Hayes Southeastern line via Catford Bridge sees strong annual growth
Continuing the series looking at annual passenger growth on Southeastern Metro services sees the line to Hayes via Catford Bridge in the spotlight today.
In keeping with other lines already covered growth and recovery have been decent in the figures which cover a period up to March 2025.
Topping the list is Lower Sydenham which isn’t a surprise given a large amount of housing growth directly beside the station in Bromley borough.
Ladywell however was a fraction behind with two others seeing ten per cent growth. Hayes was pretty much there as well falling just shy.
I’ve included Lewisham though of course it’s served by other lines and only two of the four trains each hour along the Hayes line call there.
The line has one of the best service frequencies off peak given it retains four trains per hour which are evenly spaced. All three lines to Dartford lost trains in 2022 cuts and not all have yet to be restored leaving gaps between services.
That means that while totals trains per hour may be lower than some, even spacing ensures a wait of no longer than 15 minutes for much of the time.
Future growth
As with other Metro lines stations along the route will see new housing in the near future including Catford and Ladywell.
Lower Sydenham has further blocks beside the station set for completion.
Nearby a total of 260 homes on a former gasholder site have been approved and work’s now underway.
Catford Bridge should be the main growth station on the line though many projects seem to go nowhere in the town. Lewisham Council propose 2,700 homes across the area.
Modest plans such as 113-homes were recently approved on a car park yet major plans such as 600 homes on the “Catford Island” site show little sign of starting soon.
Endless delays with plans to alter the road system aren’t helping. For a decade there’s been talk but no action (nor sufficient funds).
Hayes
Finally Hayes itself could see a large increase if early plans for 2,200 homes are eventually given the green light. A large expanse of land between Hayes and Bromley has seen proposals revealed by Berkeley Homes. Whilst many future residents may use Bromley South station if living to the north of the area, some of the expansive site is closer to Hayes station.
Previous posts on this site have looked at growth on other lines with details below.
Click here to see figures for the Bexleyheath line.
Click here for the Woolwich line.
Click here for the Sidcup line.
And finally here for stations in north Kent.
It’s a shame they don’t all call at Lewisham so they would be evenly spaced coming out of Charing Cross. And 4 on a Sunday. It’s my understanding that the driver roster is over 7 rather than 6 days so I don’t really understand why they NEED to run a lower Sunday frequency.
The Bakerloo Line extension would see it taking over the Hayes Line via Catford Bridge and to extend the Bakerloo Line to North Bromley via Grove Park.
I feel the line really needs four trains per hour on a Sunday. This part of southeast London is poorly served by rail services, a regular service every 15 minutes on a Sunday would attract more passengers too.
Catford and Catford Bridge stations are pretty much close to each other that both railway stations should merge together to make it 1 big interchange station in Catford. And with a massive station concourse and possible bus interchange. And with plans to see the Bakerloo Line to extend from Elephant and Castle to Hayes via Ladywell.