Medway Valley Line Signage Question

[djdanny77]

Noticed at East Farleigh station earlier…Platform 1 for services to Paddock Wood, Tonbridge and Gatwick Airport.

Obviously there are no services to Gatwick but it’s surely stretching it when the only way to get to Gatwick is with TWO changes of train (Tonbridge & Redhill).

Just wondered if there were any other stations or lines with signage that push the boundaries of what is actually possible from that location?

Or the other question is why does the Medway valley line seem to have a close association with Gatwick?

 

[JammyJames08]

Years ago there was a direct service from Maidstone West to Three Bridges/Horsham, so that may explain it.

 

[thedbdiboy]

Yes, that will date back to the days of the Connex through service

 

[30907]

Or the other question is why does the Medway valley line seem to have a close association with Gatwick?

Because someone decided it was operationally convenient to link the Strood-Paddock Wood/Tonbridge and Tonbridge-Redhill services, and enough time at Redhill to run to Gatwick and back instead of occupying a platform.

 

[Watershed]

Because someone decided it was operationally convenient to link the Strood-Paddock Wood/Tonbridge and Tonbridge-Redhill services, and enough time at Redhill to run to Gatwick and back instead of occupying a platform.

Having a standalone Tonbridge-Redhill shuttle always struck me as a very inefficient way of doing things. It's a 31 minute journey time, so at the very least you could at least run it as far as Reigate during the turnaround at Redhill...

 

[djdanny77]

Thanks for your replies, interesting that they decided to keep Gatwick as a destination on what is clearly new (purple and white) Southeastern signage when there hasn’t been a service in some time.

 

[telstarbox]

Not uncommon for that to happen with outdated road signs where the contractors just replace the old one word for word.

 

[RichJF]

Having a standalone Tonbridge-Redhill shuttle always struck me as a very inefficient way of doing things. It's a 31 minute journey time, so at the very least you could at least run it as far as Reigate during the turnaround at Redhill...

Southern often run a Tonbridge - Reigate service at weekends when there's regular interruptions to the timetabled services.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Slaithwaite has "this platform for..." signs suggesting that there are services to Wakefield, which haven't run for many years and currently requires at least one change and possibly a bus.

 

[AzureOtsu]

West Brompton have a sign for Gatwick airport & Brighton on the overground platforms, that's a real stretch