The Anonymous Widower

Lost South of the Thames

Whenever I go south of the Thames, I get lost. Why this should be I do not know, but its happened to me so many times. It could be that I’m allergic to it, as I was born on the right side of the river.  I summed it up in this post, entitled an Expedition to the Deep South.

Yesterday, all I wanted to do was get to Orpington, so I took the Northern line to London Bridge and tried to find a train.  I knew they are fairly frequent, but the boards were incomprehensible, the Information Desk was closed and it was a question of taking pot-luck.  There was a rumour, that there might be a train on Platform 5, so I went there and waited.

A Train to Which Minster?

A train was going to Orpington first stop, but I had a feeling there was an earlier one on another platform. In the end I waited and caught it.

But which Minster was this train going to?  The one I know is on the Isle of Sheppey.  So I didn’t want to fall asleep and end up there!

What is needed is some simple means to determine which is the platform for the next train to Station X. Perhaps a terminal with times and platforms, but then that would enable people to be at the right gate for their train, instead of waiting in a scrum until it was announced.

I’ve got to go to Gatwick tomorrow, as I’m off to Greece for a few days.  I’m almost tempted to get a train to Croydon on the Overground and then get one to Gatwick from there.  But the East London Line goes to the other Croydon.

I wish my flight was from Heathrow, Stansted or City, as that would be so much simpler

March 21, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | London, London Bridge Station, Trains