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Fast Ashford to Tonbridge Trains

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TheJRB

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I've been wondering how many trains are scheduled to run non stop between Ashford and Tonbridge in each direction on an average weekday. I've only found the 08:53 Charing Cross - Ashford, but are there any others?

I'm surprised that there aren't more, but I suppose the towns and villages between the two are increasingly popular and well used.
 
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Hydro

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Fast services on the South Eastern mainline were decimated when domestic HS1 services came into being.
 

TheJRB

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Fast services on the South Eastern mainline were decimated when domestic HS1 services came into being.

Well that makes sense, I hadn't thought of that. There's still a few trains that skip the odd station on the route in the peak, but that's it then I suppose.
 

Hydro

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It did give a lot more places a more frequent direct route to London, but it's still advantageous to have some fast services on the SEML. A journey I do frequently is Grove Park - Canterbury West, and that's about 2 hours or so including the change at Sevenoaks, the meat of that on the second leg from Sevenoaks to Ashford.
 

ji459

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One Saturday in the summer I took the train from Ashford to Tonbridge. It was late arriving into Ashford, so the conductor announced it wouldn't be stopping again until Tonbridge. It was quite fun to travel non-stop! I did feel a little bit bad for the people waiting at the stations we went past though LOL!
 

TheJRB

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It did give a lot more places a more frequent direct route to London, but it's still advantageous to have some fast services on the SEML. A journey I do frequently is Grove Park - Canterbury West, and that's about 2 hours or so including the change at Sevenoaks, the meat of that on the second leg from Sevenoaks to Ashford.

I can imagine those small stations must drag the journey out a bit!

One Saturday in the summer I took the train from Ashford to Tonbridge. It was late arriving into Ashford, so the conductor announced it wouldn't be stopping again until Tonbridge. It was quite fun to travel non-stop! I did feel a little bit bad for the people waiting at the stations we went past though LOL!

Do you know how long it took? The scheduled time for the 08:43 from Charing Cross is 30 minutes from Tonbridge to Ashford, but from what I have read, that gives it a little time to make up in case of any delays.
 

yorksrob

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Ah, those were the days when you could speed along non-stop from Waterloo to Tonbridge, then non-stop again to Ashford via the through roads at Paddock wood and Headcorn on a slammer (is there a nostalgia emoticon ?).
 

Welshman

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Before HS1 you could leave Charing Cross at x00, Waterloo East at x03, then rattle along non-stop to Ashford in 58 minutes, using the middle lines at Tonbridge.

And how they used to speed along the racing stretch from Tonbridge!!

Nostalgia indeed!
 

Hydro

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It still feels unusual having to stop at the likes of Tonbridge and Paddock Wood.
 

ji459

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Do you know how long it took? The scheduled time for the 08:43 from Charing Cross is 30 minutes from Tonbridge to Ashford, but from what I have read, that gives it a little time to make up in case of any delays.

Sorry, I don't remember. I did think though that since the driver was trying to make up time, we ought to have been going faster.
 

yorksrob

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I must admit, I've never actually been on one thats not stopped at Tonbridge.
 

Anonywave

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telstarbox said:
Tonbridge has 14 trains per hour, it's an important station!

Yes, running non stop between London and Ashford seems like bad idea, especially due to the high passenger numbers at some of these stations.

I must admit, I've never actually been on one thats not stopped at Tonbridge.

There is currently a service to Hastings/Ore which runs fast between Waterloo East and High Brooms then stops at all stations. Ill admit it seems like a very odd service.
 

yorksrob

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There is currently a service to Hastings/Ore which runs fast between Waterloo East and High Brooms then stops at all stations. Ill admit it seems like a very odd service.

That might explain it as I'm usually on the Aahford route when travelling on scheduled services.
 

telstarbox

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There is currently a service to Hastings/Ore which runs fast between Waterloo East and High Brooms then stops at all stations. Ill admit it seems like a very odd service.

There are a couple up to London which don't stop at Tonbridge in the morning peak. This relieves overcrowding on the Hastings - London services because Tonbridge passengers can get the services from Ashford as well.
 
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