Ashford Depot Open Day 24/8/25

[cduncan]

Not sure if a thread already exists but Southeastern had initially announced their open day at Ashford on August 24 back in February 25 during the naming ceremony of 465908. Tickets now on sale here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southeastern-train-depot-open-day-tickets-1469564469889

 

[RealTrains07]

Any indication of whether tickets for this event are still available? as the website is not allowing payment and i’ve tried everything. It is also very slow too so not sure if tickets have actually sold out for this or if the website is actually broken??

 

[Medicy]

Southeastern sent out an email advertising it ~1 hour ago, so I imagine there are still tickets left.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I bought tickets yesterday and didn't have a problem. Maybe I just got lucky.

Interesting that it's on a Sunday. My only issue is (and I only realised after buying the ticket) that you get a 1 hour time slot. Is this true?

 

[RealTrains07]

I bought tickets yesterday and didn't have a problem. Maybe I just got lucky.

Interesting that it's on a Sunday. My only issue is (and I only realised after buying the ticket) that you get a 1 hour time slot. Is this true?

I hope not and is instead just the time slot for entry so you can then stay as long or little as you want.

SE were asked this on their twitter and the answer they gave was not clear at all.

 

[Trainguy34]

I hope not and is instead just the time slot for entry so you can then stay as long or little as you want.

SE were asked this on their twitter and the answer they gave was not clear at all.

That's what it seems to be from my understanding, even Southeastern aren't stupid enough to assume we could get through the whole thing in an hour.

 

[cduncan]

Hopefully the 1 hour slot isn't the case. Don't think an hour is enough to explore everything as I remember when SE did Ramsgate there was a morning slot and a afternoon slot. I chose the earlier which I can remember I had to rush through exploring the inside where the EMUs were.

 

[RealTrains07]

It would be nice if the website clarified or even just SE would clarify the position on this. As £25 for an hour is alot

 

[Medicy]

It would be nice if the website clarified or even just SE would clarify the position on this. As £25 for an hour is alot

Per the event FAQs:

What do the different ticket times mean?
The time on the ticket is your entry time to the event. With all tickets you can stay until the end of the event at 4pm.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

The "get directions" on the map is very vague. Assume it will be sign-posted from the station?

 

[RGM654]

Per the event FAQs:

What do the different ticket times mean?
The time on the ticket is your entry time to the event. With all tickets you can stay until the end of the event at 4pm.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southeastern-train-depot-open-day-tickets-1469564469889 says
"no matter what time entry ticket you have you’re able to stay until the event closes at 5pm."
And the FAQ now also says 5.

 

[4SubAsociation]

I can confirm. The 4SUB association stand will be there.

 

[ExRes]

RTT have a RailAdventure operated 1545 0Z18 Worksop Down Reception to Ashford Crane Depot showing for today with no onward schedules as yet, maybe for a continuation of Class 20 driver training next week and/or display at this weekends Open Day?

* 0Z18 now showing as cancelled

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Do we know the line-up yet for this event?

 

[4SubAsociation]

Do we know the line-up yet for this event?

From South Eastern

Subject to availability, heritage trains expected at the event include:

Clan Line
MPV
Hastings Diesel ‘Thumper’ (1013 2 motor coaches and one passenger vehicle)
Balfour Beatty Tamper
Class 73
Class 66
A1x ‘Stepney’
Class 12 "15224"
Class 69 locomotive
Class 20 locomotives
08
Tamper
Stone blower
MMT (Mobile Maintenance Train)

Railway 200 Class 395 Javelin 395015
Network SouthEast Networker – 465908.

Sentinel Shunter "Chiaki Ueda" is not mentioned but i know thats there

Final chance to peek behind the doors at Ashford Train Maintenance Centre | Southeastern Railway News

Final chance to book your space at Southeastern’s 'Railway 200' Open Day on Sunday, 24th August. Discover the engineering secrets behind Kent’s high-speed train fleet, from laser scans to bolts bigger than your wrist. Meet the engineers, drivers and depot staff who keep Britain moving and see...

railway200.southeasternrailway.co.uk

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Thank you

 

[ExRes]

Balfour Beatty pair 20901 & 20905 now scheduled to work Fridays 1105 0Z20 Woking Up Yard Reception to Ashford Crane Depot

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Balfour Beatty pair 20901 & 20905 now scheduled to work Fridays 1105 0Z20 Woking Up Yard Reception to Ashford Crane Depot

They were being prepped yesterday afternoon, and the stoneblower being in the mix of things, but on an adjacent road.

 

[4SubAsociation]

Seen elsewhere. Class 73 73128 will be there. It was hauling the hastings diesel

 

[Defiance149]

Seen elsewhere. Class 73 73128 will be there. It was hauling the hastings diesel

69014, 66315 and 73128 were atop the Hastings.

 

[Class73Electro]

73128 and 1013 at St Leonard's Depot getting ready.

Looking forward to visiting tomorrow, should be good!

 

[trainmania100]

Is 37254 attending? Can't see it on the list or photos above but it's at Ashford up siding

 

[Pep and co]

Hope everyone had a good day at the open day yesterday. Was wondering if 395008 was around and if it was what condition is it in at the moment?
Many thanks in advance for any replies

 

[Trainguy34]

Hope everyone had a good day at the open day yesterday. Was wondering if 395008 was around and if it was what condition is it in at the moment?
Many thanks in advance for any replies

Don't think it's here right now, it's pretty busy

 

[RealTrains07]

Was great to see examples from each of SEs fleets today.

375, 376, 377, 465, 466 and a 707 plus plenty of 395s of course!

 

[pdeaves]

Just in case anyone can help...
I left my open day bag somewhere on Ashford station (entrance or platform 5). In it was a green Northern Spirit neck scarf, a marroon neck tie and two totem fridge magnets, also a freebie postcard.

If you stumbled across this, please let me know to arrange return/costs. Thank you!

 

[Class73Electro]

Was great to see examples from each of SEs fleets today.

375, 376, 377, 465, 466 and a 707 plus plenty of 395s of course!

Indeed - had a great day. The 395 on the jacks was a highlight too!

 

[Trainguy34]

It was a great day, just a shame that no-one (Not even Southeastern themselves!) could agree on closing times, with tickets, adverts and even the Managing Director saying 5pm but all of the stalls and staff saying 4pm. Luckily we were able to squeeze in a cab tour of Clan Line, but that shut suddenly around 3 along with most of the maintenance and yard bit. Considering tickets were available to arrive at 4pm I'd be pretty annoyed that there was nothing to see in that hour.

 

[RealTrains07]

It was a great day, just a shame that no-one (Not even Southeastern themselves!) could agree on closing times, with tickets, adverts and even the Managing Director saying 5pm but all of the stalls and staff saying 4pm. Luckily we were able to squeeze in a cab tour of Clan Line, but that shut suddenly around 3 along with most of the maintenance and yard bit. Considering tickets were available to arrive at 4pm I'd be pretty annoyed that there was nothing to see in that hour.

Yeah the planning and communication was an absolute shambles to be quite honest. When trying to find out information it was also 50/50 chance whether the staff you were talking to knew what was or wasn’t happening.

The SE staff were wonderful to chat to though (even if not all of them knew what was going on themselves)

A few observations:
- the depot shed closed up at 14:30 (to new entrants to the event, thats understandable) however that fact it was also closed to people who were already at the event was a bit of a kick in the teeth really. The reason given was they needed to get the depot up and running again for 18:00 which as it is a working depot thats understandable but they really should have considered that when advertising that the event closes at 17:00 when really everything was closed up at 15:00.

- cab visits were closed off at 14:15 due to queues “being so long we won’t get through them before the event finishes” which I understand however those queues then quickly disappeared before 15:00, over 2 hour before the event was due to close. Very frustrating for a-lot of people.

- a map or diagram for helping people get around the site would have been nice especially for those with a disability or pushchair.

- Food queues were huge, would have been good to have another vendor (but then again, not really that important in the bigger picture)

Despite the organisation and communication issues on the day, it was a great day overall and the SE staff were brilliant even with the people who weren’t too pleased for things to have closed early than advertised.

 

[Class73Electro]

- cab visits were closed off at 14:15 due to queues “being so long we won’t get through them before the event finishes” which I understand however those queues then quickly disappeared before 15:00, over 2 hour before the event was due to close. Very frustrating for a-lot of people.

Reason I heard ( was waiting for a 395 cab visit when they stopped) was because people were passing out waiting or in the cab!