Southern
Member
School was shut for a Teacher Training Day on Friday so I took a trip into London. I arrived at Folkestone Central, which now has barriers up for ticket checks. For how long, I don't know. I only had a 20 so couldn't use that self service thing as it only gives out small change. The ticket queue was too long and the 13:44 was just arriving so I told the ticket woman I had money to buy a ticket on board. She let me through and I quickly hopped on the train and found a seat in the front carriage. On the approach to Ashford, I looked over to Platform 5 to see if I could see a Slammer on the 14:05 to Victoria. Just a boring old Networker Refurb, unfortunately.
On arrival at Tonbridge, The Down Hastings/Dover platform was crowded with people awaiting the 14:26 to Hastings(13:45 from CX). This turned up packed and as a 4 car formation. Around a mile out of Tonbridge, the train slowed up, thanks to the 13:33 Hastings - Charing X service, which was running slightly late. No ticket check was done until the train was in the Sevenoaks Tunnel. To be honest , I don't think there was even a ticket man on train until Tonbridge. I bought a CDR.
I got off at Charing Cross and bought a Travelcard. At £2, their really great value for money. In Folkestone, I'd have to pay that much to go about 6 miles on a rubbish Kent bus.
After I had my ticket, I took the 11 to Victoria. Major Delays Occurring, due to a signal failure outside the station. The only train on the suburban side was a lone 456. I boarded the delayed 15:23 East Grinstead service, where the doors had a mind of their own so nobody could access the front three coaches. I soon got fed up of waiting and left the train, proceeding to check the boards. Nothing but the 15:47 Hastings/Bognor Regis and 15:33 Horsham were displaying. I knew that an Ex Brighton Express 319 was on the Horsham so I boarded that. It must have been around 15:50 when we finally left. It got so bad that they had to join a pair of 455's outside the station, blocking the slow into Victoria. This meant all the suburban trains had to be sent to the fast at Battersea, stopping the Gatwick and Brighton Expresses outside Battersea Park.
Part 2 to be continued...........
On arrival at Tonbridge, The Down Hastings/Dover platform was crowded with people awaiting the 14:26 to Hastings(13:45 from CX). This turned up packed and as a 4 car formation. Around a mile out of Tonbridge, the train slowed up, thanks to the 13:33 Hastings - Charing X service, which was running slightly late. No ticket check was done until the train was in the Sevenoaks Tunnel. To be honest , I don't think there was even a ticket man on train until Tonbridge. I bought a CDR.
I got off at Charing Cross and bought a Travelcard. At £2, their really great value for money. In Folkestone, I'd have to pay that much to go about 6 miles on a rubbish Kent bus.
After I had my ticket, I took the 11 to Victoria. Major Delays Occurring, due to a signal failure outside the station. The only train on the suburban side was a lone 456. I boarded the delayed 15:23 East Grinstead service, where the doors had a mind of their own so nobody could access the front three coaches. I soon got fed up of waiting and left the train, proceeding to check the boards. Nothing but the 15:47 Hastings/Bognor Regis and 15:33 Horsham were displaying. I knew that an Ex Brighton Express 319 was on the Horsham so I boarded that. It must have been around 15:50 when we finally left. It got so bad that they had to join a pair of 455's outside the station, blocking the slow into Victoria. This meant all the suburban trains had to be sent to the fast at Battersea, stopping the Gatwick and Brighton Expresses outside Battersea Park.
Part 2 to be continued...........
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