Tonbridge to London, 12 Feb 17

[2HAP]

I'd like to go to London from Tonbridge next Sunday, 12 Feb. However, there are lots of engineering works happening affecting various routes. Buses are replacing trains between Sevenoaks and Grove Park, so that's the SEML out. Via Swanley is also out due to buses between Swanley and Beckenham Junction. Can't go via Maidstone West and Strood as that is also repacement buses. London Bridge via Redhill also appears to be out as there are replacement buses between West Croydon and New Cross Gate. The normal ticket issued at Tonbrige states "Not valid on HS1"

As I can't use a bus for medical reasons, would I be able to go via HS1 as the only practicable rail service in operation on that day despite what it says on the ticket?

 

[Deepgreen]

Looks like Tonbridge to Redhill (curtailed shuttle), and Redhill to Victoria (diverted from London Bridge) trains will run.

 

[2HAP]

Looks like Tonbridge to Redhill (curtailed shuttle), and Redhill to Victoria (diverted from London Bridge) trains will run.

Well, it's a start. Puts me in wrong part of London but underground an option.

 

[tsr]

London Bridge via Redhill also appears to be out as there are replacement buses between West Croydon and New Cross Gate.

The West Croydon-New Cross Gate route crosses but does not usually affect any routes from Victoria-Redhill. This is the case on Sunday, and as such, our fellow forumite is correct, as above.

For most of the day, both 7 and 30 minute connection times appear to be available between the two routes at Redhill. Weekend Redhill-Tonbridge shuttles usually run fairly well (not that I want to "jinx" things) so 7 minutes' connection should be OK.

 

[2HAP]

tsr, are you saying I can get to London Bridge from Redhill next Sunday? That'll mean I'll be able to get to Charing Cross, which is much nearer where I need to be.

 

[Deepgreen]

tsr, are you saying I can get to London Bridge from Redhill next Sunday? That'll mean I'll be able to get to Charing Cross, which is much nearer where I need to be.

The Horsham to London Bridge (via Redhill) trains are diverted to Victoria. Change at Clapham Junction for Waterloo, or other tube options. The entire four track railway from New Cross Gate to around Norwood Junction is to be closed.

 

[tsr]

tsr, are you saying I can get to London Bridge from Redhill next Sunday? That'll mean I'll be able to get to Charing Cross, which is much nearer where I need to be.

Not directly. I'm saying that there should still be a route into London even if the entire route from West Croydon-New Cross Gate is replaced by buses.

You will have to use the Tube at some point, I should think. The District, Circle and Jubilee Lines will be able to offer you a service in the appropriate area.

 

[2HAP]

BTW, Southeastern are telling me on Twitter that there's nothing affecting me from Tonbridge to London CX via Orpington.

 

[hassaanhc]

BTW, Southeastern are telling me on Twitter that there's nothing affecting me from Tonbridge to London CX via Orpington.

Journey planners are currently showing direct trains from Tonbridge to London Charing Cross running via the usual route.

 

[2HAP]

And on the scheduled engineering page for next Sunday it says

Southeastern between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks

These trains will run between London Bridge and Grove Park.

 

[Deepgreen]

This seems to be somewhat circular now - typing in Tonbridge to Charing Cross (which is your preferred destination, is it not?) on the NRE page for Sunday shows frequent direct trains. I've lost the point of the query.

 

[2HAP]

Deepgreen, you have to go through Sevenoaks to get from Tonbridge to Charing Cross on the normal Service. Southeastern's own engineering page (am I allowed to post a link?) states that services between CX and Sevenoaks are only running from London Bridge to Grove Park, and that there is a bus replacement between Grove Park and Sevenoaks. Can't go via Swanley as there are buses from there to Beckenham Junction. Same situation between Maidstone West and Strood. Which leaves via Redhill, which puts me at Victoria, or via Ashford and HS1, but ticket not usually valid that way.

 

[Deepgreen]

Deepgreen, you have to go through Sevenoaks to get from Tonbridge to Charing Cross on the normal Service. Southeastern's own engineering page (am I allowed to post a link?) states that services between CX and Sevenoaks are only running from London Bridge to Grove Park, and that there is a bus replacement between Grove Park and Sevenoaks. Can't go via Swanley as there are buses from there to Beckenham Junction. Same situation between Maidstone West and Strood. Which leaves via Redhill, which puts me at Victoria, or via Ashford and HS1, but ticket not usually valid that way.

There seems to be a serious inconsistency between the journey planner and the engineering pages! If there really are no through trains to Tonbridge (I wonder if the advice means ALL trains through Sevenoaks will terminate there, or just the suburban ones?), I would imagine ticket validity will be wider than normal (i.e. to include the Redhill option).

 

[2HAP]

Redhill is always an option, as it is not on HS1.

 

[david737]

2HAP, you should be ok this Sunday as the mainline via Tonbridge & Sevenoaks is open as is Charing Cross. I have checked the Weekly Operating Notice for the weekend & there are no planned engineering works for that route.

 

[2HAP]

2HAP, you should be ok this Sunday as the mainline via Tonbridge & Sevenoaks is open as is Charing Cross. I have checked the Weekly Operating Notice for the weekend & there are no planned engineering works for that route.

That is good news, but it's not what Southeastern are saying on their website. They are saying buses between Sevenoaks and Grove Park.

 

[30907]

https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/live-travel-information/planned-engineering-work?date=2017-02-12

They aren't now.

 

[OxtedL]

Extract from website (my bold):

Amended service between Herne Hill and Sevenoaks / Swanley on Sunday 12 February
Date:
12 February - 12 February 2017 11:59 PM

Routes affected:
Southeastern between London Victoria and Gillingham / Ashford International / Canterbury East / Canterbury West / Ramsgate / Dover Priory / Orpington. Also between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks Thameslink between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks

Network Rail are carrying out engineering work between Beckenham Junction and St Mary Cray. The line will be closed between Beckenham Junction and Swanley / Sevenoaks

Customer Advice:

Southeastern between Beckenham Junction and Swanley

If you intend to travel between these destinations, you may take the bus provided.

Your journey may take approximately 30 minutes longer.

Southeastern between Beckenham Junction and Orpington

If you intend to travel between these destinations, you may take the bus provided.

Your journey may take approximately 30 minutes longer.

Southeastern between London Victoria and Canterbury / Dover Priory

Trains will be diverted via Lewisham and Chislehurst.

Southeastern between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks

These trains will run non-stop between London Bridge and Hither Green, then normally between Grove Park and Sevenoaks. If you intend to travel from Lewisham to Sevenoaks (and vice versa), travel on the Sidcup Line between Lewisham and Hither Green and change trains.

Thameslink between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks

These trains will run between Swanley and Sevenoaks only. Buses will run between Herne Hill and Swanley (via Catford). If you intend to travel between these destinations, you may take the bus provided.

Your journey may take approximately 60 minutes longer.

Your Thameslink ticket will also be accepted on London Buses on reasonable routes if you are travelling to / from Nunhead or Ravensbourne

I am guessing this is what you saw, unless it has changed since earlier.

The above is not implying there is engineering work between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks. It is saying that trains are not stopping at Lewisham.

This will be because their slots are needed by diverted trains from Victoria. They also won't be stopping at New Cross or St Johns as the Cannon Street side lines are closed.

Hope this helps.

 

[2HAP]

Oxted L, Southeastern have changed their website. Thanks to all for your help, looks like I'll be going.

 

[Deepgreen]

I suppose, if nothing else, this thread just shows the inordinate amount of confusion that can be caused by inconsistent/wrong information put out so often by the railway.

 

[2HAP]

Well, everything went smoothly both ways. Didn't have to wait more than 2 minutes for a train either way, and got the fast train too.