Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern, Thameslink etc) have just published their timetable plans for the entire network, and it doesn't seem particularly good for us in Sydenham.
For the "Sydenham route" as they put it, GTR plan to continue the London Bridge to London Victoria service (with Sunday services), however the Caterham service is proposed to be diverted to West Croydon, meaning losing the direct link to East Croydon and even more trains to West. GTR say that this will mean 1,600 people will have to change at Norwood Junction. Caterham trains will join/split the Tattenham Corner trains at Purley, making them fast between Norwood and London Bridge.
GTR admit Thameslink services for the Sydenham route would be very popular but, Thameslink services calling at Sydenham they say is too difficult, mainly because of the number of LO trains and direct services to Charing Cross can't be re-instated because of too many Southeastern services:
There seems to be no proposals for the 24hr Thameslink services (yes, they have been 24hrs years before the night tube) to call at Sydenham either, while the Thameslink services which call at Penge East and Sydenham Hill at peaks is still planned to be withdrawn.Analysis has also revealed that passengers travelling from stations between Norwood
Junction and New Cross Gate (shown as the Sydenham route on the graph), in many cases
travel beyond London Bridge to stations such as London Charing Cross, London Blackfriars,
City Thameslink, Farringdon, London St Pancras International and beyond. Whilst this route
ranked third in terms of passengers travelling to Thameslink stations London Overground are
expected to operate additional services to meet this demand. Introducing Thameslink trains
on this route is not appropriate due to the direct interaction with other high frequency trains on
the East London Line and a lack of suitable turnaround facilities. Equally there is insufficient
track capacity between London Bridge and Charing Cross due to the intensity of
Southeastern Kent services so these options are not proposed in this consultation as there is
no scope to introduce a direct service. Alternative high frequency Thameslink and
Southeastern trains will be available at London Bridge where passengers will be able to easily
interchange, for onward destinations, between trains using step-free access.
(page 11 of timetable consultation pdf)
Personally I don't believe this is good enough. Whilst the planned extra London Overground trains are welcome, 10 trains per hour to Highbury and 6 to West Croydon and 8 to Palace, at the expense of any Thameslink service doesn't seem like a very good deal.
You can see the whole consultation at the Southern website: http://www.southernrailway.com/your-jou ... nsultation. Please get involved and give your opinions!