London Bridge – West Croydon Via Sydenham & Crystal Palace

Introduction:

The Sydenham corridor forms the eastern side of the Brighton Main Line as it leaves London Bridge, one of the busiest stations in the country. From here, services head south through New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, and Sydenham, before the line splits into two.


One branch continues directly towards Norwood Junction and West Croydon, while the other diverts via Penge West, Anerley, and the iconic Crystal Palace station, before rejoining the main line at Norwood Junction for the final stretch into West Croydon.


This corridor is a vital part of South London’s suburban network, carrying frequent Southern Metro and London Overground services, with additional Thameslink trains passing through. The line is known for its dense suburban scenery, short distances between stations, and constant flow of trains in both directions, making it a very busy and operationally interesting route.


Including the Crystal Palace loop gives the line an extra dimension of variety, with two alternative paths to West Croydon. This offers players a balance between short metro-style runs and longer services connecting into the wider Brighton Main Line network.




Route Map:

Route length is approximately 12 miles from London Bridge to West Croydon, including both the direct Sydenham line and the Crystal Palace loop.




Why this route would be good for TSW:

• Two routing options: direct via Sydenham or diversion via Crystal Palace
• High-frequency metro-style operations with constant activity
• Mix of Southern, London Overground, and Thameslink services
• Dense suburban South London scenery, including the landmark Crystal Palace
• Important interchanges at New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, and West Croydon
• Strong AI variety: Southeastern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink, and freight
• Complements the existing Brighton Main Line by adding suburban and metro-style gameplay alongside express services

Time Period:

The 2018 timetable would be the ideal choice, as it aligns with the Brighton Main Line in TSW and avoids any rolling stock licensing issues.




Rolling Stock:

• Class 377 – Electrostar EMU
  Core Southern Metro services from London Bridge to West Croydon, Crystal Palace, and the Caterham/Tattenham Corner branches.
• Class 378 – Capitalstar EMU
  London Overground trains operating from Highbury & Islington to West Croydon and Crystal Palace. Provides a dense metro-style experience, with frequent all-stations services.
• Class 700 – Desiro City EMU
  Thameslink services passing through Norwood Junction towards Brighton or Horsham, providing semi-fast services alongside the frequent metro trains.

Timetable (Main Services):


Class 377 (Southern):

• 2 trains per hour London Bridge → West Croydon (via Sydenham)
  Calling at: London Bridge, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West, Anerley, Norwood Junction, West Croydon
• 2 trains per hour London Bridge → Caterham/Tattenham Corner (via Sydenham, Norwood Jn, then off-map)
• 2 trains per hour London Bridge → Crystal Palace (terminators)
  Calling at: London Bridge, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West, Anerley, Crystal Palace
• 2 trains per hour London Bridge → West Croydon (via Crystal Palace)
  Calling at: London Bridge, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West, Anerley, Crystal Palace, Norwood Junction, West Croydon

Class 378 (London Overground):

• 4 trains per hour New Cross Gate → West Croydon (all stations)
  Calling at: New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West, Anerley, Norwood Junction, West Croydon
• 4 trains per hour New Cross Gate → Crystal Palace
  Calling at: New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West, Anerley, Crystal Palace

Class 700 (Thameslink):

• 2 trains per hour Cambridge → Brighton (playable London Bridge – Norwood Junction)
• 2 trains per hour Peterborough → Horsham (playable London Bridge – Norwood Junction)

Layers:

• Class 375 & 465 – Southeastern AI at London Bridge
• Class 387 Gatwick Express – AI at Norwood Junction
• Class 66 freight – New Cross Gate sidings and Norwood Junction yard
• Class 455 – Heritage Southern suburban AI for immersion

Conclusion:

The London Bridge – West Croydon via Sydenham & Crystal Palace line would be a fantastic addition to Train Sim World. It provides a dense, high-frequency commuter route with two alternative paths, varied rolling stock, and a balance of short metro-style services with semi-fast Thameslink runs.


It also integrates seamlessly with the existing Brighton Main Line, expanding the South London network and offering players the chance to experience one of the capital’s busiest commuter corridors.


Thank you for reading this suggestion.

 

+1 from me. I want to see the Class 700 more in the game. This could lead to the 707 making its way into game too.