Eastbourne student specials

[samogers]

It seems that the fast student special trains from Eastbourne to London Victoria are back this summer.

Up service: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W82032/2015/06/13/advanced

Down service: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W88277/2015/06/13/advanced

Interestingly, the up service which used to run Eastbourne-Brighton-Victoria, is now running Eastbourne-Haywards Heath-Gatwick-Victoria. The down service is unchanged.

I am always curious about these services; Are they open to the public? Are they well used? Also what stock operates this service? (I've seen a 10 442 but also various 8, 10 and 12 377)

Thanks...
Sam

 

[sarahj]

They are open to the public, but not many use them as they are slow, slow slow. Sometimes they are dead, sometimes so busy that no one has been able to board at Brighton after a full load got on at Eastbourne. I've only seen them worked as a 442, and no, first class was not enforced.

edit, just looked at the new times and they seem much faster than of old times.

 

[tsr]

Presumably the fact that the Up direction intermediate calls are not advertised means that they can be removed at short notice - eg. if the train is too full to pick anyone up at Gatwick Airport, it can be cancelled there with no ill effects, or made to set down only; but if it is running half-empty (as I expect it could be at that time of the morning if it's mainly to cater for students!) it can be an extra airport express for the summer.

 

[louis97]

Presumably the fact that the Up direction intermediate calls are not advertised means that they can be removed at short notice - eg. if the train is too full to pick anyone up at Gatwick Airport, it can be cancelled there with no ill effects, or made to set down only; but if it is running half-empty (as I expect it could be at that time of the morning if it's mainly to cater for students!) it can be an extra airport express for the summer.

Seems like they are just pathing stops in the schedule, lets a Brighton fast overtake at Haywards Heath and a Gatwick Express go ahead at Gatwick Airport.

 

[ushawk]

The HHE stop is presumably to change train crew and to allow a Fast Up service to pass.

At GTW, a GatEx is booked to run a few minutes ahead of it, so holding it spaces the trains out.

Anyone can use the services and sometimes no student groups actually use them and choose to use the normal timetabled services which then fills them up and prevents any other pax getting on. I have indeed seen people left behind at Lewes and Polegate as a result, though Southern will pay out on delay repay for this. The students swamp Eastbourne station at 8AM Saturday mornings for it as well, making it fun for any other passenger who wants to get a train as they simply do not move when you ask.

I assume the Brighton call was removed because they can change crew at HHE for a quicker journey and as sometimes the train is filled up at EBN, no one can get on at BTN.

 

[Starmill]

Am I missing something a little here... what students is this to cater for?

 

[Trainfan344]

Am I missing something a little here... what students is this to cater for?

I too was wondering about this.

 

[yorksrob]

Whoever it's for, given the lack of boat trains, pullmans, hop pickers specials, InterCities etc running in the area nowadays, it's nice that there are still some occasional special trains running.

 

[bramling]

Whoever it's for, given the lack of boat trains, pulling, hop pickers specials, InterCities etc running in the area nowadays, it's nice that there are still some occasional special trains running.

I think it could be language students at some kind of summer school.

I suspect the specials are the outcome of complaints from regular passengers going on day trips to London unable to board at places like Lewes.

 

[ajb690]

Am I missing something a little here... what students is this to cater for?

Eastbourne (and Hastings etc) have a large population of summer foreign exchange students - have done for decades, I believe. Living in the area, I'm not quite sure of the attraction, but there you go

Back on topic, I *believe* the trains are supposed to be block-booked by the relevant travel companies so large groups of exchange students can move between Sussex-London-Airports without hindering other passengers, plus lessen hassle for all involved as the ticket cost is already paid for. From the comments above, however, that sounds like it may not be working, so who knows?

d

 

[yorksrob]

I think it could be language students at some kind of summer school.

I suspect the specials are the outcome of complaints from regular passengers going on day trips to London unable to board at places like Lewes.

I thought it was.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Eastbourne (and Hastings etc) have a large population of summer foreign exchange students - have done for decades, I believe. Living in the area, I'm not quite sure of the attraction, but there you go

Back on topic, I *believe* the trains are supposed to be block-booked by the relevant travel companies so large groups of exchange students can move between Sussex-London-Airports without hindering other passengers, plus lessen hassle for all involved as the ticket cost is already paid for. From the comments above, however, that sounds like it may not be working, so who knows?

d

I have a soft spot for Hastings and Eastbourne, so I can see the attraction of learning English by the seaside (although doubtless, plenty of guesthouses looking for custom might also add to the attraction as well ).

Given the cost of train fares these days, I don't think I'd risk getting chinged again on a service train though !

 

[bramling]

I thought it was.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I have a soft spot for Hastings and Eastbourne, so I can see the attraction of learning English by the seaside (although doubtless, plenty of guesthouses looking for custom might also add to the attraction as well ).

Given the cost of train fares these days, I don't think I'd risk getting chinged again on a service train though !

Both Eastbourne and Hastings are pleasant enough by day, but Eastbourne in particular is *hurrendous* in the evening. If staff at Blackpool North think they have problematic customers to deal with, Eastbourne is just as bad at times.

 

[sarahj]

There are also large language schools at Brighton as well, plus quite a few come from Worthing way. On a sat morning when the trains to London and Brighton are busy anyway, suddenly you get a group of 30-40 turn up. They all board at one door as well, and then suddenly a train that was busyish, becomes packed. And these groups of kids are not the sit silent and behave type. These large groups head to either London from the coast, or Brighton from the coast. These student specials do help, and some get quite busy.

Note there is a large language school right next to Brighton station, one of the big white buildings where the loco works used to be, next to the Jury's Inn.

 

[Yabbadabba]

I remember when I worked on the ticket barrier at Eastbourne in the late 80s, Saturday mornings we absolutely manic. If I remember right not only did we have the north bound intercity Sussex Scot with all the old dears going back home after their holidays but there was also three student specials 2X12 to London of which one started back from Hastings formed of 12Cep the other from Eastbourne and 1x8 to Brighton also starting back from Hastings also of Eastern Division stock. This was in the days when we only had an hourly Hastings to Victoria and Hastings to Brighton services. I did let other members of the public use the student specials as long as they didn't mind the noise and lack of buffet.

 

[yorksrob]

I remember when I worked on the ticket barrier at Eastbourne in the late 80s, Saturday mornings we absolutely manic. If I remember right not only did we have the north bound intercity Sussex Scot with all the old dears going back home after their holidays but there was also three student specials 2X12 to London of which one started back from Hastings formed of 12Cep the other from Eastbourne and 1x8 to Brighton also starting back from Hastings also of Eastern Division stock. This was in the days when we only had an hourly Hastings to Victoria and Hastings to Brighton services. I did let other members of the public use the student specials as long as they didn't mind the noise and lack of buffet.

A 12 CEP at Eastbourne must have been quite rare!

 

[Yabbadabba]

A 12 CEP at Eastbourne must have been quite rare!

Not for a couple of summer seasons