Penge Commuting

[leu00so]

Hello - long time lurker first time poster here!

We are currently weighing up a move from Sidcup to Penge specifically for a shorter overall commute and wider array of terminal destinations (and also a slightly more interesting less suburban location - not worried about schools at least in the short-medium term).

We work in the City but have meetings around town so the daily commute destination can vary. And we tend to enjoy being in central or east London at weekends.

Can anyone comment on the reality day to day? Whilst 20 minute journeys sound good on paper, how reliable are the trains in practice? And what is the quality of the commute like - eg. standing room only? And do you feel like you have lots of route/connection options so you can play things relatively fast and loose, or do you feel constrained to a route in reality.

Some observations from people on the ground who use Penge West and East regularly would be most appreciated!

Penge east goes to Victoria, I usually have to stand both directions at peak hours and they are often late especially leaving Victoria. Where do you need to get to.

Penge east also goes to blackfriars and West goes into London Bridge. You'll have to get buses or tubes to get into central and east London. The bromley news shopper often has articles about travel and you can look at south eastern train sites. You've also got anerley, beckenham and crystal palace stations.

Thanks so much for reply HappyHammy!

This is my big fear - Southeastern trains are not reliable from Sidcup so I suspect in reality Penge being slightly faster on paper won't make any tangible difference. I typically go to the Bank area day to day so Blackfriars is OK but losing a direct link to Cannon Street and fewer overall trains to London Bridge might work out worse for me.

Less worried about weekends because I can be flexible, but if I'm not mistaken isn't there are an overground direct to, say, Dalston, from Penge West?

There is a direct service from penge west to dalston, look at the trainline site to see where it stops. I know it goes via shoreditch.

There is one train about 8.10 from PW to Fenchurch Street, why did you choose Penge in particular.

In terms of choosing Penge, I wouldn't say it's definitely the preferred option yet.

But I came for a look around because it stood out as somewhere in South London within striking distance of family in Kent, but with a decent array of transport options for work and weekends, a less suburban feel than Beckenham/Bromley and Sidcup, and fewer beards than Crystal Palace.

What about Greenwich?