December Cannon Street service

[NoOnions]

Dear All,

I'd just like to check that I've read the draft timetable correctly and also pick the brains of the alive and dead posters on this site!

I currently get the 06:34 Rainham to Cannon Street. I believe that there is currently a 05:42 and a 06:15 before my train. If I have read the draft timetable correctly* the 06:34 becomes the 06:29 and is now the first train to Cannon Street?

The 06:34 is currently an 8-car Networker. I believe the 06:15 is a 12-car Electrostar.

By the time my train leaves Rochester it is usually 90%+ full.

So:

1. Am I right that the 06:29 will be the new first train from Rainham to Cannon Street?

2. Will SE Trains use common sense and make the train a 12-car Electrostar?

3. ChavLine - never understood that. Logic would imply services from Chatham - but I don't think that is what is meant - how about a FAQ explaining the board's shorthand?

I hope you are all enjoying the sun?

Regards,

NoOnions

* I should be able to - my Dad used to plan timetables when he worked at BR - I think the skill skips a generation :-)

[chapelwood]

May 30, 2009 16:57:37 GMT NoOnions said:

1. Am I right that the 06:29 will be the new first train from Rainham to Cannon Street?

According to the draft timetable (which isn't confirmed yet) the 0629 will be the first through train from Rainham to Cannon Street, but there will be a 0545 Gillingham to Cannon Street (fast from Rochester to London Bridge), and this will connect out of the 0536 Rainham to Victoria.
Chapelwood

[genehuntisking]

The 06:34 is currently an 8-car Networker. I believe the 06:15 is a 12-car Electrostar.

2. Will SE Trains use common sense and make the train a 12-car Electrostar?

[/quote]

In the existing workings, 06.15 from Rainham (05.13 Dover - Cannon St) is booked 8 car 375, not 12. In the new workings the latest information that I have is that the new 06.08 Faversham - Cannon St will be 8 car 465/9. That said the stock working I have seen hasn't been finalised yet, it was just a draft copy.

On the plus side for Chatham line passengers, the 12 car 375 which was loaned to Southern to cover loan of dual voltage stock to FCC returned to Ramsgate on Friday night, so 06.47 Broadstairs - Cannon St and 17.30 Cannon St - Ramsgate should revert to 375s from 465s as from tomorrow.

The Gene Genie

[chapelwood]

Although the final December timetable hasn't been published yet, the details are now in Journey Planner (accessed through either the National Rail or the Southeastern websites). It seems to be basically the same as the draft timetables published in May, but there are some differences.
Checking morning peak trains from Folkestone to Cannon Street, Journey Planner throws up some journeys via St Pancras and the circle Line, as well as the expected route via Tonbridge. On the National Rail Journey Planner the St Pancras route can be filtered out by specifying 'via Tonbridge', though on the Southeastern site this option is not available.