Thank you for your email.

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but I am afraid that this rumour is true and will come into effect as of December. The background to the change is the new Southeastern timetable for December 2009 (incorporating the new high speed service between Kent and London) and the new Southern franchise which starts on 20 September.

During the development of the new Southeastern timetable, it was identified that in order to make it workable, there would be significant limitations on the 'through London Bridge' pathways available to other train operators. There are implications for the First Capital Connect service, particularly in the peak at London Bridge, and for Southern off peak services to Charing Cross and Waterloo East.

As a result, the Department for Transport did not specify that Southern should operate through to Charing Cross from December 2009. Subsequently scrutiny of the off peak timetable by Southern has confirmed that it is not possible to run Southern services through London Bridge into Charing Cross given Southeastern's timetable specification from December.

The level of service between London Bridge and Charing Cross will be maintained by Southeastern. The DfT has specified the train services over the next franchise period and details can be found at the following link: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Co...bjectId=36

If you would like to contest the decision then you will have to contact the Department for Transport.