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The geology of South London made tunnelling for the
underground very difficult which means Sydenham has to rely on suburban trains
for fast access to Central London. Sydenham has three stations on three
different lines:
Sydenham is the main station at the junction of
Sydenham Road and Kirkdale and is 15 minutes from London Bridge with links to
Charing Cross and the City. The trains operate a 10 minute frequency into
London. Trains stop at Forest Hill, Honor Oak, Brockley and New Cross Gate
(connecting to the East London Line). Southbound trains route to East Croydon
for Caterham, West Croydon and up to two trains an hour loop round via Crystal
Palace and Clapham Junction to London Victoria. In the evening the service is
reduced to half hourly and can be overcrowded and uncomfortable. This line was
laid over the route of old Canal and was, for a brief Victorian time, an
experimental' pneumatic railway powerecd by a vacuum created by the Forest Hill
pumping stations.
Sydenham
Station looking towards Forest Hill on a busy Sunday lunchtime.
Lower Sydenham is off Kangley Bridge Road at
Bell Green. Trains run four times an hours weekdays to London Bridge taking 19
minutes.
Sydenham Hill is 'over the hill' on the toll
road down to Dulwich College and Village. Trains usually run half hourly to
London Victoria taking 13 minutes and also to London (Blackfriars).
Penge East used to connect Penge & Sydenham
at the end of Newlands Park. The level crossing operators house is still there
but you can only cross by footbridge now. It is on the same line as Sydenham
Hill seperated only by a tunnel and a fare zone boundary.
Penge East looking towards the tunnel under Lawrie Park
to Sydenham Hill. Just before the tunnel is the bridge carrying the London
Bridge to East Croydon mainline between Sydenham & Penge West
stations.
«For train times
click here to go to the National Rail website».
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