My idea to extend the London Bridge - Epsom service to Guildford every hour

[miklcct]

Huh? If a passenger needs somewhere reached on the Waterloo service they catch that train, and if they need somewhere reached on the London Bridge service, they take that train. What do they need to guess?

I am at Kings Cross. I want to go to Epsom. Which mainline station should I go to?

It's basically a blind guess between Vauxhall (half-hourly service to Epsom), Victoria (half-hourly service to Epsom), St Pancras (half-hourly service via Mitcham Junction) and London Bridge (half-hourly service via Epsom).

In peak hour, Vauxhall is the clear answer because you won't have to wait for long for a train.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

In either case, separate Epsom to London Bridge trains should cease to exist as the route is circuitous, and Epsom to Croydon should be served by extending existing trains terminating at West Croydon to Epsom for local passengers.

As a resident of Epsom, I would disagree with this - quite a lot of people use the London Bridge service because, although it does go a long way round, it's still by far the fastest way of reaching the City from Epsom itself. While the service is around ten minutes slower than the Waterloo service, it terminates much closer to the City than Waterloo which cancel out that difference; there are also far more onward connections - not least to the main Thameslink services.

I do agree that the Thameslink loop should be made every 15 minutes - but that should be in addition to, not in place of, the Victoria services.

Similarly, we most definitely need the 15 minute interval Waterloo service back along with the additional overlaid for extras in the peaks, although this is unlikely to happen before December 2025 because of the rolling stock situation on SWR.

 

[Suliplayz5462]

Interesting, so really the only station that benefitted from the faster service was Sutton.

It would be good if Sutton got its fast Victoria trains back, but I can’t see much point in them continuing to Epsom if they will still be slower than the Waterloo trains. Perhaps they could continue to Epsom Downs instead, with the existing services via West Croydon curtailed at Sutton or Belmont.

Interesting, so really the only station that benefitted from the faster service was Sutton.

It would be good if Sutton got its fast Victoria trains back, but I can’t see much point in them continuing to Epsom if they will still be slower than the Waterloo trains. Perhaps they could continue to Epsom Downs instead, with the existing services via West Croydon curtailed at Sutton or Belmont.

Sutton resident here: We much prefer the London Bridge services as Victoria takes longer to reach and is not as central as LBG.

 

[miklcct]

Interesting, so really the only station that benefitted from the faster service was Sutton.

It would be good if Sutton got its fast Victoria trains back, but I can’t see much point in them continuing to Epsom if they will still be slower than the Waterloo trains. Perhaps they could continue to Epsom Downs instead, with the existing services via West Croydon curtailed at Sutton or Belmont.

My opinion is follows:
2 tph of Victoria - Norbury - Epsom Downs service changes to end at West Croydon. (The other 2 tph continues to Epsom if a 4 tph service is restored.)

London Bridge - Crystal Palace - West Croydon service changes to end at Epsom.

London Bridge - Norwood Junction - Epsom service changes to end at Epsom Downs.

In this way, Epsom retains a London Bridge but gives additional direct access to more of South London, while Epsom Downs benefits from a fast service into the City.

 

[JonathanH]

Epsom Downs benefits from a fast service into the City.

Epsom Downs is at best a backwater. I don't think running the 'fast' London Bridge service to Epsom Downs rather than Epsom would go down very well.

 

[PGAT]

I also dislike the prospect of losing the direct Sutton link and requiring a change at West Croydon from Norbury

 

[renegademaster]

I am at Kings Cross. I want to go to Epsom. Which mainline station should I go to?

It's basically a blind guess between Vauxhall (half-hourly service to Epsom), Victoria (half-hourly service to Epsom), St Pancras (half-hourly service via Mitcham Junction) and London Bridge (half-hourly service via Epsom).

In peak hour, Vauxhall is the clear answer because you won't have to wait for long for a train.

St Pancras being next door surely is the obvious awnser , who wants to faff around on the tube for thr sake of 5 minutes.

 

[Magdalia]

St Pancras being next door surely is the obvious awnser , who wants to faff around on the tube for thr sake of 5 minutes.

Thameslink is so much more civilised than the Victoria Line that there is no contest.

Coming from the Fens and going to Leatherhead/Dorking I miss out Kings Cross, I get Thameslink from Cambridge.

 

[miklcct]

St Pancras being next door surely is the obvious awnser , who wants to faff around on the tube for thr sake of 5 minutes.

Then I wish you luck not waiting for 29 minutes (59 minutes if a Thameslink has been cancelled) for a train.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

My opinion is follows:
2 tph of Victoria - Norbury - Epsom Downs service changes to end at West Croydon. (The other 2 tph continues to Epsom if a 4 tph service is restored.)

London Bridge - Crystal Palace - West Croydon service changes to end at Epsom.

London Bridge - Norwood Junction - Epsom service changes to end at Epsom Downs.

In this way, Epsom retains a London Bridge but gives additional direct access to more of South London, while Epsom Downs benefits from a fast service into the City.

Sending a London Bridge to Epsom service via Crystal Palace would slow it down considerably and annoy a large proportion of the people who use the service.

Epsom Downs is at best a backwater. I don't think running the 'fast' London Bridge service to Epsom Downs rather than Epsom would go down very well.

Agreed.