frodshamfella
Established Member
When I was in my teens/20s I started to commute to London. My local station was Bexleyheath, I discovered there was different workings than the usual all stations to Charing Cross except St Johns. The fastest train we had was fast Kidbrook to Waterloo East then Charing Cross. Then there were a few peak services to Blackfriars and Holborn Viaduct. Some services running beyond Dartford to Gravesend or Gillingham, plus some terminating at Barnehurst or routed to Slade Green.
Then I noticed other commuter lines had some interesting services. On the Dartford Loop, trains running fast to Sidcup then all stops to Dartford, with some running further east and dividing at Strood half to Maidstone West and Half to Gillingham. Some services terminated at Sidcup only.
The Hayes line had fast peak services from London Bridge to Ladywell, there were peak service to Bromley North I think fast London Bridge to Grove Park.
Today the operations on most these southern suburban lines seem to me more "metro" like, and actually a bit less interesting. I don't live in the area now, but I just wondered what others thought.
Then I noticed other commuter lines had some interesting services. On the Dartford Loop, trains running fast to Sidcup then all stops to Dartford, with some running further east and dividing at Strood half to Maidstone West and Half to Gillingham. Some services terminated at Sidcup only.
The Hayes line had fast peak services from London Bridge to Ladywell, there were peak service to Bromley North I think fast London Bridge to Grove Park.
Today the operations on most these southern suburban lines seem to me more "metro" like, and actually a bit less interesting. I don't live in the area now, but I just wondered what others thought.