brad465
Established Member
During the morning peak a freight train from Dollands Moor to Daventry runs up the line in question, as 621Q leaving DM at 0707. This train is timetabled to run ahead of 2A16 0727-0908 AFK-VIC, where at Maidstone East the freight is timed 10 minutes ahead of the passenger service, then around 3-4 minutes ahead at Bromley South, but the freight goes via Catford after that, so gets out of the way.
However this freight train has a record for being late, where only about 5+ minutes delay is enough to add delay to the passenger train. Yesterday was a notable example of this, where the late freight train delayed the VIC train by over 10 minutes. I rarely need to get the service in question, but did yesterday, so got to hear the MDE station manager urging passengers to complain, to try and help Southeastern persuade "the controller" (his words) to sort this recurring issue out.
Is it necessary to have this/a freight train going through into London this way during the morning peak, which is clearly causing issues, and how easily could a rerouting/retiming actually be achieved?
However this freight train has a record for being late, where only about 5+ minutes delay is enough to add delay to the passenger train. Yesterday was a notable example of this, where the late freight train delayed the VIC train by over 10 minutes. I rarely need to get the service in question, but did yesterday, so got to hear the MDE station manager urging passengers to complain, to try and help Southeastern persuade "the controller" (his words) to sort this recurring issue out.
Is it necessary to have this/a freight train going through into London this way during the morning peak, which is clearly causing issues, and how easily could a rerouting/retiming actually be achieved?