Transport

One specification of the current Southern Franchise is that London Area Stations are to be staffed from the first to the last train. Riddlesdown Station was classified by Southern as part of the East Grinstead Line for this purpose. Now that it is recognised as a London Area Station, since the beginning of May, staff will be on site whenever trains are running.

Riddlesdown Station is in London's Travelcard Zone 6

RIDDLESDOWN/LONDON TRAIN TIMES

Click here for Southern timetable effective from 23 May 2010 to 11 December 2010

Enquiries: National Rail Enquiries: Tel: 08457 484950, website: www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or www.southernrailway.com/. Southern Customer Services: Tel: 08451 272940

AND SOME LOCAL BUS ROUTES AND TIMES

The 412 starts/ends at West Croydon bus station, passes through High Street/Katherine Street, South Croydon (Swan & Sugar Loaf), Upper Selsdon Road, Selsdon (Farley Road), Sanderstead Church, Riddlesdown (Mitchley Avenue), starting/ending at Tesco's Purley.

Frequencies (mins): Early: 20, Peaks 15, Daytime 15, Evenings 20, Late evenings 30. (Sundays 30).

First and last: from West Croydon: weekdays and Saturdays: 0620, 2355;

Sundays: 0655, 2355.

from Tesco’s weekdays and Saturdays: 0552, 2327; Sundays: 0627, 2327.

The 403 starts/ends at West Croydon bus station, passes Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Swan & Sugar Loaf, Sanderstead Station and Church, Hamsey Green, Warlingham Green and Sainsbury’s, Chelsham, Farleigh, starting/ending Chelsham Common.

Frequencies (mins): Early: 20, Peaks 12, Daytime 12, Evenings 15, Late evenings 20. (Sundays 20).

First and last: from West Croydon weekdays and Saturdays: 0530, 2400;

Sundays: 0700, 2400.

from Chelsham Common weekdays and Saturdays: 0530, 2400;

Sundays :0650.2400.

Enquiries: TfL http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2605.aspx Phone: 0845 300 7000
Arriva
Timetable enquiries: 0871 200 22 33.

Customer comments and lost property: 0844 800 44 11

Website: http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/home.aspx

(Sources: Trains: Southern timetable; Buses: Out & About (TfL). Timetables change, so, if in doubt, check with the operators. RRA can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the above information.)

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412 Bus Route to serve Purley Hospital

The Association is delighted to report that after a lot of encouragement, confirmation has been received from Transport for London that from Saturday, 16 October 2010, 412 buses will continue beyond the current termination stop beside the Tesco Store to Purley Stop E (which is the Purley Hospital Stop). On the way back the current stand, in Brighton Road, will continue to be used, with buses going forward to Stop G, by the shops in Brighton Road, to pick up their first passengers.

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Overview of Southern Franchise

Earlier in 2009, Southern happily announced that it had retained its position of operator of services running from Charing Cross Station, London Bridge Station, and Victoria Station within the South Central Area of the National Railway System.

It then said that it is restricted by the Department for Transport’s Invitation To Tender (ITT) system (which specifies the tasks it will perform during the currency of the Franchise).

The start date is 20 September 2009, with an expected end date (five years ten months later) of 20 July 2015 – with the option for an agreed extension of up to two years.

Existing – resulting from Thameslink Project – changes

There have already been some changes concerning dual voltage (a train taking third Rail and overhead electricity supply) operation

Third rail electrification extends to Kensington Olympia on the West London Line; to Farringdon on the Thameslink Line; and to Shoreditch (currently third and fourth rail tube style – severed at New Cross Gate) on the East London Line.

Blackfriars Station is being rebuilt and trains that would have terminated there are being run through, to beyond St Pancras International, to avoid congestion. This means that the Class 319 (original Thameslink stock) needs to be supplemented by as much available Southern Class 377 – 2 (dual voltage) stock (green), and a new build of Class 377 – 5 (dual voltage) First Capital Connect Blue Livery – which is just entering service.

The resulting shortage of Class 377 – 2 stock has resulted in the West London Line service (all stations East Croydon to Milton Keynes) being operated by stock (another different shape – but generally green) borrowed from London Midland.

After 20 September 2009.

What we know.

The initial announcement was that there will be no new trains and there is an investment amount of £76,000,000.00 during the franchise.

While some of the above amount will be spent on stations and behind the scenes areas (maintenance facilities, customer information systems etc) Southern has a programme of receiving trains not needed in other parts of the country and refreshing trains it is already operating to an “as new specification.”

Gatwick Express

It has been perfecting this with the former Wessex Electric (class 442) stock, which after almost complete rebuild is supplementing the Gatwick Express service to give morning and evening peak time services to and from Brighton. A little confusing is the use of Gatwick Express stock to provide trains between Eastbourne and London Bridge. At the time of writing some of the class 442 stock is still to enter Southern service.

Charing Cross

From December 2009 no Southern trains will serve Charing Cross.

May 2010 – Expected Timetable Changes

Caterham and Tattenham Corner trains are expected to operate at the same frequency on the two branches (to and from Purley) and continuing northwards to give half hourly services to London Bridge and Victoria.

The Milton Keynes to East Croydon will terminate at South Croydon rather than East Croydon.

June 2010

East London Line services running at four per hour from Dalston to each of West Croydon and Crystal Palace start.

December 2010

Frequency of Inner London (Southern’s South London Metro Brand) trains increased.

Benefits close to Riddlesdown

Later Friday and Saturday trains to Tattenham Corner – believed starting from Victoria at 23:45 and 00:15

23:05 London Bridge to Uckfield – calling at Sanderstead and Upper Warlingham. Not sure if just Fridays and Saturdays.

December 2011

By this time the platforms at Riddlesdown will have been lengthened to allow twelve coach trains to stop.

When the line to East Grinstead was electrified, the supply installed was for eight coach trains, and therefore the electricity supply also needs to be upgraded before then.

2012 Olympic Year.

London will be on parade and the rebuilt Blackfriars Station will be in use – with platforms over the Thames and access to trains from North and South Banks.

Thameslink work will resume in October 2012. The major project starting then will be the re-building of London Bridge Station.

December 2015

Thameslink, with all building work completed and new trains commissioned and in fleet service, is expected to be running in December 2015.

The Future

We are aware that the expectation is that 20 trains per hour (one every three minutes with computer aided signalling and train control to allow one every two minutes to assist delay recovery) will run in each direction through St Pancras International. Rather than the standard four coach unit to which we are accustomed the new Thameslink stock will be fixed formation eight and twelve coach units.

When Thameslink was in the planning stages (originally called Thameslink 2000), East Grinstead was mentioned as a possible destination. The sheer quantity of railway carriages that will be operating, and the platform length increases, raise hopes of very interesting travel possibilities from Riddlesdown.

John Rapp - August 2009.