station which showed how busy each train was in the peaks possibly still there?

Are you looking at the Maidenbower area by chance? Used to rent there so know it well

 

[radamfi]

Are you looking at the Maidenbower area by chance? Used to rent there so know it well

Some parts are flood prone.

 

[al78]

Previous major pandemics didn’t occur when we had MS Teams.

Online interaction is a poor substitute for face-to-face interaction. Humans are social creatures, and physical contact with others is meaningful and cannot be replicated properly by remote communication. That instinct isn't going anywhere any time soon, people will very likely gradually go back to their pre-covid normal when all restrictions are lifted.

 

[Horizon22]

Not immediately after the pandemic, no, but things will eventually get back to normal.

There's a lot of people in the industry or on these forums who think this but I think its naive at best, and ignorant at worst. Home working has been successful for many companies and many employees now see the benefit. The technology and systems have broadly worked well and many enjoy it. We'll probably see more hybrid working (2 or 3 days in the office) and if everyone did that, its a 40-50% reduction in commuting. Even without everyone its likely to be 10-20% down. Things will change, its just we don't know when and by how much. This could be good for the railway so expensive peak trains aren't running all the time and the public more broadly gets a more positive view of the railway when it isn't crush-loaded and late when the capacity is maxed out.

Anyway for the OP you'd be looking at 12 car trains more often than not. Often quite full but people do always cluster in certain points of 700s.

 

[Ianno87]

Online interaction is a poor substitute for face-to-face interaction. Humans are social creatures, and physical contact with others is meaningful and cannot be replicated properly by remote communication. That instinct isn't going anywhere any time soon, people will very likely gradually go back to their pre-covid normal when all restrictions are lifted.

But question whether going into the office *every single day* is necessary to get face to fave interaction, even when something resembling normality returns.

A lie in 2-3 days per week and not spending 5 grand on a season ticket are also pretty attractive...

 

[jfollows]

But question whether going into the office *every single day* is necessary to get face to fave interaction, even when something resembling normality returns.

A lie in 2-3 days per week and not spending 5 grand on a season ticket are also pretty attractive...

All true, I don't disagree.
I started working from home in 1995. As a means of not going to the office every single day, it was good.
I resigned from the same company (IBM) in 2008. By that point I was working from home every day, and I was fed up with the lack of interaction with other people.
For many we are now at my starting point, but with better technology and capabilities. However this will then lead to employers closing offices to save money, and they will go too far.
For sure I agree with the tenet here though - why pay to travel every day if you don't have to. In 1995, I lived in Bath and my office was in Bristol, and I bought a ticket for the day if I went by train, or I drove and had free car parking in Bristol. London commuters don't have it so lucky in the main!

 

[MrsKT]

To go back to the OP's query, I spent a year and a half commuting Brighton to London Bridge from September 2018 until March of this year.
In the morning peak, the trains from Brighton usually filled up steadily, with Haywards Heath being the tipping point when the last seats were taken.
The trains from Littlehampton (07:04 and 08:03 off Three Bridges) were regularly full (in terms of seats) from Preston Park.

In the evening though, getting on at City Thameslink would almost guarantee you a seat - in contrast when I got on at London Bridge I usually stood to East Croydon.
Again, the trains to Littlehampton (16:55 and 17:55 off London Bridge) were always busier - I think I once stood all the way to Preston Park on one of those!

Any Thameslink trains besides the Brighton and Littlehampton trains (e.g. the Horsham-Peterborough trains) will go via Redhill - you'll be guaranteed a seat from Three Bridges but it'll take 15 minutes longer!

Thank you very much this is really helpful!

 

[MrsKT]

GTR used to display posters at the station which showed how busy each train was in the peaks possibly still there?

Are you looking at the Maidenbower area by chance? Used to rent there so know it well

We are indeed - we're looking around Maidenbower, Pound Hill and Worth. Also open to Horsham if the perfect house came up but given it's only 20 mins drive away happy to also just drive there when needed and have a better commute day to day. How did you find living in Maidenbower?

Some parts are flood prone.

Thank you - I checked this as had no idea (not something I thought of with it not being near water)! The house we're looking at doesn't seem to be affected at first glance but will definitely be looking into this further.

 

[MrsKT]

There's a lot of people in the industry or on these forums who think this but I think its naive at best, and ignorant at worst. Home working has been successful for many companies and many employees now see the benefit. The technology and systems have broadly worked well and many enjoy it. We'll probably see more hybrid working (2 or 3 days in the office) and if everyone did that, its a 40-50% reduction in commuting. Even without everyone its likely to be 10-20% down. Things will change, its just we don't know when and by how much. This could be good for the railway so expensive peak trains aren't running all the time and the public more broadly gets a more positive view of the railway when it isn't crush-loaded and late when the capacity is maxed out.

Anyway for the OP you'd be looking at 12 car trains more often than not. Often quite full but people do always cluster in certain points of 700s.

Thank you, hopefully I could scout out the good spots to stand - I used to do this when I lived near Wimbledon!

 

[MrsKT]

Didn't intend on causing so much conversation on pre vs post COVID commuting! I thought I'd ask for pre to see how busy it has been at its peak (hoping it won't go back to that for a long time / ever).

I hopefully won't be commuting in everyday (maybe 3 times a week) and my husband even less but as I tend to work quite long hours in the office it's good to have a decent commute.

 

[387star]

We are indeed - we're looking around Maidenbower, Pound Hill and Worth. Also open to Horsham if the perfect house came up but given it's only 20 mins drive away happy to also just drive there when needed and have a better commute day to day. How did you find living in Maidenbower?



Thank you - I checked this as had no idea (not something I thought of with it not being near water)! The house we're looking at doesn't seem to be affected at first glance but will definitely be looking into this further.

Maidenbower was a nice area... given it is Crawley I was sceptical! I would say it's a fair walk into town if that bothers you but no plane noise there. Horsham is a far nicer town than Crawley but stupidly expensive. I house hunted in Horshsm but ended up in Chichester where I grew up probably one of the nicest cities anywhere (I love west witt and the countryside to the north ) anyway I digress...

 

[Horizon22]

Didn't intend on causing so much conversation on pre vs post COVID commuting! I thought I'd ask for pre to see how busy it has been at its peak (hoping it won't go back to that for a long time / ever).

I hopefully won't be commuting in everyday (maybe 3 times a week) and my husband even less but as I tend to work quite long hours in the office it's good to have a decent commute.

If you work long hours can you stagger at least one of the sides of the commute? Not going in for 9 and/or coming back at 5-6, will get you a much better chance of grabbing a seat.

 

[radamfi]

Horsham, IMO, is overrated. The town centre is obviously more historic than Crawley, but in terms of day to day living, Crawley is a lot more convenient. There is very little plane noise in Crawley in the places where people live as the flightpath runs west to east. Maybe the new area of Forge Wood gets some noise but means you could walk to Gatwick or at least to City Place and get frequent buses to Gatwick. However the house prices there are pretty astronomical.

Is it even worth living somewhere as near to London as Crawley if you will be commuting so infrequently? I moved here 20+ years ago for the train service but now I wouldn't think it would be worth it and would probably live somewhere north of London, maybe somewhere on the East Cost Main Line or in East Anglia.

 

[James Wake]

Hello from a Crawley resident in Northgate! As mentioned the plane noise isn’t an issue in the town, you might hear them in the distance on a cold morning/evening but normally we can’t hear them. The trains pre-Covid as mentioned the best trains to get were the ones originating from Horsham, whilst busy later, from Three Bridges you can get a seat easily at either end of the train. There are also some Thameslink services that start at Gatwick and used to be a few starting/finishing at Three Bridges. At the moment train loadings are light so you won’t have a problem if you need to travel at the moment. Northgate is nice too, I’m on the eastern side so 15-16 min walk to Crawley or 18-20 min walk to Three Bridges, so might be worth looking around this way for houses too