izvor
Member
10-day repairs are required to another landslip at Crowhurst, between Godstone and Edenbridge, very close to the previous serious one about 5 years ago. This one is slightly to the east, very close to the site of Crowhurst South Junction. From the train it can be seen that a lot of work has already taken place, on both sides of the track, plus preparatory work for what is to come including access roads across the fields.
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runni...way-upgrade-plan/edenbridge-embankment-works/
I have two questions, from a passenger perspective, hopefully those in the know can help. Firstly the rail replacement bus services seem rather odd. The previous arrangement was an hourly all-stations, taking 1h20m, increased to 2bph M-F peaks; plus a minibus shuttle Redhill to Nutfield (similar frequency) to avoid a long detour along narrow roads to serve Nutfield. Seemed to work quite well then. (Declaration of interest: I was a RR bus controller at the time)
Big change this time, and I am struggling to work out why. The RDH-TON is upped to 2bph all day M-F (1bph Sat/Sun) but split at Edenbridge Town (EBT), through pax requiring a change. All buses also appear to run via Nutfield, increasing the end-to-end journey time still further. EBT is not even on this line, but on the Uckfield branch. Buses from there to/from Tonbridge call also at EBR (Edenbridge) but not on the Redhill leg. I cannot understand the reasoning behind any of this. Off-peak travel is light on this already quiet line and I can't fathom the need for 2bph all day. If this is the requirement then a better use of resources would be 1bph non-stop RDH-TON plus the one all-stations: a good proportion of pax, maybe 40% (my estimation), are end-to-end. And I can't see that diverting/splitting at EBT serves any useful purpose or provides any particularly useful connections, although there is a larger forecourt there to turn/park buses.
Second point is that there is no mention of ticket arrangements on the Southern website, but it appears that through pax between Tonbridge and Redhill (and points beyond at either end) will not be able to use "not London" tickets to travel via LBG (as has happened previously). This would at least allow a time saving of c.20m, more if travelling t/from further afield. So, from what I can see, these passengers will be forced to (a) endure an extended journey time (1h35m vs. 33m normally by rail), (b) have to change at EBT (connection 5m, not guaranteed?) and (c) have to pay extra for the privilege. A lot. For example, TON-RDH CDR is £12.70 direct, £33.00 via London. Season ticket holders will also presumably be penalised (I haven't seen anything to the contrary).
If past form is anything to go by I do not expect my letter to Southern to be answered before this is all over (and even then most likely just "sorry for the disruption"), so any helpful comments appreciated, thanks in advance.
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runni...way-upgrade-plan/edenbridge-embankment-works/
I have two questions, from a passenger perspective, hopefully those in the know can help. Firstly the rail replacement bus services seem rather odd. The previous arrangement was an hourly all-stations, taking 1h20m, increased to 2bph M-F peaks; plus a minibus shuttle Redhill to Nutfield (similar frequency) to avoid a long detour along narrow roads to serve Nutfield. Seemed to work quite well then. (Declaration of interest: I was a RR bus controller at the time)
Big change this time, and I am struggling to work out why. The RDH-TON is upped to 2bph all day M-F (1bph Sat/Sun) but split at Edenbridge Town (EBT), through pax requiring a change. All buses also appear to run via Nutfield, increasing the end-to-end journey time still further. EBT is not even on this line, but on the Uckfield branch. Buses from there to/from Tonbridge call also at EBR (Edenbridge) but not on the Redhill leg. I cannot understand the reasoning behind any of this. Off-peak travel is light on this already quiet line and I can't fathom the need for 2bph all day. If this is the requirement then a better use of resources would be 1bph non-stop RDH-TON plus the one all-stations: a good proportion of pax, maybe 40% (my estimation), are end-to-end. And I can't see that diverting/splitting at EBT serves any useful purpose or provides any particularly useful connections, although there is a larger forecourt there to turn/park buses.
Second point is that there is no mention of ticket arrangements on the Southern website, but it appears that through pax between Tonbridge and Redhill (and points beyond at either end) will not be able to use "not London" tickets to travel via LBG (as has happened previously). This would at least allow a time saving of c.20m, more if travelling t/from further afield. So, from what I can see, these passengers will be forced to (a) endure an extended journey time (1h35m vs. 33m normally by rail), (b) have to change at EBT (connection 5m, not guaranteed?) and (c) have to pay extra for the privilege. A lot. For example, TON-RDH CDR is £12.70 direct, £33.00 via London. Season ticket holders will also presumably be penalised (I haven't seen anything to the contrary).
If past form is anything to go by I do not expect my letter to Southern to be answered before this is all over (and even then most likely just "sorry for the disruption"), so any helpful comments appreciated, thanks in advance.
