NO TRAINS TODAY!

[Nickerbockers]

Just a heads up - don't try and get anywhere on this lovely weekend day because there are NO TRAINS WHATSOEVER from Sydenham Station. Why when I checked the train times yesterday the information wasn't on the National Rail website is beyond me, but there you go. I arrived there for my day out today, only to see the sign, and a rude woman serving people shouting at the people who had missed the sign and sailed through the barriers to go get their train... she was VERY rude!!!

While I was there all sorts of people were turning up and finding out via this sign that there were no trains - yes there was a 'replacement bus service' but who is gonna try and bus it to Central London on a Saturday?? So don't go near Sydenham Station today, I'm just giving you the prior warning that I didn't have!!

[Ronski]

It could have been advertised much better i.e. on both platforms all week. I never trust the trains these days on weekends, try the tfl site as well

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/

You could get a train from Penge, only 10mins on the 176 then get the tube into town?

Not much help now but Barty did post yesterday as well
http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... 8048e05aa8

[Nickerbockers]

Sadly, I didn't see that post from Barty. It was good of him, he's very good at keeping us all informed, but to be fair it shouldn't be down to him, Southern should be telling us themselves.

I cancelled today's plans, had to book them for another day - a day I hope I can travel!!!!

[sydeman]

Not that i am one to give too much support to the railway companies, but i needed to check train times online on thursday for travelling on Saturday, and when the results came up, it did say that this local part of the route had a bus replacement service. I also saw it at the station i think again on Thursday, on the screens in the ticket office.

[admin]

Barty/Nasaroc,

Does next year's arrival of the East London Line mean we can expect increased weekend works activity beforehand as tracks, stations and signalling are prepared or checked?

Admin

[Cathy]

(this morning) 8.08 fast to London Bridge yipeeeeeeeeeeee - gets my vote any day

[Barty]

Sadly, I didn't see that post from Barty. It was good of him, he's very good at keeping us all informed

Awww thanks I do try

i needed to check train times online on thursday for travelling on Saturday, and when the results came up, it did say that this local part of the route had a bus replacement service. I also saw it at the station i think again on Thursday, on the screens in the ticket office.

Well spotted, sydeman. There is always a poster up on the station with details of engineering work - the forthcoming weekend is shown in detail, with a map of affected areas, and a summary of the next few weekends is underneath. Also, we put info on the big screen in the booking hall, and a few words on the little yellow screens on the platforms about the coming weekend's engineering work a few days before, so that commuters can catch it. Sometimes, though, the process of putting this information onto the screens can be delayed by disruption earlier in the week - the same staff who deal with putting info about day-to-day disruption on the screens also deal with putting the weekend engineering info on, so if there is serious disruption in the week, the engineering stuff may not appear till weds or thurs - we just don't have time to do so as early as we would like, so apologies for that.

Does next year's arrival of the East London Line mean we can expect increased weekend works activity beforehand as tracks, stations and signalling are prepared or checked?

I'm not sure, to be honest. Much of the infrastructure is in place aready. Checking can be done overnight, with any works to repair anything that's been found scheduled as necessary. That said, I know that works have been taking place at West Croydon (to make an additional platform available I think) and of course at New Cross Gate - where I believe a depot for the new LOROL trains is being built.

[dickp]

While I always check the boards at the station for engineering works, one thing I have learned not to trust is the "live train information" for Sydenham station on Southern's website.

Many's the time I've sent mates off to Sydenham Station after they've stopped over on Saturday night with the words "yep, I've checked on the internet, and the trains are running." When I get a distressed call from them 15 minutes later, it's clear that the trains aren't - apart from in the brains of Southern's website, of course.

[Weeble]

While I always check the boards at the station for engineering works, one thing I have learned not to trust is the "live train information" for Sydenham station on Southern's website.

I don't know about Southern's website, but I use the live departure boards on National Rail Enquiries regularly, and with the exception of the Big Snow, I've found they're very accurate. I check it most mornings on my phone before I leave the house, so I know not to rush if the train is running a couple of minutes behind schedule.

[Barty]

I cancelled today's plans, had to book them for another day - a day I hope I can travel!!!!

You can find info for the next few weeks' weekend engineering works on Southern's website.

I might have a little look at it myself now to see if anything's affecting Syd in the next few weeks.