The right kind of snow
Southern Trains have suspended all services due to the snow, according to ThisisLondon.
All buses have been withdrawn from service too.
Looks like its a Hilly Fields day today. If anyone gets any great photos of Brockley in the snow today, please feel free to send them to us and we'll publish them here.
Why oh why didn't we have the foresight to buy a sledge?
90 comments:
I got up early and wandered over to Hilly Fields and took bad phone camera photos:
Here!
Yep, I strolled over to the station on the off chance at 07:15. Shut, and obviously no trains had been through for a while. Will it even open tomorrow?
I went to Paul's cafe on the way back and had a fry-up. Only managed about half of the unspeakable sausage but I rather enjoyed leaving a message at work that I was not coming in.
Use a tea-tray, works fine.
See you all at Hilly Fields!!!!!
Crofton Park doesnt seem to have any trains running into London.
Can someone confirm if the situation is the same for Brockley?
Cheers!
Oops didn't read the post properly. Seems that Southern have suspended all services so that's Brockley closed then!
Alex, that's what the article says!
And then Monkey boy confirms it!
How much more proof do you need?
I know, I know! The cold is obviously having an effect on my brain!
Anyone know about trians fron New cross and Lewisham? Can't get onto Southeastern Railway's website
All Southeastern services are suspended
When I last looked on the web the DLR was OK - but disrupted.
And presumably even more over-crowded.
If you can get to Lewisham I'll be impressed. I got as far as Lewisham Way, discovered that the pavements were already compacted and really slippery so came back! And that was 8am, so they'll be worse by now.
BBC London radio are probably your best bet for travel news. They've got entended bulletins and knew that Southern and Southeastern weren't running.
Brockley Central snowball fight on Hilly Fields anyone?
If you have the shoes or rather boots for it you can walk without too much difficulty. I've just walked three miles, so am feeling about as smug as I've ever felt in my life. A bit less smug thinking that I will have to do it in reverse a bit later, though.
Yeah, I had my hiking boots on but after I'd fallen over on Lewisham Way decided to call it quits. Didn't fancy trying to walk up the hill later either.
Walking through the snow on Hilly Fields, that was fine.
Hilly Fields is full of people sledging already! A few shots from Montague Ave. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddequincey/sets/72157613261706896/
Oh, is it too tricksy for hiking boots? Damn, that was my plan. Oh well, will give it a go.
Just saw a gritter going round, by the way.
Well I have weak ankles and sprain them at the drop of a hat, so I just wasn't prepared to risk. Especially when I knew no one else was in work!
I'm desperate to go out and muck around for a bit. Are other people about? I don't want to hit myself with snowballs!
My photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31204156@N00/tags/snow/
Trudged to Ladywell Station and saw that the snow was higher than the tracks! And no buses, either. Ended up having a very nice fortifying tea at Oscar's and then coming back home.
managed to cycle from Brockley to the Elephant at about 8am - but we are now shitting for the day & I am being sent home :-))
whoops that should be SHUTTING
{{blush}}
the dlr is running you loafers.
Happy, happy, joy, joy, snowball fight anyone? Conservation area v westsiders?
You lot are lightweights, I am sat at my desk in Mayfair.
Set off at 7am for WestEnd.
Walked to Lewisham.
DLR to Canary Wharf - suspended to Bank.
Jubilee to London Bridge - suspended beyond.
Walked to Monument.
District Line to Westminster.
Walked through St James and Green Parks - could have done with a camera.
Only took three hours....
Not sure how I will get home though - any sugestions welcome!
Teleport or stay in the Ritz overnight...
Actually once the gritters have been round - and they are now doing the roads around Telegraph Hill - they may well be running the buses - at least the routes along the main roads.
Nuff respect TM
Done as much as I can in the office so I'm taking work home.
Lets see how long it takes going the other way....
Good luck TM!
Buses are starting to run now, apparently. Also the Tube is aiming to have most lines running by evening rush hour.
What do we think the prospects are for tomorrow?
Fair play to Tyrwitt Michael. That's the sort of Durnkirk spirit us brits need to be showing...
...instead we exhibit latte-sipping, mung-bean eating invalidity at weather conditions we've experienced as a country since time began.
If there was a world war today it would be brought down by health and safety violations.
Prospects for tomorrow in terms of trains are bleak in my opinion. If the trainlines themselves are a problem how will they get any better by tomorrow? More snow is falling, doesn't look like melting so theoretically there the tracks should be worse.
Buses on the other hand will probably be fine by tomorrow.
I have never been more glad that I brought my work laptop home over the weekend!
Kate, did you not attempt a trip into work today? I think earlier you mentioned you were going to try the 'hike'!
Very brave in my opinion!
I went to the park, Andy.
Question - if you knew you would lose a day's pay by not turning up, would you have made more effort to get into work?
is it fair (or sensible these days) to make your employer take the financial hit?
I presume drs and nurses managed to get to work...
and we wonder why the FTSE and sterling are plummeting...
Is that question aimed at me in particular, Anon?!
Spot the Daily Mail reader in the thread.
Kate don't bother to answer that troll like question.
If people want to be macho and trek into work in these conditions, with no trains, barely any buses, and barely any grit on the roads, fine, bully for you, you now have a story to bor ahem regale your friends with.
Anon - as Kate mentioned, she brought her work laptop home. Like most people, she's probably interspersed work with a bit of snow angelling on hilly fields today. As good and as productive surely as spending 3/4 hours trying to get to work and having to leave early to make the same long trek home (although TMichael - your bravery/energy is saluted!)
Doctors and nurses are probably allowed to get a taxi to work if that is the only way to do it, and most companies don't want to spend that extra money when with the internet people can work at home...
The good thing about running my type of business is that you can do most of it pretty much anywhere. I have a very flexible job, can work from home pretty much whenever suits me, and have a very hands-off, results-oriented boss. I have indeed been working from home today, but it's been very slow - most people who might want to call/email us are marooned by the snow, you see.
I can quite understand that the weather might be very frustrating if you run, say, a shop and rely on your staff turning up to open the place and take people's cash. But in my line of business, I doubt very much that we'll lose a penny due to the weather. And my colleagues are also working from home - yes, I have checked on them ;-)
The bad thing, I suppose, is the pay.
Another bonus is not having to work with snotty twats like Hugh.
Is it just me or does anyone else spot an inferiority complex? Didn't go one of the top drawer public schools, didn't quiet make it to Oxbridge, missed out on that blue chip firm and now living in Brockers rather then Hampstead.
If your going to perform the pompous lawyer act, a bit of charm is required.
I think the definition of a successful life is carving out the type of lifestyle that YOU want, not society, commenter on blogs or family.
For some 14 hrs are good, for others is about the balance.
Personally I'd prefer to have a balanced life, work hard when needed and ease off when not rather than participate in that presenteeism culture.
A lot of the time people are at work but not working, they're online, on the phone, smoke breaks etc.
When I work its 100 focus.
Come on now, that was pretty funny from hugh.
Actually toy may be right but so many of his posts are snide I judge him accordingly. He's no Stephen Fry, more of a Richard Littlejohn.
Not really, it's old man humour.
No it wans't funny from Hugh at all - just typically crass
My job is very dependent on others in my team, so I was always going to have a fairly wasted day even if I got in as most people come by trains. To be honest, I think work were worried one of us would come a cropper on the way in and end up needing more time off work for a broken leg/arm/etc.
I know what you mean, I think the next 24 hours could potentially be far more dangerous - the trodden-down snow on sloping pavements could cause plenty of broken limbs if it freezes as they're forecasting it will.
Is now an apposite time to suggest that anyone who has elderly or infirm neighbours gets to know them a bit?
More health and safety! People weren't as worried about breaking arms in the war...
Typically, Ladywell is open and offering seats to passengers whereas Brockley has died. Let's make sure we advertise the status of all services in Brockley, eh?
Anyone know how the train service is this morning?
Very reduced in the South East - only one of the lines in from Dartford operating for example. DLR and buses as normal. Only little bit of the tramlink working.
Check out the LBC 97.3 fm travel updates (avoid the rest of it if you can!)
The Southern Railway website is down, natch, but when I checked it at around 6am, it said that there were no trains running via Brockley.
By the way, this is what newspapers are for:
http://tinyurl.com/arg9as
Both Southern and South-Eastern are having website problems.
For those who can't get on, here's what Southern say:
Last updated 07:45 Tuesday 3 February
Due to the adverse weather conditions, Southern will be running a revised service for Tuesday 3rd February. Please note that conditions may still cause problems and train services may be subject to short notice alterations, delays and in extreme cases, some cancellations, Please allow plenty of time for your journey today.
We will be running the following services which are likely to be extremely busy:
A half hourly service between Brighton and London Victoria, calling at Preston Park, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, Redhill, East Croydon and Clapham Junction.
A half hourly service between Purley and London Victoria via Selhurst
A half hourly service between Purley and London Bridge
A half hourly service between East Croydon and London Victoria via Crystal Palace
A half hourly service between Brighton and Seaford
A half hourly service between Bognor Regis and Three Bridges via the Arun Valley Line
An hourly service between Brighton and Southampton
A half hourly service between Brighton and Portsmouth via Littlehampton
A half hourly service between Brighton and Eastbourne
An hourly service between Eastbourne and Ashford International
An hourly service between Eastbourne and Hastings
These services will commence at approximately 05.30.
There will be no services today on the following lines and routes:
Tattenham branch
Caterham
Watford Junction
East Grinstead
Uckfield
Epsom to Horsham via Dorking
Epsom Downs
West Sutton to Wimbledon
Beckenham Junction
South London Lines (London Victoria to London Bridge)
Tulse Hill
Redhill to Tonbridge
Brighton to London Bridge
We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this disruption to Southern services. We are working towards returning our services to normal.
And South-Eastern:
We're aiming to run a limited service today and passengers are advised to check this site before making their journey.
Despite our, and Network Rail's, best efforts it's likely there will be delays and services will be busy so please allow time for you journey.
Staff are working to clear platforms and approach roads of ice and snow but at many stations - particularly smaller unstaffed stations - conditions will be slippery underfoot.
Half hourly between Ramsgate - Charing Cross via Sandwich, Dover, Ashford, Tonbridge
Calling at all stations to Tonbridge, then Sevenoaks, Orpington, London Bridge, Waterloo.
Half hourly between Ashford - Charing Cross via Tonbridge
Running fast to Tonbridge, then all stations to Orpington (including Knockholt etc), then London Bridge, Waterloo
Half hourly between Orpington - Charing Cross
Calling at all stations via Grove Park, Lewisham, then fast from Lewisham - London Bridge
Half hourly between Hayes - Charing Cross
Calling at all stations via Lewisham, including St Johns and New Cross
First train from Charing Cross to Hayes approx 0630
Half hourly between Hastings - Charing Cross via Tunbridge Wells
Calling at all stations to Tonbridge, then Sevenoaks and Orpington and then fast to London Bridge
First train from Charing Cross to Hastings approx 0715
Half hourly between Ramsgate - Ashford via Canterbury West
Calling at all stations
Half hourly from 0530 Ashford - Victoria via Maidstone East
Calling at all stations to Bromley South (including Eynsford, Shoreham and Bickley)
Half hourly between Bromley South - Victoria via Herne Hill
Calling at all stations via Beckenham Junction & Herne Hill
Half hourly between Ramsgate - Victoria via Faversham / Chatham
Calling at all stations to St Mary Cray, Bromley South and Victoria
Half hourly between Dover - Faversham via Canterbury East
Calling at all stations
Half hourly between Gillingham - Cannon St via Dartford/Woolwich/Greenwich
Calling at all stations
Half hourly between Dartford - Cannon St via Bexleyheath/Lewisham
Calling at all stations including St Johns/New Cross
Half hourly between Dartford - Charing Cross via Sidcup/Lewisham
All stations to Lewisham, then fast to London Bridge
Half hourly between Swanley - Victoria via Catford Loop
All stations
The following routes will have NO TRAIN SERVICE on Tuesday 3 February
Sittingbourne - Sheerness (buses will run in place of trains on this line)
Strood - Paddock Wood via Maidstone West
Faversham - Cannon Street fast peak services via Medway/Chislehurst
Plumstead - Cannon Street via Charlton/Lewisham (no services from Charlton - Blackheath & vice versa)
Cannon Street - Cannon Street Metro off peak 'circular services'
Grove Park - Bromley North
Sevenoaks - Blackfriars via Bat and Ball / Catford / Elephant & Castle
Orpington - Bromley South via Petts Wood / Bickley
Dartford - Victoria via Lewisham / Peckham Rye
Service update at 0700
Hayes, Dartford, Bexleyheath, and North Kent routes have icy rail conditions so there's a delay to start of services in these areas. London Buses will accept Southeastern tickets on all reasonable routes.
So that suggests at best around 4 trains an hour from most SE4 stations. And the National Rail website has cancellations and dire warnings for even those services which are supposedly running.
I stuck mostly to my usual routine this morning, left at 5.50am and walked to Lewisham DLR (instead of Brockley Station), caught the jubilee line at Canary Wharf and promptly got to London Bridge.
I even made it to the gym this morning for an 1.5hrs! Now at work, however, my client this week is based in Chatham in darkest kent....
....crap! some people have all the luck!
I was able to complete my normal journey to work although it was a bit hairy walking down tyrwhitt road to get the bus to the DLR. The street cleaners appear to be out gritting the pavements, so I have hopes that I will be able to walk back up the hill this evening without falling flat on my face.
Lewisham was heaving as they'd had to close Lewisham train station (and New Cross) because of dangerous platforms....
I agree with anon-yes people should make the effort to get into work if their absence costs the company money. People bang-on about the credit crunch but are quite a happy to take off days like these fully paid. Obviously if you can work from home-all well and good. For small business owners, such as shopkeepers etc having staff not turn up is a nightmare. They can lose a days trading which could make a big difference to their business.
All of my team members turned up for work because they wouldn't have been paid otherwise. They are also on performance related pay and we only pay statutory sick pay and therefore have very little absenteeism.
I bet if these people who took yesterday off had to get to the airport to go on holiday they would have made it (as long as the flights hadn't been cancelled).
You don't have to be a Daily Mail reader to be of this opinion-just commercially minded.
Employers are constantly being reminded of their obligations to their employees through ever new legislation. Health and Safety Risk Assessments , Equal Oppotunities, Ivestors in People, Maternity Pay, Employers Liability Insurance, Employers National Insurance Contributions, Personal Development, Training etc. All of these things cost the employer time and money to implement. Although these things are of the utmost importance, we should never forget who pays for the implementation of them. The government is constantly burdening the employer with more and more buraucracy and administration costs and it is important for both employees and employers to act responsibly. I am not suggesting for one minute that basic employees rights shouldn't be protected and that things like equal oppotunities, maternity pay etc are not important.
I am saying though that if we want the best conditions and working practices then we all need to make sure we do our utmost to support the business/department etc we are in.
I don't think people need lectures from strangers on the internet about to conduct their working life.
People know how their business works and where the boundaries lies.
Kate, I'm not a snotty twat, I'm a 'smug middle-class wanker', to use your earlier phrase.
She's got a great way with words that Kate!
"I am saying though that if we want the best conditions and working practices then we all need to make sure we do our utmost to support the business/department etc we are in."
There's something very funny about someone posting that at 10:12am on a work day...
Hehe
It's true though.
Hugh, I reckon you manage to be both.
I'm sure you'll bear it, luv.
That's a pretty poor come-back. 3/10, could do better.
I already write better than you. How much can you take?
Hugh just shut up and do some bloody work.
That was from me
Well I am sure we are all waiting with baited breath for the day you set up your own blog.
In the meantime, sadly we'll just have to put up with you carping on other people's. How fulfilling that must be.
I enjoy it!
baited
I'm on your side of this spat, but the image in this spelling error always amuses me. (A)bated. As in holding your breath while waiting in anticipation.
Not sitting there with juicy worms/maggots/whatever sort of bait you catch a Hugh with (cold hard cash, probably) on your tongue.
Kate - when Catman was our troll du jour, I remember you posting in forthright terms that we should not respond, as we were ruining BC. Can I suggest that you ignore Hugh?
cold hard cash. Mmmm
Hugh's comments are like George Bush's speeches, short and easy, nothing that will stretch him too far. Any of his longer comments feel flabby, which I believe led to the 'is this the real Hugh?' debate we had on here a while ago. It's the same Hugh, its just his writing disintegrates after three sentences.
Yes, this is interesting. I really do not think this is the same Hugh, his recent comments are much more harsh and bitter.
Either that or the possible East Dulwich move (which obviously fell through) resulted in him realising that he was actually a down and out poor guy forced to live in the ghetto that is Brockley!
I havn't seen Headhunter post on here over the last few days, I wonder if he is still cycling his way to work....
Perhaps he's looking at new cars.
I contend that Hugh, Welcome to 2008/9 and State the Obvious are the same person.
Here I am. I was ill yesterday, bout of food poisoning. Back at work today - wimped out and took the bus...
That's what I thought about Hugh's comments, they used to be a little less bitter
No they are not. I am actually Tyrwhitt Michael
Kate luv, half the planet has its own blog. Who told you it's a virtue? I can listen to people on their mobiles whenever I want.
TJ - yes you are quite right, feeding the trolls is never a good idea! Especially ones as lame as Hugh.
Nice of you to mock the disabled.
I keep biting my metaphorical tongue, I'm still convinced the fool is a student.
Any news on trains from London Bridge to Brockley this evening?
Paul
I've just found out that the 484 is currently running only from Camberwell to the Honor Oak Estate and back. Can't face Telegraph Hill, it would seem. That would explain why we haven't seen or heard one round here for days.
P4 running more or less normally, I think.
Trains all cancelled by the look of it:
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/tt
South eastern looks OK:
http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/unavailable.html
Oh I'm glad I didn't bother waiting for the 484. I didn't fancy going up that bit in Brookbank Road on a bus....
Go Ladywell!
Would be my perfect station if they had more than 3 copies of the Metro in the mornings
"There's something very funny about someone posting that at
10.12am on a work day..."
Sorry to disappoint Pete, I worked on Sunday and was fortunate enough to have today off instead. So in answer to you-No not very funny at all!
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