Southeastern Tunbridge Wells Terminators - Saturday 18th October

[Concorde9289]

On Saturday I noticed that as well as the half hourly Hastings trains (that were only going as far as Battle due to engineering works), that there was also a half hourly networker operated service that only went as far as Tunbridge Wells. From what I've seen this service only runs at peak times during the week, and definitely wasn't running the last Saturday I was in the area. Was there some event that was taking place in Tunbridge Wells that required the extra capacity that I had no idea about?

 

[ponponjo]

Prior to COVID, the Tunbridge Wells terminators ran all day Monday - Saturday, meaning Charing X - Tunbridge Wells had 4tph with 2tph continuing to Hastings (with even more at peak times).

I think they were cut to peak-time only (or possible altogether) during COVID, but have steadily had their operating hours restored.

Currently, they do extend outside of peak times in the published timetable,

• Monday - Friday, last down departure is 0956 from CHX, last up departure at 1019 from TBW, before picking up again in the afternoon with down departures (roughly) half-hourly between 1456 and 2226 and up from 1519 to 2119
• Saturdays - up departures every 30 mins from 0919 until 1219, down departures from 1026 to 1156 with a final departure at 1256

From personal experience, the 4tph is certainly needed during the "leisure peaks" as well as the commuter peaks and is more aimed at days out from Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Orpington into London than the other way round.

 

[telstarbox]

There is also some counter-peak demand from Sevenoaks to the secondary schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

 

[izvor]

There is also some counter-peak demand from Sevenoaks to the secondary schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

Grammar schools, pur-leeze! Sevenoaks parents would never dream of sending little Demelzia and Sennockius to a mere Secondary.

Back in slam-door days there was even an untimetabled school train from Otford through to Tonbridge (& maybe Tunbridge Wells?) and back to cope with the numbers. I don't know when it ceased.

 

[Concorde9289]

Prior to COVID, the Tunbridge Wells terminators ran all day Monday - Saturday, meaning Charing X - Tunbridge Wells had 4tph with 2tph continuing to Hastings (with even more at peak times).

I think they were cut to peak-time only (or possible altogether) during COVID, but have steadily had their operating hours restored.

Currently, they do extend outside of peak times in the published timetable,

• Monday - Friday, last down departure is 0956 from CHX, last up departure at 1019 from TBW, before picking up again in the afternoon with down departures (roughly) half-hourly between 1456 and 2226 and up from 1519 to 2119
• Saturdays - up departures every 30 mins from 0919 until 1219, down departures from 1026 to 1156 with a final departure at 1256

From personal experience, the 4tph is certainly needed during the "leisure peaks" as well as the commuter peaks and is more aimed at days out from Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Orpington into London than the other way round.

This makes a lot of sense as to why I didn't see any last time, since I was at Knockholt in the afternoon. Very helpful, thank you.