NorthKent1989
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 May 2017
- Messages
- 1,898
I would be grateful if they introduce a timetable that involves getting rid off thameslink on the north Kent route.
Absolutely, they can’t go on with this for much longer.
I would be grateful if they introduce a timetable that involves getting rid off thameslink on the north Kent route.
Not sure which specifically but they are expecting growth in that area, at the moment Westfields could possibly come to Lewisham in the early 2020s, and BoxPark is also being planned, Lewisham is fast becoming a major centre in its own right.
So I’m certain those with vision may move to Lewisham in the years to come
I doubt Westfield will ever go to Lewisham let alone in the early 2020s when the croydon project will still take years to complete and they wont want another centre so close either.
Lewisham Council regularly publish plans and dreams about how they are going to transform the place. They have always under delivered. I don’t think Lewisham will ever be a significant destination. My observation of the morning rush is that about 5% of the London bound passengers disembark at Lewisham, but nearly all of them head straight to the DLR. The flow of pedestrians outside the station is very much towards the station and therefore out of Lewisham. The so-called transformation of Lewisham is the building of yet more high density housing for people who want an easy commute to Docklands and a variety of London terminals.True, but there are plans to replace the current shopping centre at some point in the future, Lewisham’s transformation is pretty amazing.
Daz pretty much summed it up there perfectly. If they do refurb the shopping centre the it will only be to support those who live in the town as i can't see it attracting anyone from our of town unlike the central plansTrue, but there are plans to replace the current shopping centre at some point in the future, Lewisham’s transformation is pretty amazing.
Back in the 1950s they ran via Maze Hill and carried the headcode 82. They were operated by 2HAL units and invariably picked up an additional unit at Strood from Maidstone West. They were all stations Gillingham to Strood and then Gravesend, Dartford, Woolwich Arsenal and then London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross. As the Kent Coast electrification became nearer both versions of the 2HAP units arrived on the service and when the Kent Coast electrification happened they were extended from Gillingham to run all stations to Ramsgate. Rochester to CX took 60 minutes.
I used to get this train for work commitments from time to time in the 60s
Any idea how long it took for the trip from Charing Cross to Ramsgate , they stopped at all stations from Strood
In the upcoming age of Crossrail it might be useful have a service from Tonbridge, calling at Maidstone West, Strood, Higham, Gravesend, Greenhithe, Dartford, Abbey Wood, Woolwich A, Charlton then with via Lewisham to Charing Cross or via Greenwich to Cannon Street.
One annoying thing about the 2022 specification is that the trains that are permitted (but not required) to start back from Maidstone West also have to call at Woolwich Dockyard and are thus limited to 8 cars. So in peak time, if you start too far back, you run the risk of overcrowding the service. Hopefully, as you suggest, Crossrail will be the big draw and thus perhaps these services are effetively two services in one: to take Kent passengers to Abbey Wood and to take SE London passengers to London Bridge.
Intestingly regarding the decision to axe CX trains from 2022 has been raised, a friend of mine who lives in Charlton and uses the line regularly believes that this could be challenged and it’s not the first time the issue has been raised either and usually the West End commuters usually have the loudest voice in that regard, I hope for their sake they’re correct and it can be challenged this time
It is an annoying loss. The "via Lewisham" route is quite a bit slower than the "via Greenwich" route, and once stops are added at St Johns and New Cross, there won't really be any point in taking those trains. One might as well just wait for the next train.
Another bizarre decision that I hope can some how be reversed.
I can understand stopping at New Cross since it provides a TfL interchange (A commuter from Blackheath can change at NX for an Overground line train to Whitechapel for Crossrail for instance) but St. John’s is a station that really should have been closed years ago.
We’ve found something we agree on!
Even in the peaks, the patronage at St Johns is tiny, 733k per annum in Zone 2 is nothing. 12 min walk to Lewisham, half that to the DLR at Elverson Road, and very frequent bus services nearby to Lewisham or New Cross. No disabled access, awkward access arrangements, no car parking. It doesn’t have a lot going for it. Many a train stops there with nobody getting on or off.
I liked the idea from the start but I have noticed some benefits for us between Deptford-Westcombe Park since Thameslink started like when SE applies a leaf fall timetable our trains are not cut back to every 30 minutes but 10/20 minutes to London Bridge. I've found the service useful.Now this service is reliable is it still.hated ?
Now this service is reliable is it still.hated ?
The best case scenario for this service is if they routed via Lewisham and restore the semi fast pattern, a stopping service to Medway is too long
The best case scenario for this service is if they routed via Lewisham and restore the semi fast pattern, a stopping service to Medway is too long
And make it a 12 car service then by missing out Woolwich Dockyard etc
Via Lewisham would have the issue reliability at Lewisham junction, which has been widely critised. (Of course, via New Cross + Bexleyheath Line is the diversary route for TL service when North Kent Line is not avaialble)Why via Lewisham? I'm pretty sure that the route via Lewisham takes longer than via Greenwich even if you call at all four Greenwich line stations.
It does feel instinctively that the calls at Stone Crossing, Swanscombe and Northfleet are on the wrong service and should be on Gravesend terminators rather than slowing down services heading out to Medway, but I am sure that there are pathing reasons for that. Or it might be that those stations see eastbound commuting towards Medway and the idea is to offer a direct service.
Similarly Slade Green feels overserved, but that is likely to be for depot access. (Do SE drivers drive some TL services?).
I think the use of 8-car is more likely due to the shortage of 12-car trains on TL.And make it a 12 car service then by missing out Woolwich Dockyard etc
(Yes I am aware that there are stations north of the river that can only take 8 car trains, but send a different service to them!)
Similarly Slade Green feels overserved, but that is likely to be for depot access. (Do SE drivers drive some TL services?).
Why via Lewisham? I'm pretty sure that the route via Lewisham takes longer than via Greenwich even if you call at all four Greenwich line stations.
It does feel instinctively that the calls at Stone Crossing, Swanscombe and Northfleet are on the wrong service and should be on Gravesend terminators rather than slowing down services heading out to Medway, but I am sure that there are pathing reasons for that. Or it might be that those stations see eastbound commuting towards Medway and the idea is to offer a direct service.
Similarly Slade Green feels overserved, but that is likely to be for depot access. (Do SE drivers drive some TL services?).
Where are the extra 2 paths to CST going to come from?Thameslink going via Lewisham would mean that the Greenwich line can still keep 6tph, just restore the 2tph to Cannon Street and there would be no need for calls at St. John’s or New Cross
The CX to Dartford via Woolwich service should be extended to Gravesend and call at the intermediate stations, there should be more trains from this area to Abbey Wood for CrossRail anyway
Slade Green and Plumstead don’t need 8tph off peak