It’s the biggest change to hit Greenwich commuters since the DLR and Tube came to town a decade ago. From 13 December, Southeastern rips up its train timetables and starts again, promising a better service for south-east London’s train passengers.
The changes are a side-effect of some of Kent’s services being switched to the new high-speed line to Stratford and St Pancras, freeing up more room on the congested lines through London Bridge.
They also have the future in mind, preparing passengers for more changes when the Thameslink service is expanded from 2015, when the connection between the Greenwich line and the tracks to Charing Cross is expected to be severed as part of a major rebuild at London Bridge.
Southeastern says the changes have come after a consultation programme some years ago – although most passengers won’t recall being asked what they thought. Some will gain, some will lose out, and teething problems are likely after the timetable’s first major rewrite in decades.
The change also comes in time for the switch to Oyster fares on 2 January.
How does this affect you? greenwich.co.uk has pored over the new timetables to see what you can expect.
Morning rush hour from Westcombe Park (and Maze Hill two minutes later)
The service remains sparse before 0630, with just three early Charing Cross trains before then, leaving Westcombe Park half-hourly from 0527. But then there’s a new train to Cannon Street at 0642, and another at 0658. Then there’s a gap until a Charing Cross train at 0717, meaning some adjustments for early commuters.
Between 0725-0905 there will be still be 10 trains to central London from Maze Hill and Westcombe Park – but they will be more evenly timed, at roughly 10 minute intervals. There’ll be five trains to Charing Cross and five to Cannon Street (instead of six and four).
The 0901 will be the last direct Charing Cross train of the morning – then there’s Cannon Street trains at 0915 and 0927 before the new daytime service kicks in.
Morning rush hour from Greenwich
Until now, Greenwich has had the same service as Maze Hill and Westcombe Park in the morning rush hour. But the new timetable gives Greenwich additional trains, with five new services at 0728, 0750, 0810, 0830 and 0850, all to London Bridge and Cannon Street only.
These are the trains controversially switched from Blackheath to free up more room at Lewisham. Passengers at Charlton will also benefit from these trains.
Once the last direct Charing Cross train has left at 0907, there are Cannon Street trains at 0921 and 0933, then the daytime service begins.
During the day
Greenwich passengers lose Charing Cross trains, but Maze Hill and Westcombe Park passengers gain two extra trains each hour. All three stations now get a train every ten minutes to Cannon Street between 0930 and 1900.
Coming home, trains leave Cannon Street at 27, 37, 47, 57, 07 and 17 past the hour from 0927 to 1627.
Coming home to Greenwich, Maze Hill and Westcombe Park
The evening rush hour timetable is as haphazard as the old one, but with a shift in services towards Cannon Street. There are now just six evening rush hour trains from Charing Cross – at 1645, 1706, 1729, 1750, 1812 and 1835, calling at all stations. Otherwise, you’ll need to change at London Bridge.
If you’re going from Cannon Street to Greenwich – or Charlton – you’re in luck, there’s a train roughly every 10 minutes from 1640 to 1840.
If you’re going to Maze Hill or Westcombe Park, you’re less lucky – it’s every 20 minutes, although these are supplemented by the Charing Cross trains if you change at London Bridge.
After 1845, there’s a train from Cannon Street every 10 minutes to all stations until 2000.
Evening trains
The new timetable sees no boost to late evening trains, with four trains an hour through London Bridge until 2230, then, puzzlingly, the service reduces to two per hour from Charing Cross to coincide with pubs, cinemas and theatres chucking out. Trains run from Cannon Street until 2100.
The last train from Charing Cross is later – at 2356. As now, an additional train calls at New Cross, Lewisham, Blackheath and Charlton at 0015.
Coming into central London, the service is roughly the same.
Saturday trains
Early trains stay every 30 minutes, but from 0800-1900, there are six trains per hour from Westcombe Park, Maze Hill and Greenwich to Cannon Street. There are then four trains until 2030, then back to two trains each hour. Direct trains to Charing Cross run early in the morning and after 1925.
A similar pattern applies from central London, with direct trains from Charing Cross before 0800 and from 1956. Last trains are the same as Mondays to Fridays.
Sunday trains
There’s very little change to Sunday trains, with four trains per hour – two to Charing Cross, two to London Bridge – from Westcombe Park, Maze Hill and Greenwich between 0900 and 1900. Between 0700 and 0900, and after 1900, there are two trains per hour to Charing Cross.
The last train back from Charing Cross is at 2330, followed by the 0015 to New Cross, Lewisham, Blackheath and Charlton.
Want to know more?
The full timetable can be found here – it’s table 7b.
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