Tunbridge Wells - Charing X Saturday service

[brad465]

This service runs at a half-hourly frequency in the morning in both directions until 12:19 in the up direction and 12:56 in the down direction. After that only the Hastings' services run for the rest of the day. Is there a particular reason it only runs at these times on Saturdays? I would have thought if the demand is there for an increased frequency on the route in the morning, there would be enough demand to at least run a few services in the evening, to cater for the passengers who travelled in the morning returning.

 

[dastocks]

I really don't know what traffic on the Hastings line is like on a Saturday. However, it seems plausible that there isn't a lot of demand to/from Hastings in the afternoon and evening so the Hastings service provides adequate capacity between Tunbridge Wells and London for that period.

 

[paul1609]

I think its generally the case with the Kent Mainlines that the return in the afternoon/evening is more spread out than the journey up to town in the morning. Theres four trains an hour at Tonbridge which on a saturday has ample parking a mile off the A21 expressway. Tunbridge Wells centre by comparison is a traffic nightmare.

 

[JonathanH]

The other point is that Tunbridge Wells is just a reversing point for these services which also cover demand at Orpington, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. Indeed, passengers at Tunbridge Wells itself may favour the (slightly) faster Hastings services.

When considered at the other stations, the demand spreads over more services.

 

[Starmill]

I really don't know what traffic on the Hastings line is like on a Saturday. However, it seems plausible that there isn't a lot of demand to/from Hastings in the afternoon and evening so the hourly service provides adequate capacity between Tunbridge Wells and London for that period.

It's 2tph all day between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

 

[brad465]

I think its generally the case with the Kent Mainlines that the return in the afternoon/evening is more spread out than the journey up to town in the morning. Theres four trains an hour at Tonbridge which on a saturday has ample parking a mile off the A21 expressway. Tunbridge Wells centre by comparison is a traffic nightmare.

Now that RailChecker's loadings for yesterday are up, I've had a look at the loadings on Hasting's services from 16:15-19:15 inclusive. All bar a couple were rammed at London Bridge and Orpington, with heavy loads still present by Hildenborough (for the ones that call there). If this is commonplace on Saturdays, I certainly think there is demand for a few "crowdbusters" to run at least as far as Tonbridge from Charing X within this time range.

Here are the busiest looking services (the 17:45 in particular was max load despite being 12-car):

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[paul1609]

Now that RailChecker's loadings for yesterday are up, I've had a look at the loadings on Hasting's services from 16:15-19:15 inclusive. All bar a couple were rammed at London Bridge and Orpington, with heavy loads still present by Hildenborough (for the ones that call there). If this is commonplace on Saturdays, I certainly think there is demand for a few "crowdbusters" to run at least as far as Tonbridge from Charing X within this time range.

Here are the busiest looking services (the 17:45 in particular was max load despite being 12-car):

Search | RailChecker

Check train times, formations, crowding, planning, disruption and more on RailChecker.

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Check train times, formations, crowding, planning, disruption and more on RailChecker.

railchecker.app

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Check train times, formations, crowding, planning, disruption and more on RailChecker.

railchecker.app

These trains are only full between London Bridge and Orpington it is pretty normal loading for the southeast to have to stand for 17 mins these are the slow Hastings trains. If you look at the Semi Fast hastings trains at xx 15 which dont stop at orpington these never go above half full.

 

[N/100]

These trains are only full between London Bridge and Orpington it is pretty normal loading for the southeast to have to stand for 17 mins these are the slow Hastings trains. If you look at the Semi Fast hastings trains at xx 15 which dont stop at orpington these never go above half full.

On Saturday all Hastings trains stop at Orpington when there are no Tunbridge Wells terminators.

 

[LUYMun]

Which SE stock usually operates these services?

 

[david737]

Which SE stock usually operates these services?

Tunbridge Wells terminators are usually 465/466 combinations up to 10 coach's.