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/LONDON TRAIN TIMES (SOUTHERN RAILWAY)

To East Croydon, & London Victoria, (London Bridge (LB)): Weekdays: 06.15, 06.43(LB), 07.06, 07.18(LB), 07.36, 07.48(LB), 08.06, 08.18(LB), 08.36, 08.46(LB), 09.06, then 36 and 06 mins past hour until 23.06 (LB train: 18.46). Saturdays: 07.06, 07.36 and then 06 and 36 mins past hour until 23.06. Sundays: 08.41 and then 41 mins past hour until 23.41. To London Bridge - No direct services Saturdays & Sundays.

From London Victoria to Riddlesdown: Weekdays: 05.53, 06.24, 07.32, 08.53, 09.23 and then 53 and 23 mins past hour until 23.24 & 23.49. Saturdays: 06.23, 06.53 and then 23 and 53 mins past hour until 23.24 & 23.49. Sundays: 07.34, and then 34 mins past hour until 22.34.

From London Bridge to Riddlesdown: Weekdays: 07.03, 07.19, 08.02, 08.25, 17.15, 17.44, 18.16 & 18.47. Saturdays & Sundays: No direct Services.

From East Croydon to Riddlesdown: Weekdays: 06.10, 06.41, 07.11, 07.17, 07.34, 07.52, 08.16, 08.41, 09.10, 09.40, 10.10 then 40 and 10 mins past hour until 17.30, 17.41, 17.58, 18.11, 18.31, 18.41, 19.01, 19.11, 19.40, 20.10, 20.20, 20.40, 21.10, 21.40, 22.10, 22.40, 23.10, 23.41, 00.10. Saturdays: 06.40, 07.10 then 40 & 10 mins past hour until 23.41 & 00.10. Sundays: 07.58 & then hourly until 22.58.

FOR FULL TIMETABLE FOLLOW THIS LINK

The current Riddlesdown (Southern) train timetable
(Scroll down the list presented and click on the East Grinstead and Oxted to Croydon and London link.(No 18)
Then download the PDF file indicated.)

Southern Customer Services: Tel: 08451 272920

www.southernrailway.com/

National Rail Enquiries: Tel: 08457 484950,

www.nationalrail.co.uk

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON OYSTER CARDS

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON FARES AND TICKETS IN LONDON

LOCAL BUS ROUTE AND TIMES

Local Bus Route and Frequency

Bus 412 (Arriva)

The 412 starts/ends at West Croydon Bus Station and travels along Wellesley Rd, Katharine Str, High Str, South End, Selsdon Rd, Upper Selsdon Rd, Addington Rd (stop for Selsdon), Rectory Park, Mitchley Ave, Downs Court Rd, Godstone Rd, & ends/starts at Brighton Rd, Purley Hospital.

Frequency Weekdays & Saturdays: Early; 20 mins, Peak; 15 mins, Daytime; 15 mins, Evenings; 20 mins, Late Evenings; 30 mins. Frequency Sundays; 30 mins.

Full Timetable for 412, follow this link to Tfl website and insert 412 in Bus timetable - route number Link

Enquiries: TfL http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2605.aspx Phone: 0845 300 7000

Arriva London Tel 0845 300 7000 (0800-2000 Monday to Friday)

Website: www.arrivalondon.com/

Tfl - All Buses In & Around Purley - Link

(Sources: Trains: Southern Trains; Buses: Transport for London (TfL). Timetables change, so, if in doubt, check with the operators. The RRA can not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information.)

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An Important update from John Rapp (RRA Transport Member - 1 October 2011) about train and bus services in Riddlesdown

There have been many reports in the media concerning the Report written by Sir Roy McNulty, new trams for Croydon, and the problems that snow and ice cause. The Committee of the Riddlesdown Residents' Association feel that some comments on what is to be provided locally before the Olympics will be appreciated.

The McNulty Report talks about savings being achieved by the 2018/2019 Tax Year. He has looked at what the UK Rail System does and what it should be doing in the future. One jargon phrase associated with change is "efficiency savings."

This introduces the concept that for any business the costs of providing products can be more closely related to what is being provided with some product lines, and associated base costs (staff, premises, and services bought in) being curtailed and some product lines being expanded so that as more product is sold each unit cost is reduced, and that increased attractiveness produces more sales.

The Beeching Report resulted in many miles of rail route being lost and an increase in car usage. Circumstances are different now, with many projects completed, more with funding allocated, and an infectious public enthusiasm for more (a wish for work to start after 2018 to extend the Croydon Tram System to Sutton).

Background and comments about the future are both useful, but what are the immediate benefits?

We are benefiting from the understanding is that as more people use public transport, that is convenient and not over-loaded the seeds will be sown for future use to become natural. I am thinking about suitable services being provided - we understand that the 412 bus route will continue (formal confirmation awaited) to serve Purley Hospital, the Whitgift Centre, and West Croydon Bus Station (continuing to provide links to onward services) - and the expansion of step free access provision. Major work is to take place at Victoria Underground Station to provide a new Northern Ticket Hall - with lifts to platforms.

Attracting more leisure passengers can be supported by better commuter services, and we have heard that from the 11 December 2011 Timetable changes certain Monday to Friday peak trains will be longer. Using start times from East Grinstead and London (Riddlesdown is reached approximately 30 minutes after those start times) we will enjoy: -

From 11 December 2011

Morning Services To London - Weekdays

05:58 – To London Victoria (fast Oxted to East Croydon) – Twelve Coaches

06:49 – To London Bridge – Twelve Coaches

07:07 – To London Victoria - Eleven Coaches

07:19 – To London Bridge – Twelve Coaches

07:37 – To London Victoria - Ten Coaches

07:49 – To London Bridge – Twelve Coaches

09:07 – To London Victoria – Eleven Coaches

Evening Services To East Grinstead - Weekdays

16:23 – From London Victoria – Ten Coaches

17:15 – From London Bridge – Nine Coaches

17:44 – From London Bridge - Twelve Coaches

17:53 – From London Victoria – Eleven Coaches

18:16 – From London Bridge - Twelve Coaches

18:23 – From London Victoria – Eleven Coaches

18:53 – From London Victoria – Ten Coaches

The trains on Saturdays from 17 December 2011 have various lengths throughout the service time.

From London Victoria to East Grinstead -Saturdays

05:23 – Six Coaches

05:53 – Hourly service before 06:23

06:23 – Four Coaches

06:53 – Four Coaches

07:23 – Six Coaches

07:53 – Six Coaches

08:23 – Six Coaches

08:53 – Four Coaches

09:23 – Four Coaches

09:53 – Six Coaches

10:23 – Six Coaches

10:53 – Six Coaches

11:23 – Four Coaches

11:53 – Four Coaches

12:23 – Six Coaches

12:53 – Six Coaches

13:23 – Six Coaches

13:53 – Four Coaches

14:23 – Four Coaches

14:53 – Six Coaches

15:23 – Ten Coaches

15:53 – Six Coaches

16:23 – Four Coaches

16:53 – Four Coaches

17:23 – Six Coaches

17:53 – Ten Coaches

18:23 – Six Coaches

18:53 – Four Coaches

19:23 – Ten Coaches

19:53 – Six Coaches

20:23 – Four Coaches

20:53 – Six Coaches

21:23 – Four Coaches

21:53 – Ten Coaches

22:23 – Six Coaches

22:53 – Four Coaches

23:24 – Six Coaches

From East Grinstead to London Victoria - Saturdays

06:37 – Six Coaches

07:07 – Six Coaches

07:37 – Four Coaches

08:07 – Four Coaches

08:37 – Six Coaches

09:07 – Six Coaches

09:37 – Six Coaches

10:07 – Four Coaches

10:37 – Four Coaches

11:07 – Six Coaches

11:37 – Six Coaches

12:07 – Six Coaches

12:37 – Four Coaches

13:07 – Four Coaches

13:37 – Six Coaches

14:07 – Six Coaches

14:37 – Six Coaches

15:07 – Four Coaches

15:37 – Four Coaches

16:07 – Six Coaches

16:37 – Ten Coaches

17:07 – Six Coaches

17:37 – Four Coaches

18:07 – Four Coaches

18:37 – Six Coaches

19:07 – Four Coaches

19:37 – Six Coaches

20:07 – Four Coaches

20:37 – Ten Coaches

21:07 – Six Coaches

21:37 – Four Coaches

22:07 – Ten Coaches

22:37 – Four Coaches

Sunday – all hourly trains will be Six coaches.

We look forward to hearing that these changes prove popular?!

Bus routes 312, 412 and X26

Please click here for information from Transport for London on these routes.

(This will bring up a PDF file for which you need Adobe PDF Reader.)

UPDATE 26/9/11 - John Rapp (RRA Transport Committee Member) reports, “As a result of the petition presented to the Mayor on 20 July ‘11, the Mayor has confirmed to Steve O’Connell (Assembly Member) by letter on 23 Sept, that the proposed merger of the 312 and 412 bus routes will now not take place.”

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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Transport Report - taken from The Recorder, October 2011 by John Rapp

This October I have lots of news to share with you.

We are living in progressive and uncertain times with news still awaited on the proposed (to which many have objected) changes to the 312 and 412 bus routes. The hope is that the 312 route will continue to run between South Croydon and Norwood Junction, and we will still be able to go to Purley Hospital and West Croydon Bus Station (with easy access to the Whitgift Centre) using the 412 service.

I do know that when work is completed (2016/2018) on the Thameslink Project (Blackfriars Station rebuilding is due to finish this year with passenger-impacting work starting at London Bridge Station after the Olympics) there will be around 24 trains an hour each way between Blackfriars and St Pancras International stations. The station that is mentioned less is Farringdon. When both Thameslink and Crossrail are running Farringdon will be the busiest station in the Country with 140 approaching trains each hour. What does this mean for us?

When London Bridge work starts station capacity will be reduced, by the need to take platforms out of use, during the rebuilding work. This, coupled with the re-activation of the East London Line which, extended to Crystal Palace and West Croydon, has reduced train paths between Norwood Junction and London Bridge. The solution is to lengthen the trains that can run into London Bridge from this December. Our commuters will have noticed longer platforms at Sanderstead. Upper Warlingham, Oxted and East Grinstead are receiving the same treatment – and I have received indications that all will be ready for December. The longer trains will still stop at Riddlesdown with Selective Door Opening (SDO) used to allow safe boarding and alighting.

There is a determination to keep trains running in adverse conditions with conductor rail heating systems installed at all East Grinstead line stations before this winter. The speed with which the water main-burst landslide problems were overcome earlier this year is an indication of Network Rail‟s determination to provide the needed infrastructure for good train running.

While no one has confirmed specific morning services that are to be twelve coaches, my belief is that we are looking at 06:45, 07:18, 07:48, and 08:18 all to London Bridge.

Please keep using public transport and share your feelings to make services better. In this context no one has mentioned giving us more than our current hourly Sunday service.

IS RIDDLESDOWN STATION TO LOSE IT’S STAFFING COVER ?

Updated 16 September 2011

One in four railway ticket offices in England and Wales could close under recommendations in a Government-commissioned report, a transport union has warned.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said a "hit list" of 675 stations could be left unstaffed. The report, drawn up by Sir Roy McNulty, recommends the replacement of ticket offices with machines.

A Department for Transport spokesman said it was considering the report. "Any of his proposed changes to rail fares or ticketing will be examined as part of a Government review," he added.

TSSA officials said they only discovered the recommendation to scrap hundreds of ticket offices when they read the full report on how to achieve savings in the railway industry, which runs to hundreds of pages.

The TSSA said those on the list were all listed as "category E" stations (which Riddlesdown is), serving fewer than 250,000 passengers a year and where ticket offices open for less than 10 hours a day, usually in the morning and evening peak hours. The other local stations affected are Kenley, Coulsdon Town Centre (Smitham), Reedham and Woodmansterne. Ticket machines are available at these stations.

The Government is expected to respond fully next month (October 2011) to the report, which maintained that the railway industry could make savings of £1bn a year.

Our Transport Committee Member, John Rapp reports, following the East Surrey Transport Committee meeting on 14 September 2011:

“the McNulty Report is a report for Government consideration, and that Southern Railway is committed to keeping its ticket offices open as required by its Franchise. There is also the fact that such reports take some time to work through the system and suggestions are never guaranteed to become reality.

As you know Riddlesdown is staffed from the first to the last train by Akil , Paul and Isaac, who do not just sell tickets but also spend time caring for what is National Property used by Southern with Network Rail Support to provide services.”