"MIG" wrote in message
...
On 26 Sep, 11:07, "Peter Smyth" wrote:
"lonelytraveller" wrote in
...

Why does the North Kent Line currently route most trains through
Woolwich from London Bridge via Lewisham and not via Greenwich, which
is surely a much more direct route?

It doesn't. There are 6tph via Greenwich and only 2tph via Lewisham.

Peter Smyth

Not only that, but the whole of the peak service between Blackheath
and Charlton has been withdrawn, without a whimper that I noticed.

"North Kent" is one of those phrases that was originally based on the
name of a route, but now means "via Lewisham and Woolwich", so that
you'd get bizarre announcements at London Bridge on the lines of
"Plumstead via North Kent".

In pre 1976 rebuilding days, the indicators on London Bridge down platforms
were marked as "North Kent via Greenwich or Lewisham, and Woolwich". I have
a feeling that they also said NK via Bexleyheath and via Sidcup. This
reflected the original NK route via Lewisham and Charlton before the line
from Greenwich was finally extended (to the annoyance of the Astronomer
Royal) to Charlton.

MaxB