Two million passengers used Maze Hill and Westcombe Park stations in 2015/16, and GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway), Southeastern, and the DfT (Department for Transport) have all been consulting on proposed timetable changes which could affect your train service next year.

GTR have consulted about their new 2018 Thameslink timetable, which includes a proposed service via Greenwich giving a direct link to St. Pancras going north, and to Rainham going east. This proposal has been broadly welcomed, and will go some way towards compensating for the permanent loss of the direct services to Charing Cross. Such a service would improve choice for passengers, and provide an interchange at Farringdon with the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) and its services to Heathrow. This consultation is now closed, and the outcome is awaited.

Southeastern are consulting about their timetable from January 2018, when the work at London Bridge is completed and Cannon Street services can stop there again. Unfortunately, the changes proposed are minor and overcrowding on this line is set to get worse. Last year, five peak services were diverted away from Greenwich in each direction and anybody travelling at peak times will know how busy the remaining services are. With trains stopping at London Bridge again, they will get even busier, and the pre-2016 peak time frequency should be restored.

Links to proposed timetables can be found at the bottom of

South Eastern’s Thames Link page

The January 2018 timetable consultation is open until 29 April and comments should be sent to timetablemanagement@southeasternrailway.co.uk.

The DfT’s consultation is about the new franchise, beginning in December 2018. What conditions the DfT attaches to the franchise on service levels, rolling stock, station staffing, and ticketing are of crucial importance to passengers. This consultation provides an opportunity to make the case for extra capacity, improved access for people with disabilities, better regulated evening services and improved communications. In particular the DfT have floated the idea that all services on the Blackheath line should only run to Cannon Street which would mean no more direct services to Charing Cross or Victoria from Blackheath.  This consultation runs until 23 May and more details will be given in the May issue of Westcombe News.  Meanwhile the document can be downloaded on this link:

South Eastern Rail Franchise Consultation Document

Further details and how to respond can be found on the DfT page Future of South East Rail Services

Comments on this consultation can be sent to BetterSouthEastern@dft.gsi.gov.uk by 23 May.