I was going to suggest that it might be possible for people who are anxious about the risk of passing trains to wait away from the platform until the Uckfield trains pass but I note that there is only four minutes between Uckfield trains and the following train from East Grinstead and I guess people might be equally anxious about not being at the back of the queue to board the East Grinstead train.
It's perfectly possible for them to wait further back from the platform, given that the queue will form a scrum around the doors anyway.
I get that standing on a platform whilst a fast train passes can cause anxiety but I don't think that is a reason not to run them.
Agree
I would imagine that the pathing doesn't allow a stop at Woldingham because the Milton Keynes train leaves East Croydon in between the departure of the Uckfield and East Grinstead trains although there are occasions when the Uckfield is ahead of schedule enough to go out in front of the Reigate to Victoria service.
It's also the issue of headway. The ex-EG train usually departs Oxted 3.5 minutes behind the Uckfield train, which is the headway for non-stop trains. If the Uckfield train stops at Woldingham, the gap at Oxted needs to be 5.5 minutes. Either you move the Uckfield train earlier (and break the single line crossings) or you move the EG train later (and break it's path crossing to the Fast Line at Selhurst).
When the DMU's are replaced on the Uckfield line could the services make an additional stop at Woldingham as it has vey narrow platforms which get very crowded during busy rush hours and some of the passengers have told me they don't always feel safe waiting on the platform when the Uckfield trains rush through at speed could this be addressed or do they still have to stick to a strict timetable.
Short answer is not if the current timetable stays as is. However, if the Croydon Remodelling happens (or certain parts of it) and new units are introduced, there is a slim chance the change could happen. However, you would need to convince Southern (or whoever is specifying the service by that time) that the benefits of doing so are worth the extra inconvenience to Uckfield-Line passengers who will now have longer journeys.
Looking on google images, Woldingham station seems to have relatively narrow platform extensions, but the central portion seems to be set back as far as any other station. If I were in your position I would probably look to engage with Southern about improving the station environment, rather than adding stops in. Widening the platform ends, placing shelters a safe distance away, and improving signs for the standback distance are all options.
