Charing Cross: gateway to the South (East)

I've been using the train this week. They cut the number of carriages on my favorite morning train, so I have to stand for half the journey. Everyone is dressed for winter, therefore the heating is turned to sauna. I am sure 90% of the people sitting near me have colds or worse. In the evenings I have consistently just missed the "fast" train. And they put the fares up.

There is a reason I don't normally commute by train, but I can't remember what it is.