Thameslink rule out stopping at further stations on the Woolwich line

Thameslink have stated they will not be adding any more stops to their services along the Woolwich line after previously raising the possibility last year.

Currently Thameslink services skip three stations between Dartford and London Bridge: Erith, Belvedere and Woolwich Dockyard.

In early 2025 they raised the possibility of stopping at one of the three stating: “There is potential scope to squeeze one of the three stations into the calling pattern which we are starting to evaluate with our partners at Southeastern and Network Rail.”

That has now been ruled out in a new response to Greenwich Council:

“Unfortunately, after assessing the proposal, we have decided that adding a stop at one of these stations is currently not feasible.

“As detailed in previous answers, our services on this line run with tight timings constraints as they need to pass key junctions as close as possible to their booked times.

“Adding in a stop at one of the three stations within the existing timetable structure would have a detrimental impact on the overall performance of the line, and would cause delays to the Thameslink service through Woolwich, and other Thameslink and Southeastern services.”

Despite calling at three fewer stations between Dartford and London Bridge Thameslink is currently timetabled to take around the same time as a Southeastern service which does stop at all three stations. One key issue is reaching the core between London Bridge and St Pancras and Thameslink requiring padding en route to achieve that.

Needed?

Of the three stations skipped by Thameslink, one is the quietest station on the line at Woolwich Dockyard. However around 1,000 homes are currently either completing construction or underway.

That includes more than 700 at rebuilt estates where the first residents are now moving in, with 300 further homes nearby.

Greenwich Council also recently revealed plans to potential redevelop estates near the station with an additional 1,700 new homes.

Other sites in the vicinity have housing proposals and if Woolwich Barracks is redeveloped as planned, that will see 1,920 homes. The walk takes less than ten minutes from parts of the barracks in line for housing and is quicker to reach than Woolwich town centre.

In addition, travelling from Woolwich Dockyard in Zone 3 can be cheaper than stations at Woolwich town centre in Zone 4 ensuring some future residents are likely to use it.

Erith

Erith is also seeing major new housing with the Erith Quarry project underway. Total homes have now increased to 850.

Bexley Council are proposing new homes at a number of sites in the town centre.

One at the Post Office and another directly beside Erith station.

Belvedere

Belvedere too sees plans for thousands of homes with currently more than 2,000 at various levels of approval be it detailed or outline planning.

One such site sits metres from the station and is another project from BexleyCo.

A short distance away are proposals for homes on the gasholder site.

Almost 400 homes are proposed on that plot.

Industrial land nearby also saw a 1,250-home application approved in 2024.

More widely in Belvedere and Erith there could be as many as 15,000 new homes according to Bexley Council’s Growth Strategy. Bexley’s Local Plan also sets out a number of potential high density development sites around each station.

Clearly many of these plots aren’t imminent though the more plots that come along the sillier it’ll appear for Thameslink to sail through ever busier stations without stopping.

Currently by doing so gaps are left in the timetable and a turn-up-and-go service level isn’t reached. At Belvedere and Erith the lack of stopping Thameslink trains mean no connection with the Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood.

Buses are unlikely to suffice for thousands and anyway, if you’ve travelled by bus to Abbey Wood you’ll have seen how bad traffic and congestion now is. Improved rail can alleviate that issue though not with Thameslink sailing by stations in the midst of growth.

This again raises the question of Thameslink’s long-term future on the Woolwich line. It was a last minute addition back in the 2010s due to changes with the Wimbledon loop and proven problematic ever since.

With thousands more homes on the way a service that skips three stations in London looks untenable in the mid to long term if – and when – demand rises sharply.