Problem getting from Blackfriars to London Bridge on my journey from Gatwick to Orpington

[hi2u_uk]

Hello
I thought that all thameslink services from gatwick stopped at london bridge however this Friday i got the 2333 from gatwick and it did not stop at London bridge instead it eventually got to blackfriars (im sure it was late) . The issue here is that i was aiming to catch a train from london bridge to orpington but missed the last train as by the time i got to london blackfriars it took me a while to figure out how to get to london bridge and i had missed the last train. I eventually found the night bus which meant that it took me over an hour and a quarter to get from central london to home

Am i eligible for any compensation ? Is it normal for this service not to call at london bridge ?

 

[gazthomas]

Yes, it is not timetabled to stop at London Bridge. Sorry, you're on your own

 

[rg177]

Having checked on RTT: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G49710/2019/07/12/advanced

This train was booked to go via Herne Hill rather than London Bridge. It was indeed late and lost 18 minutes en route to Blackfriars, so falls within the GTR compensation threshold, but in terms of onward connections, unless you booked a ticket with an itinerary at the time that showed the service stopping at London Bridge in order to allow you to change, then GTR won't compensate for this.

I can't actually see any further services to London Bridge after the train you caught, so for next time all I can advise is checking before you aim to travel.

 

[JonathanH]

There is a 0053 from Waterloo East to Orpington (0057 London Bridge) on Fridays.

Blackfriars to Waterloo East should be walkable along the South Bank or via Southwark station within the 17 minutes between your arrival at Blackfriars and the departure of this train. Equally Blackfriars to London Bridge is walkable.

The last connection shown on booking sites for a journey from Gatwick to Orpington shows a walk from Blackfriars to London Bridge.

 

[yorkie]

Did you approach staff at Blackfriars? If so, what conversation took place? Was there a map there? Do you have any mobility issues?

There must be something missing!

If I somehow found myself at Blackfriars with no map tools on me, and no-one around to ask how to get to London Bridge, I would walk along the south side of the river in the direction of London Bridge; after a few minutes of walking it would become obvious where the station is. It's a 15 minute walk and you had 25 mins to spare.

If all else failed I'd get a taxi!

 

[etr221]

Looking at the National Rail Journey Planner for this Friday, it does offer Gatwick 2334 to Orpington 0132 via London Bridge, involving a walk from Blackfriars 0021 to London Bridge 0044 (and 15 minutes thence to train departure at 0059) - I would suggest that with a delay like that last Friday, this would not be achieved: but it is an offered itinerary (if not that the OP intended)

 

[hi2u_uk]

Did you approach staff at Blackfriars? If so, what conversation took place? Was there a map there? Do you have any mobility issues?

There must be something missing!

If I somehow found myself at Blackfriars with no map tools on me, and no-one around to ask how to get to London Bridge, I would walk along the south side of the river in the direction of London Bridge; after a few minutes of walking it would become obvious where the station is. It's a 15 minute walk and you had 25 mins to spare.

If all else failed I'd get a taxi!

when i arrived there were no staff at blackfriars from what i could see . The only member of staff i could see was a person from london underground who was busy shutting the doors at the circle and district line and all he said was that you could walk to london bridge and then walked off without explaining how. Ive never been to the area around blackfriars and dont have a clue what side of the thames it is on or the streets around the area and had my suitcase, i also couldn't see any taxi rank or signs outside for how to get to london bridge from blackfriars though maybe i missed them as it was very dark

 

[JonathanH]

It sounds like a bit more direction is needed on these late trains to make it clear that London Bridge or Waterloo is reached from the rear exit from Blackfriars - either is less than 20 minutes walk from there but I could see how someone exiting at the North side of the station may struggle somewhat more.

 

[Saperstein]

I struggled at London Victoria not so very long ago and that was during the day!

Got the tube from Euston and after using 3 or 4 lifts, I emerged out of the wrong exit from the u/g station at Victoria and got lost!

(The signs ect at Victoria were terrible!)

I eventually found my way to the front entrance of Victoria station, but about 4 minutes after departure time of the Brighton-Bound Southern service I was booked on (advance ticket!).

Fortunately, for me, there was signal problems that day near Hayward Heath and my service was cancelled so I managed to get a later train, wasn’t gripped anyway so that was academic.

Now-days I try and go via the WLL (Milton Keynes to
Clapham Junction), takes longer but makes things a lot easier for me.

Saperstein.

 

[hkstudent]

Looking at the National Rail Journey Planner for this Friday, it does offer Gatwick 2334 to Orpington 0132 via London Bridge, involving a walk from Blackfriars 0021 to London Bridge 0044 (and 15 minutes thence to train departure at 0059) - I would suggest that with a delay like that last Friday, this would not be achieved: but it is an offered itinerary (if not that the OP intended)

I think OP may claim 1 hour + delay repay as he missed the last connection involving walking to London Bridge from Blackfriars.
(Also, he may include the oyster / contactless record for the bus journey from Oyster online to claim the fare for the bus)

(Grace period for the delay was only 3 minutes in NR journey planner)
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/servi...ndResponseId=4&isOutboundJourneySelected=true

For next time, for missing last train, request an alternative transport arrangement from London Bridge Station.

 

[hi2u_uk]

To be honest I had no idea that there were two exits at Blackfriars and I don't remember the last time I was actually there

It sounds like a bit more direction is needed on these late trains to make it clear that London Bridge or Waterloo is reached from the rear exit from Blackfriars - either is less than 20 minutes walk from there but I could see how someone exiting at the North side of the station may struggle somewhat more.

 

[hi2u_uk]

I have just been issued with a a 90p compensation payment for being delayed for 15mins arriving at blackfriars station , should i go back to them and say that i want compensation for one hour delay .

I didnt buy a national rail ticket and was just using oyster card if that matters

 

[yorkie]

The train departed London Bridge on time at 0059; you arrived into Blackfriars at 0036 (18 mins late).

The minimum connection time is 36 mins; you originally had 41 minutes to make the change, so it was a valid connection.

Had your train been on time you would have had sufficient time for the connection, and arguably the delay resulted in you having insufficient time.

Therefore you are entitled to Delay Repay for a journey from Gatwick to Orpington of more than one hour, as the bus arrived at your destination over an hour late.

 

[hkstudent]

I have just been issued with a a 90p compensation payment for being delayed for 15mins arriving at blackfriars station , should i go back to them and say that i want compensation for one hour delay .

I didnt buy a national rail ticket and was just using oyster card if that matters

I think the OP can go to "add details" options in Thameslink delay repay, to get a human response, and mentioned the intended taking of service to Orpington, and also attach the oyster screenshot of bus fare.
Claim both the bus fare paid and the remaining fare from Gatwick Airport to Blackfriars.

 

[hi2u_uk]

Thanks i have sent an email to them highlighting these issues