Lewisham-Victoria line - missing Brixton and Brockley

[DynamicSpirit]

A couple of times the last month I've ended up travelling on the SouthEastern line from Lewisham to Denmark Hill/Victoria, and realized how useful (and I suspect, underused) this line is, as a way to get round South London, avoiding zone 1.

But I was also surprised to realize the line passes right over (almost flies over ) both Brockley and Brixton stations without stopping - since there are no suitable platforms. Both stations would provide very useful interchanges, making this link much more useful - so it seems a waste that trains don't stop at either station. Especially at Brixton, since the Overground trains can't stop either - preventing them from interchanging with both the Victoria line and trains to Herne Hill/etc.

I'm curious to know whether any thought has been given by TfL or Network Rail to building platforms at Brixton and Brockley to allow Overground/Lewisham line trains to stop?

(You could make a similar argument at Loughborough Junction, though the line there is a bit further from the existing station)

 

[joeykins82]

I think that Brixton has been ruled out because the cost of adding platforms to the viaducts is too high. I assume this is one of those unfortunate, unintended consequences of the DDA. Reopening Brockley high level is more likely in the long term, but looking at aerial photos I'm not sure where the platforms could be situated without incurring CPO/demolition costs and without having to staff a second station entrance. There'd also presumably be funding issues for the moment as it'd only be SouthEastern trains stopping at the high level platforms.

 

[cle]

I think having the Overground at Brixton would be most desirable, but very complex and expensive. I doubt there would be room for the 8 car platforms needed for (Dartford) Southeastern trains there too - and pathing would be tough.

Southeastern trains at Brockley would be slightly easier to engineer, but not massively so - and with much lesser demand. There could be some journeys made quicker (Lewisham and onwards to Croydon? ELL core to Lewisham and on ?) but that's possibly it. The DLL via Shadwell and the ELL at New Cross offer other options already.

Not much from the West as the Overground serves Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye, and Peckham Rye also has Southern trains. And Nunhead is a small market. But I might not be thinking of all of them.

 

[CapitalStar378]

TfL have stated that they'd like to put a station in at Brixton. Apparently experience with building Hoxton & Haggerston stations has made it seem much more possible than before.

 

[30907]

Reopening Brockley high level is more likely in the long term, but looking at aerial photos I'm not sure where the platforms could be situated without incurring CPO/demolition costs and without having to staff a second station entrance.

Not surprising, since the LCDR station closed around 1917! I presume Brockley Lane Goods was used for the development North of the line and West of Mantle Lane bridge.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I think that Brixton has been ruled out because the cost of adding platforms to the viaducts is too high. I assume this is one of those unfortunate, unintended consequences of the DDA.

What about the two lines just to the North of the existing platforms? Could those be used?

 

[cle]

They're on the wrong side for the Overground - would be a major clash. And the westbound 'Atlantic' line cuts into the Herne Hill bound platform so it wouldn't work.

Best would be new platforms built as part of a redevelopment of the tube station/Sainsbury's upper levels - which could help with support and also access routes. A commercial building (offices or a mini mall like Bond St) might allow escalators.

 

[JB25]

Speaking of something similar there is a piece of track I drive over between Sydenham and Penge West... Does anyone know where this goes from and to? I suspect it is a Southeastern line into Penge East?

 

[joeykins82]

I think that's the Chatham Main Line between Sydenham Hill and Penge East

http://carto.metro.free.fr/cartes/metro-tram-london/

 

[user15681]

Indeed, it's the SE mainline out of Victoria.

 

[bicbasher]

While adding platforms at Brockley would be desirable, the station is already served by 2tph to Victoria except Sundays, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill can also be reached by changing at Surrey Quays.

It would be great for connections to Lewisham and beyond without changing for the New Cross stations however.