Why doesnt Southeastern's HS1 trains have 1st class? Did it not seem financially viable?
Since the withdrawl of slam door stock the only real benefit of 1st on any SR services has been a better chance of getting a seat, this should not be an issue on Javelin services.
Does anyone who commutes regularly on the Javelin always get a seat?
Does anyone who commutes regularly on the Javelin always get a seat?
A better question is why are there many flows for which the only first class fares published are route PLUS HIGH SPEED?
The first off peak up train of the day (0943 from Ashford Intl.) is always full and standing. I commute regularly on Javelins, but in the down direction, and they are generally busy, but rarely are people standing.
Really? Even since they lengthened it from 6 to 12 - cars?
Does anyone who commutes regularly on the Javelin always get a seat?
Javelins don't have 3+2?
Ashford services are all approaching full in the peak and load well most of the day. I reckon HS1 has 90%+ of the Ashford and beyond market.Faversham/Maidstone trains, yes. Never a problem getting a seat. Unless it's one of the busiest of the day, (the first and last all stations to Faversham in the shoulder peaks) you're almost certain to get two to yourself.
I believe the Ashford ones are busier, but don't know about them from personal experience. Certainly you can usually see some people standing as they depart st. P in the evenings.
I think there should have been a First Class option on the Javelins. Nothing major though; half a carriage at most? The two ends of each unit maybe, as is true of several Southern Region units? Not sure I see the point on St Pancras to Stratford journeys though
A better question is why are there many flows for which the only first class fares published are route PLUS HIGH SPEED?
The general idea seemed to be that the HS1 service would be a quasi 1st class service in it's entirety compared to the existing lines service.
MikeWh to Southeastern said:I am trying to work out the best (cheapest?) way to travel from Homerton to Ashford International for my Aunt. She has a zone 1-2 travelcard on her Oyster. Understandably she doesn't really want to waste time crossing London and using the slow classic lines. There seem to be two options available but both have questions: 1) Buy a return from Homerton to Ashford route "Any Permitted". This is obviously valid on HS1, but the only fares are first class when both the train from Homerton to Stratford and from Stratford to Ashford are standard class only. Why is there no standard class fare for this journey? 2) Buy a return from boundary zone 2 to Ashford route "Any Permitted". The question here is that travelcards are not valid on HS1, but the travelcard ceases to be used between Hackney Wick and Stratford so the whole journey on HS1 is undertaken on the any permitted extension ticket. So, is this combination valid for my Aunt's journey? If not, please explain why not.
Southeastern customer relations said:Thank you for your web form dated 25 September.
I understand that you'd like to know the cheapest available fare for your auntie when she travels from Homerton to Ashford International.
Firstly, I can confirm that the quickest route is to travel via Stratford Intranational. However, as the service that operates between Stratford International and Ashford is a high speed service, there is no standard class ticket. It may be cheaper to purchase two separate tickets for this journey. The first ticket from Homerton to Stratford and then a ticket from Stratford International to Ashford.
Also, I can confirm that Stratford is in zone 3. Therefore, your aunt's Oyster card would not be valid to travel to this station, unless she bought an extension. Not only this, you cannot purchase an extension ticket for the high speed with an Oyster card.
Considering the above, the cheapest and quickest way to make this journey, would be to purchase a ticket from Homerton to Stratford and then purchase another ticket from Stratford International to Ashford on the high speed.
Having said the above, an cheaper ticket for this journey could be purchased if your auntie used our mainline services to reach to Ashford International. This is because mainline tickets are cheaper than high speed tickets.
I hope this response has been helpful and thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Yours sincerely
******** ****
Customer Relations Officer
Southeastern
The 0822 Ashford Intl - Margate is 12 cars (IIRC). Not sure what this is formed from on the way up.