Southeastern trains in rush hour?

[Devina]

I am looking to go back to work full-time after a looooong gap and have no idea how the London commuting system works any more :) I love the Southeastern connections when I just pop baby on it at a leisurely pace and go into London for a visit to the park/shops in the middle of the day.. but I have never actually taken it during the rush hours!

Does anyone have any experience of commuting on Southeastern into London? Is there any time that works better than the others? I am thinking of travelling to London around 7.30am and back around 4.30pm. Do you usually get seats if you board at Maze Hill/Greenwich?

Southeastern are notorious for cancellations, delays and overcrowding. However, you should be ok at 7.30am.

No sorry you won't get a seat at that time - I used to live near Westcombe Park and often took the train just before 7am to go to an early gym class - I didn't always get a seat even then, and Greenwich/Maze Hill are next along the line. 7.30am is prime rush time - you might get one if you are able to travel after 9am, I usually got a seat on the 9.04 from Westcombe Park. The CAnnon St service is moderately quieter than the charing X one.

Southeastern trains are busy from about 6:30am (if coming from the coast) and tend to queten down shortly after 9am, drastically so after 10am.

4:30 return will be fine as it's usually 5-7 that's worth avoiding on the outbound journey.

Nope, you won't get a seat. Charlton you might sometimes, but by Maze Hill and Greenwich, not a hope. Yup, Cannon Street trains are marginally quieter, but more in a 'squeeze in' way, not a 'get a seat' way.

Boarding at Maze Hill I actually found the tube from North Greenwich better, not least because four trains an hour start there and so you do normally get a seat on those trains.

Home likely to be fine.

Thanks all - my office is next to the Cannon Street station, so tempted to take the train rather than the jubilee line. DLR to Bank may be another option. As long as I can squeeze in, it might be okay. London Bridge to Cannon Street should be really quiet I guess - so it's just 10 mnts or so on the train.

emsyj - I am also looking at lunchtime yoga sessions - did you do one near Bank?

It won't be quiet, but you might get a seat after London Bridge.

DLR is slow for that route unless you live right near Greenwich/Cutty Sark