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South Eastern and Chiltern Mainlines

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Sad Sprinter

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I've never really travelled on the SEM before and hoping to have a journey soon. Is it still worth it or is the journey too slow to bear nowadays? Would be nice to go from London Bridge to Dover along the seawall at some point.

Also, does anyone know if the fast Marylebone to Birmingham service will ever make a comeback? Right now the only ones to Birmingham call at nearly all stations.
 
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yorksrob

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Oh I still enjoy it. I take it in preference to HS1.

It's a reasonably fast run down to Tonbridge, and the countryside between Orpinton and Ashford is pleasant enough albeit stopping a lot. The section between Folkestone and Dover is still quite impressive.

You can always mix it up a bit on the way back by going via Maidstone East or Canterbury East as well.
 

philosopher

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Also, does anyone know if the fast Marylebone to Birmingham service will ever make a comeback? Right now the only ones to Birmingham call at nearly all stations.
I think it is back during the week but not the weekend. On the weekend most services seem to take about two hours and ten minutes.
 

Sad Sprinter

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Oh I still enjoy it. I take it in preference to HS1.

It's a reasonably fast run down to Tonbridge, and the countryside between Orpinton and Ashford is pleasant enough albeit stopping a lot. The section between Folkestone and Dover is still quite impressive.

You can always mix it up a bit on the way back by going via Maidstone East or Canterbury East as well.

That's good, will give it a go in that case. The last time I went further than Chiselhurst was on a Eurostar when I was five and sadly all I can remember was pulling into Ashford!

I think it is back during the week but not the weekend. On the weekend most services seem to take about two hours and ten minutes.

Great, another service I want to try soon.
 

Sad Sprinter

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Oh I still enjoy it. I take it in preference to HS1.

It's a reasonably fast run down to Tonbridge, and the countryside between Orpinton and Ashford is pleasant enough albeit stopping a lot. The section between Folkestone and Dover is still quite impressive.

You can always mix it up a bit on the way back by going via Maidstone East or Canterbury East as well.

Well I got as far as Tonbridge on this occasion. 8 car 375 but could have easily have handled 12. As you say, lovely countryside after Orpington and full speed even through Hildenborough. The line does have an air of better times past though. The fast lines through Tonbridge seem a bit too quiet...
 

yorksrob

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Well I got as far as Tonbridge on this occasion. 8 car 375 but could have easily have handled 12. As you say, lovely countryside after Orpington and full speed even through Hildenborough. The line does have an air of better times past though. The fast lines through Tonbridge seem a bit too quiet...

Yes, without any boat trains or Eurostars, the fast lines are rather quiet these days. Fortunately Tonbridge is still disturbed by the sound of a thumper every now and again though.
 

AY1975

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Yes, without any boat trains or Eurostars, the fast lines are rather quiet these days. Fortunately Tonbridge is still disturbed by the sound of a thumper every now and again though.
A Thumper? Is Tonbridge station haunted by ghosts of trains past?
 
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