BluePenguin
On Moderation
Engineering work is taking place today across the Southeastern network. Many will be annoyed although the work must take place at some point. Buses are replacing trains between Canterbury West - Ashford International and Ashford Intl - Ebbfleet Intl.
https://www.southeasternrailway.co....k?date=2019-06-16#engineering-departure-board
Having had quick read of the above link a few questions come to mind:
Firstly, whenever engineering work is carried on HS1 between Ashford and Ebbsfleet, the "alternate fast services" that are put in place always seem to be to London Victoria as opposed to the more logical terminal of Charing Cross - why is this? It is frankly bizarre! Hardly anyone from the East will be expecting any services to go to Victoria due to it not being their usual terminal. Not many even use the Ashford - Victoria stopper for end to end journeys.
The stopping pattern Ashford, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Bromley South and Victoria is strange selection and although allows a must missed fast service to Tonbridge (which is beneficial for those wanting Gatwick), it does nothing for passengers wanting London Bridge, Waterloo East or Charing Cross as they must wait for the stopper to catch up from behind. Although this today misses out Sandling, Westernhanger and Pluckley, absolutely zero time is saved for some reason. Surely the additional stop at Orpington cannot be responsible?
Meanwhile, passengers wanting Charing Cross are stuck with the all stations stopper they are used to provided by the Ramsgate to Charing Cross via Dover Priory which usually start and terminates at Dover at the weekend. Instead, running services Ashford - Tonbridge...anywhere after... to Charing Cross would surely be much better. In addition, it would allow those wanting St Pancras to board a Thameslink at London Bridge.
Whilst HS1 is non-operational due to engineering works or disruption, the mainline is never adapted to suit and meet demand. It is as though since the completion of HS1, we have forgotten how we ever ran the mainline railway without it. Why not allow Kent travellers to reach central London as quickly as is possible? The whole arrangement to encourage passengers onto HS1 does not apply when it is closed.
On another note, whilst there are no highspeed services, Eurostars happily continue to use the fly over as normal. Could highspeed service not use it also? This would mean bypassing Ashford although a Folkestone - Ashford shuttle could run for connections. Services could join HS1 in the Dollands Moor area perhaps to facilitate this, although they may have to reverse from the looks of a map. Alternatively, would it be possible to run high speed services from Dover to St Pancras via Canterbury East and Faversham? As for Canterbury West, services could run via Minster and Sandwich to join the above service, negating the need for a replacement bus.
I am sure there is a logical explanation to all of this, but wanted to give my pence worth. Hopefully someone will be along to explain their understanding and shed some light on the matter
https://www.southeasternrailway.co....k?date=2019-06-16#engineering-departure-board
Having had quick read of the above link a few questions come to mind:
Firstly, whenever engineering work is carried on HS1 between Ashford and Ebbsfleet, the "alternate fast services" that are put in place always seem to be to London Victoria as opposed to the more logical terminal of Charing Cross - why is this? It is frankly bizarre! Hardly anyone from the East will be expecting any services to go to Victoria due to it not being their usual terminal. Not many even use the Ashford - Victoria stopper for end to end journeys.
The stopping pattern Ashford, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Bromley South and Victoria is strange selection and although allows a must missed fast service to Tonbridge (which is beneficial for those wanting Gatwick), it does nothing for passengers wanting London Bridge, Waterloo East or Charing Cross as they must wait for the stopper to catch up from behind. Although this today misses out Sandling, Westernhanger and Pluckley, absolutely zero time is saved for some reason. Surely the additional stop at Orpington cannot be responsible?
Meanwhile, passengers wanting Charing Cross are stuck with the all stations stopper they are used to provided by the Ramsgate to Charing Cross via Dover Priory which usually start and terminates at Dover at the weekend. Instead, running services Ashford - Tonbridge...anywhere after... to Charing Cross would surely be much better. In addition, it would allow those wanting St Pancras to board a Thameslink at London Bridge.
Whilst HS1 is non-operational due to engineering works or disruption, the mainline is never adapted to suit and meet demand. It is as though since the completion of HS1, we have forgotten how we ever ran the mainline railway without it. Why not allow Kent travellers to reach central London as quickly as is possible? The whole arrangement to encourage passengers onto HS1 does not apply when it is closed.
On another note, whilst there are no highspeed services, Eurostars happily continue to use the fly over as normal. Could highspeed service not use it also? This would mean bypassing Ashford although a Folkestone - Ashford shuttle could run for connections. Services could join HS1 in the Dollands Moor area perhaps to facilitate this, although they may have to reverse from the looks of a map. Alternatively, would it be possible to run high speed services from Dover to St Pancras via Canterbury East and Faversham? As for Canterbury West, services could run via Minster and Sandwich to join the above service, negating the need for a replacement bus.
I am sure there is a logical explanation to all of this, but wanted to give my pence worth. Hopefully someone will be along to explain their understanding and shed some light on the matter