Direct (kind-of) service between Cannon Street and Maidstone West

[traingeek97]

Only by chance tonight (and the cancellation of my normal service) I discovered an almost direct service between London Cannon Street and Maidstone West. 1E95 departs Cannon Street at 18:24 and runs via Woolwich Arsenal to Strood. Upon arrival at Strood it then becomes 2A95 and runs non-stop to Maidstone West, arriving at 20:05.

Does anyone know if this a regular service or if it only ran tonight because of disruption caused by signalling problems in the Charlton area? I see the stock then returned to Plumstead Sidings so I assume it's driven by a Slade Green driver who has also signed the Medway Valley.

 

[sdrennan]

Well it runs tomorrow but the run from Strood is Empty Coaching Stock

 

[traingeek97]

Well it runs tomorrow but the run from Stroud is Empty Coaching Stock

Thanks @sdrennan. I wonder why it runs to Maidstone West before reversing instead of going direct from Strood to Plumstead.

 

[Ianno87]

Thanks @sdrennan. I wonder why it runs to Maidstone West before reversing instead of going direct from Strood to Plumstead.

Off memory, the only way to reverse at Strood is to shunt towards Cuxton. Which may not work if there's another service behind or non-Gangwayed stock is used.

 

[ComUtoR]

or non-Gangwayed stock is used.

or they simply stick it in reverse.

 

[Ianno87]

or they simply stick it in reverse.

Ah yes, the driver changes ends at Strood (albeit taking 7 minutes or so) and then propels behind the shunt signal

 

[frodshamfella]

Only by chance tonight (and the cancellation of my normal service) I discovered an almost direct service between London Cannon Street and Maidstone West. 1E95 departs Cannon Street at 18:24 and runs via Woolwich Arsenal to Strood. Upon arrival at Strood it then becomes 2A95 and runs non-stop to Maidstone West, arriving at 20:05.

Does anyone know if this a regular service or if it only ran tonight because of disruption caused by signalling problems in the Charlton area? I see the stock then returned to Plumstead Sidings so I assume it's driven by a Slade Green driver who has also signed the Medway Valley.

I remember as a lad the peak hour service via the Dartford Loop to Gillingham and Maidstone West dividing at Strood ; -)

 

[brad465]

I asked a similar question about the same service in a thread last year:

www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-does-a-peak-strood-terminator-turn-around-empty-at-maidstone-west.181057/

Normally Strood terminators from London are driven in reverse out of the station with a guard in the front cab, then once past the shunt point the Driver drives forward back into the station (P2 this time), drops the guard off and runs empty back to the depot (either Slade Green or Plumstead sidings). It's likely that by the time of the subject service from CST arriving no guard/2nd person is available, so the stock has to run empty all the way to Maidstone West so the Driver can safely change ends.