Councillor welcomes restoration of rail services lost to lockdown

Southern have just announced that it will be operating a revised timetable from Sunday, September 4 that reintroduces some rail services that were curtailed during the pandemic.

The changes mean additional services will operate through Balham, Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction.

Councillor Clare Fraser said the change was “most welcome if a little overdue”.

She added: “This is good news for rail passengers who use these stations and restores a number of services that were lost during lockdown. It has taken longer than I would have hoped for these services to resume, but I am delighted that we are now going to see an increase in services for our residents.”

Included in the revised timetable are the following services:

Watford Junction to East Croydon
Weekdays
The weekday service between Hemel Hempstead / Watford Junction and Clapham Junction will be extended through to East Croydon, providing additional services at Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst and East Croydon.

London Bridge to London Victoria and London Bridge to East Croydon (all stations)
Seven days per week
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and London Victoria calling at New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Gipsy Hill, West Norwood, Streatham Hill, Balham, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Junction and Battersea Park as eight and ten carriage services.

Epsom to London Victoria via Carshalton
Seven days per week
During peak hours on weekdays four services per hour will run between Epsom and London Victoria via Carshalton as today. On weekdays during off-peak hours and on Saturdays and Sundays, two services per hour will run between Epsom and London Victoria via Carshalton.

Sutton to London Victoria via West Croydon
Sundays
As on weekdays off-peak and Saturdays, a two trains per hour service will run between Sutton and London Victoria via West Croydon on Sundays.

According to the rail company: “This timetable is a starting point to rebuild the railway following the disruption of the past few years….these changes are about matching services to demand, making the most efficient use of resources and the effect of reduced commuting.

“As customers return to rail and when the time is right, we want to see more services added in, so we have a thriving railway, meeting the changing needs of our customers. “

Passengers are advised to check their journeys at www.nationalrail.co.uk for journeys on or after Sunday, September 4.