Another typical week on Southeastern. I know that many of these issues are not the fault of the TOC, but the end result is constant disruption for passengers who are already paying through the nose to stand in cramped peak time trains.
All week we have been subject to the amended leaf-fall timetable, meaning that many of the metro stations are facing a reduced service, particularly off-peak. Also electrical supply issues on the Sheerness branch mean that stock has had to be swapped leading to short forming elsewhere.
We began the week with over running engineering at Ashford, a major signal fault at Lewisham that affected services most of the day, a broken down train / disruptive passenger blocking half the platforms at Cannon Street in the morning peak, a signal fault at Rochester and an ill passenger at Hither Green. Not a good Monday.
Tuesday didn’t get much better. Signal faults at Charing, Hayes and Catford Bridge, a faulty train at St Johns, a passenger taken ill at Bromley South, trespassers on the line at Welling and a broken down train at Peckham Rye all caused delays.
Wednesday was marginally better, only one signalling fault, this time at Shortlands, but it took a long time to fix. Slippery rails at Tonbridge and Lewisham caused issues, as did a broken down train at St Johns. Trespassers near New Cross and a bridge strike at Nunhead didn’t help, and a road accident near Slade Green led to crew shortages in the evening peak as they couldn’t get to the depot.
Thursday brought major disruption all day as a broken rail between St Johns and New Cross couldn’t be repaired and a speed restriction led to delays and cancellations all day. A broken down train at Blackheath, an ill passenger at Westcombe Park, an obstruction on the track at Birchington all caused issues. Today’s signal faults were at Canterbury West and Sturry, and slippery rails Ashford to Otford.
Friday and we have yet another signalling problem at Lewisham and now the terrorist incident has closed London Bridge station.
I’ve missed out numerous cancellations due to train faults, short formed stock, emergency engineering works affecting early or late services and the usual delays due to congestion. A bad week, but actually a fairly typical week on Southeastern. Regrettably I don’t think a change of franchise will actually improve many of them.