Just noticed the last bus from Lewes to Seaford is an hour earlier than the current last train, around midnight. In turn, this means you need to be away from Victoria well before 10pm to make the connection.
Can't see the justification for this.
Well if that's the case then for a short period 442s could be used as I doubt it's been 6 months since the mast one was used.IIRC it's every six months for drivers. Not sure about guards.
Coming back home from London Bridge:
16:10, 16:40, 17:11, 18:08, 18:51.
One train an hour!
I am informed that just to REALLY take the mick there is a 17.30 London Bridge - South Bermondsey ECS to form the 17.46 South Bermondsey - West Croydon.
Complete incompetence from top to bottom.
I am informed that just to REALLY take the mick there is a 17.30 London Bridge - South Bermondsey ECS to form the 17.46 South Bermondsey - West Croydon.
Complete incompetence from top to bottom.
Could it be run as a fast service between the two stations, if their isn't time to stop at immediate stations.Why can't that train run in service all the way down to West Croydon?
Could it be run as a fast service between the two stations, if their isn't time to stop at immediate stations.
I notice the 17.27 London Victoria to Ore service departed 8 minutes late in order to maintain customer connections. Never seen this reason given before.
If that's the case then fair enough. With the cancellations I thought may be it was the case but with Victoria being a terminus, I wasn't sure.Probably just a data input error.
...that's the point.![]()
Anyone know if the 0732, 0739 and 0741 from East Croydon - Clapham are still running? I'm not sure which timetables to look at.
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your email regarding Southern Rail services and the new timetable starting on Monday 11th July 2016.
I have today written to Charles Horton, the CEO of Govia Thameslink Railway, who are responsible for operating Southern Rail, to express my serious concern about the introduction of this timetable. This dramatic and sudden loss of service is simply unacceptable. I attach a copy of the letter for you.
I know that many constituents already suffer from Southern Rail’s ongoing disruptive, poor and unpredictable service, and because of this I will now be urging the Government to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchises in advance of its renewal date.
I have sponsored EDM 298 – Govia Thameslink Franchise Review, expressing dismay at the unacceptable level of service provided by Southern Rail and Thameslink.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.
Best wishes,
Harriet
With several folk having raised the question, GTR have agreed to contract a last bus at the same time (approx) as the current last train, between Brighton and Seaford via Lewes.
I'm going to watch the day time bus service closely. Local operators struggle to recruit and retain drivers for their own routes/hires, let alone an intensive (every 15 mins) rail replacement operation. GTR must be held to account if the buses, too, start to be cancelled due to lack of available drivers. Though I expect the end of school term releases some resource, until September.
I wonder if Compass will step in to provide the rail replacement buses? As their depot is only in Lewes, the only problem is that they've only got Pointers / E200's, so the loadings on them will be quite a crush.
One of the neighbouring MPs Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) had also written a more extensive letter on the same subject to the SoS on Weds.My local MP has replied to my email about the lack of service in South London.
She wants them stripped of the franchise.
enc
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your email regarding Southern Rail services and the new timetable starting on Monday 11th July 2016.
I have today written to Charles Horton, the CEO of Govia Thameslink Railway, who are responsible for operating Southern Rail, to express my serious concern about the introduction of this timetable. This dramatic and sudden loss of service is simply unacceptable. I attach a copy of the letter for you.
I know that many constituents already suffer from Southern Rails ongoing disruptive, poor and unpredictable service, and because of this I will now be urging the Government to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchises in advance of its renewal date.
I have sponsored EDM 298 Govia Thameslink Franchise Review, expressing dismay at the unacceptable level of service provided by Southern Rail and Thameslink.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.
Best wishes,
Harriet
It has been said that the fate of many rural byways was sealed, in the Beeching era, when the track was renewed and the stations spruced up. Closure followed, six months later.
Well, the painters and decorators are out in force at Seaford, Bishopstone and Newhaven Town stations, this week, undisturbed by a train service. The 'temporary' closure of the branch is 'indefinite', and with the revised timetable achieving it's strategic objectives - there were very few cancellations or staffing-related delays in the morning peak - I wonder whether we shall see trains restored for the remainder of this year.
I used the rail replacement bus service mid-morning. For the record, operators observed were:
Seaford & District
Metrobus
Compass
LJ Edwards of Hailsham
Brighton & Hove
Regency Coaches
Generally, Dart-type single deck vehicles. There was a controller at Lewes and 'bluecoat' security staff at Lewes and Seaford. The promised 15-minute frequency was being maintained, and none of the buses I used and saw were that busy: it's a needlessly long journey down the C7, where the A27/A26 route would shave 5-10 minutes and be less twisty for those (like me) who don't travel well on buses in hot weather. But in the peaks, I'm sure there will be capacity problems unless they run relief buses, which might be the plan.
Stopped off at Newhaven on the way back, which caused an issue. Me and several others waited in the bus/taxi interchange, by Town station, for the 15.02 bus to Seaford. Every other replacement bus, in both directions, was calling there before doubling-back to Harbour station. At 15.02, a Brighton & Hove single decker appeared from the Lewes direction and took the road to Harbour directly, missing out the interchange and intending passengers from Town. There would have been passengers alighting at Town, I'm sure, who must have been deposited at an unknown location.
Again, this is neglect of the basics. Newhaven Town is the station for the Dieppe ferry, used by travellers unfamiliar with local transport arrangements. Really, there should be a member of staff guiding people to the replacement buses, but at the very least the official stopping arrangements should be publicised at the station and briefed to all bus drivers. Basic operational incompetence, with not a single piece of signage to assist passengers.
Though they have been unreliable lately, and the bus service is likely to prove more robust, I'm going to miss our trains. So will the many thousands who visit Seaford for the Seven Sisters or Newhaven for the ferry, over the summer season. I suspect local retailers will feel the impact in their tills.
There's a public demonstration at Seaford station tomorrow evening (I'm already firing-up the brazier), then a public meeting with our MP and a GTR bigwig on Thursday. I'm not normally one for activism, but I think if everyone stays silent we will be stuck with buses for years, potentially, whilst London services are prioritised. There is a need for a large number of locals to agitate peacefully, until at least an hourly train service is restored and a full compensation package agreed: not Delay Repay, but compensation for buying (expensive) rail season tickets then being lumbered with a bus service, instead.
Well if your at Seaford, please be nice to Jenny in the ticket office, she has taken so much flack recently.
Saturday service still runs....Where a service has been completely curtailed such as Beckenham JCT- LBG with no bus replacement- how is this legal when closure of any route has a long and expensive legal process? Is there a loophole to allow this?
It has been said that the fate of many rural byways was sealed, in the Beeching era, when the track was renewed and the stations spruced up. Closure followed, six months later.
Well, the painters and decorators are out in force at Seaford, Bishopstone and Newhaven Town stations, this week, undisturbed by a train service. The 'temporary' closure of the branch is 'indefinite', and with the revised timetable achieving it's strategic objectives - there were very few cancellations or staffing-related delays in the morning peak - I wonder whether we shall see trains restored for the remainder of this year.