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Post by jumpedup on Jan 5, 2010 15:46:04 GMT
Southeastern website:
Email from Southeastern:
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Post by NoOnions on Jan 5, 2010 18:43:38 GMT
Apart from cynical reasons (I can think of many!!), how come they can predict a normal High Speed service but are unable to run a full Metro/Mainline service?
Lots of the route (I assume) through to the Medway Towns way to London is the same (branching off at Strood).
Are there operational reasons why Metro/Mainline suffer but HS doesn't? Is it just that there are many more 'normal' services run and therefore SE Trains are just being cautious?
I'm curious for your thoughts on this.
Regards,
NoOnions
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Post by NoOnions on Jan 5, 2010 18:48:32 GMT
From the SE Trains website (no Cannon Street services for me!):
Summary of services tomorrow Wednesday 6 January
Metro
Sevenoaks to Blackfriars via Bellingham Normal service
Orpington to Victoria via Herne Hill Half Hourly Service
Dartford to Charing Cross via Bexleyheath Half Hourly Service
Dartford to Cannon Street via Greenwich Half Hourly Service
Gillingham to Charing Cross via Sidcup Half Hourly Service
Hayes to Cannon Street Half Hourly Service
Mainline
Ashford to Victoria via Maidstone East Half Hourly Service
Ashford to Charing Cross Half Hourly Service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Canterbury West Hourly Service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Dover Priory Hourly Service
Hastings to Tonbridge Hourly Service
Faversham to Victoria Half Hourly Service
Dover Priory to Faversham via Canterbury East Hourly Service
Ramsgate to Faversham via Margate Hourly Service
Strood to Paddock Wood Hourly Service
High speed
A normal service will be operating. Southeastern ticket holders can use this service at no extra cost
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Post by Ryan Webb on Jan 5, 2010 19:18:11 GMT
Lovely, no trains running AGAIN.
Oh well, bustitution it seems it will be in the snow (or no snow as the BBC says ...)
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Post by heofgreatwisdom on Jan 5, 2010 19:43:47 GMT
What a get out before it's even started! As the Hastings line seems to be running only as far as Tonbridge (assuming there are no electrical problems again at Tunbridge Wells) the only service from Ashford, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks etc to LB.CX or CS seems to be a half hourly from Ashford. Why don't they throw in the towel now? HOGW
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Post by stumpyuk on Jan 5, 2010 20:52:53 GMT
If regular users of HS1 have to pay a premium, will this be waived, as it is to be for everyone else that is to be allowed on the trains?
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Post by NoOnions on Jan 5, 2010 23:03:23 GMT
No idea - but as the High Speed (HS) Link does not provide a service that we in the Medway - Cannon Street/Victoria link need or require I'm not sure what to say.
We are already paying inflation-busting prices for our tickets to fund a High Speed service that we do not want. Maidstone/West Malling to London users have lost many train services. They are also paying for the HS service that they do not even benefit from.
Forgive me if I'm in angry mode, but if I'm having to subsidise a service I'll normally never use, and then SE Trains cancel all my trains because it might snow tomorrow I really don't think that HS Train users deserve a refund.
Good luck tomorrow friends!
NoOnions
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Post by stumpyuk on Jan 6, 2010 0:56:18 GMT
For years SE Kent had to endure high fares and a rubbish service to provide north and west kent with whatever they wanted - and when things went wrong SE kent trains were bombed with stop orders, overcrowding etc etc. Therefore I really dont have a care for North and West Kent subbing me for a change.. Also, I love the fact that after Medway made such a song and dance about getting HS1 trains, it turns out no-one wanted them after all!. I would suggest re-instating the classic services for medway and provide SE Kent with 1/2 hourly HS1 trains instead, with no split and build at ashford, cut out the ebbsfleet stop on the ashford HS1 trains - they get enough of their own shuttles, and make it a level playing field - everyone on HS1 pays the same premium if they use it - regardless of weather... HS1 cannot start to be used to bail out other failing areas of the network much as the SE Kent previous services were expected to! I have over 20 years of unheard anger to vent......
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Post by sibodkent on Jan 6, 2010 6:25:05 GMT
On one hand it looks like a cynical attempt to force people onto HS1 'to see how god it is'. On the other, HS1 is less affected because A) Largely it's underground for its journey after Gravesend so less snow and B) it's overhead power, and as far as I am aware, less prone to shorts in snowy conditions.
That is to say, I beleive they can get the trains to and from london as far as Ebbsfleet with little or no disrutpion.
However, last time there was snow they were severely affected - SET seem to be doing everything in their power to reduce the regular service just to allow HS1 to operate normally and thus get people on some sort of freebie preview service.
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Post by NoOnions on Jan 6, 2010 7:55:05 GMT
Blimey stumpyuk - did you actually read my message?
As a mainline user I'm upset for all mainline users who have lost out due to the HS link.
Medway made a song and dance for the HS service? I can assure you that the actual users did not - the stupid politicians did - you will have noted that I've argued with my MP about this?
If the HS service works for you I'm glad. I'm not sure how the north and west Kent have ever got what they wanted to the detriment to the rest of Kent? Perhaps vent your anger at the politicians and train managers and not the users of the rail service?
Should the Tube service not be used to bail out SE Trains when we are forced to go to Victoria or St. P?
The real problem is that ALL users of trains in Kent have been getting a raw deal for years.
I hope you all have a safe journey into work today.
NoOnions
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Post by NoOnions on Jan 6, 2010 8:48:34 GMT
A second thought - as the 'normal' users of the HS link will generally get on first (further down the line), they'll get a seat, so there is no reason to be worried if others have to get on later and stand.
Regards,
NoOnions
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Post by barrygillingham on Jan 6, 2010 9:17:11 GMT
I caught the High Speed train today. Even taking into account it was 10 minutes late I estimate it took me 15 minutes longer. And did I miss a sign or something to the new Northern Line entrance? I swear it took 10 minutes to get to the underground platform, then a change to get to Southwark (groan !). I can normally walk from London Bridge having got the fast service.
The HS1 would only have made real sense for Medway if they'd built a station by the M2. I still wouldn't have used it as I'd need a second car and I live fairly close to the town centre and who wants to see the country/county under yet more concrete?
Barry, Gillingham
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Post by jumpedup on Jan 6, 2010 10:18:10 GMT
did I miss a sign or something to the new Northern Line entrance? I swear it took 10 minutes to get to the underground platform, THe Northern Line entrance is now very close to platforms 11-13. Just keep going down the escalators (i.e. to outside M&S and then down the next escalators) and you'll get to the new ticket hall directly. The Northern Line platforms are right by the ticket barriers. There is a plan of the new Ticket Hall at www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=497If you don't go this way you will go round the houses as there is no entrance to the Northern Line from the old ticket hall (while they build a lift) - so they send you back towards the new one...
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Post by greenicing on Jan 6, 2010 15:18:17 GMT
I'm no expert but if SET were able to run a full service yesterday, why were they not able to do so today? There has been no additional snow in North or East Kent, and little in London, my colleagues based there have reached work fine. Is there some reason then why the Ramsgate to London services could not run properly? I've heard of very bad snow in Buckinghamshire, as forecast, but not here, again as forecast. Having made the decision yesterday afternoon (as shown on their website) not to run a full timetable, why was the emergency timetable hidden from the public for so long? Why not just run a Saturday service? Not everyone has internet access at home - the train crews last night announced nothing. There were no notices at the station this morning and the platform staff knew nothing - they were just encouraging everyone to go home. Also, does the fact that 'High Speed' services are running expose SET's position somewhat?
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Post by lordbarne on Jan 6, 2010 15:50:02 GMT
A Saturday service would have been a luxury; it was only a Sunday service this morning (2 trains ph instead of 10 trains ph), and mine was so full that a decision was made to cut out a number of stations and run fast to London Bridge. All those who wanted to go to intermediate stations were told to get the next train back! I have this luxury awaiting for me again this evening.
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