Train operator Southern has published details of its Autumn ‘leaf fall’ timetable.
From Monday 03 October, a small number of weekday morning peak services will start their journeys a few minutes earlier to ensure that they arrive at their final destinations on time. The timetable will be in place until Friday 09 December.
Southern’s Development Director, Alex Foulds said:
“Autumn poses a risk to a very small number of our rural routes which can be vulnerable to poor rail conditions due to leaf fall. We are making the changes to reduce this risk by starting some services a little earlier than usual.”
Southern’s records show that the routes affected by the changes are ‘particularly susceptible to heavy leaf fall in the areas prior to joining the Brighton Main Line’.
By starting a few minutes earlier at both the departure station and at stations on the way to the Brighton Main Line, any late running caused by slippery rails should be negated, allowing the train to reach its final destination on time.
Some changes will be made to the following weekday morning routes:
- Tattenham Corner to London Bridge
- Tattenham Corner to London Victoria
- Caterham to London Bridge
- Caterham to London Victoria
- Horsham (via Dorking) to London Victoria
- East Grinstead to London Victoria
- East Grinstead to London Bridge
- Uckfield to London Bridge
- Redhill to Tonbridge
- Tonbridge to Redhill.
Mr Foulds added: “We know how important it is for our passengers to have the confidence that they will arrive at work on time, and by starting these trains a little earlier, we should be able to achieve this.”
A few services coming out of London will arrive at their final destinations slightly later than normal to allow for poor rail conditions once they leave the Brighton Main Line.
Just 3% of journeys on Southern are affected by the changes.
