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I noticed when passing yesterday that both up and down tracks connecting Southfleet and Fawkham junctions had some shine on them. Have the Ashford to Victoria ECS runs restarted or has something else passed by? The tracks had been rusty for several weeks.

I have travelled from London Bridge to St Pancras many times and the changeover has always been at Farringdon. However yesterday a northbound 8 car 377 did the swap at City Thameslink. This was about 15:30. Was there a particular reason for this or is it something that happens every now and...

I was waiting on platform 5/6 at London Bridge this morning and noticed a 10 car 442 consist with the front 5,1/4 cars stopped in what appeared to be platform 12 with the rest blocking the throat. This went on for ages with the passengers eventually exiting from the front unit and the front...

Going away on the 25th of this month and checked tickets to Gatwick. On the Southeastern website they were offering an off peak return for £24 via Tonbridge and Redhill on their peak time morning trains. (This is a Tuesday). They even offer an off peak return via HS1 for £43.30 changing to...

Last Saturday decided to visit Cambridge. Went to East Coast TVM at Kings Cross and purchased a super off peak day return for £16.00. Machine said only valid at weekends and bank holidays. Fine as it was a saturday. Barriers open at Kings Cross so joined train and left (08:45 i think)...

Which lines have the fastest speeds? I seem to remember that the outer reaches of the MET were fast and the Piccadilly was fast from Hammersmith to Acton Town. As for the underground bits the Jubilee from London Bridge to North Greenwich seems fast between stations. Having worked on its...

Had a trip to Reading yesterday to view the works. (amazing whats happened since I was there two years ago). My usual fare is a 395 Ashford to Stratford which is fast, a bit of a wild ride (depending on individual unit), and hard seats. The journey out was a HST, very sedate, very...

Went to St Pancras this morning on the 08:13 ex Ashford International. On approach to St P, apart from the usual safety and security bits the OBM (On board manager) said the following. "On arrival will customers please exit the train in a prompt and orderly fashion as the doors will lock out...

How do the doors over the couplers work. I've seen many 395's split at Ashford and the leading unit departs with the trailing coupler on view and the doors closing over it at various distances down the platform. Is it automatic (speed related) or driver controlled. Thanks in advance.

Travelled a bit recently and thought about the air conditioning of various trains. By far the best was 4 seperate Southern 171 units between Ashford and Brighton. They were Ice cold to the point that you considered putting a coat on. 377 and 375 were adequate although temperature varied from...

Has anyone else travelled on this service? It is the only "fast" left on the classic main line via Tonbridge. Did it yesterday, left on time, 1 min down at London Bridge and then stopped at Hither Green to let ECS into the depot. Left HG at 09:20 to Tonbridge (arr 09:39/dep 09:40) then a...

Having seen various bits on the above. Can someone explain how it works. Class 76 (out of date I know) seems to have major handels for different controls. Class 81-87 has controls such as notch up / run up / hold / run back /notch back etc. Can someome explain how this works. Simple west...

I recall from other threads on this forum that the Cornish Main line can only support 1tph (passenger) in each direction. If we take Penzance to Plymouth as 80 miles and the journey time as 2 hours (allowing for an average number of stops), this leaves 1 train at the half way stage as the next...

Hi all. Are South Eastern Cl 395 drivers still signed on the classic routes and classic rolling stock or are they a unique bunch signed for HS1 only. E.G., Can an Ashford driver do a return to Victoria (via Maidstone East) and then do a return to STP on HS1 in a class 395. Just a...

I travel this route to Yeovil Junction fairly often. I usually pay £76.60 for an off peak return. Tried to find something cheaper (e.g. splits etc, but no luck). I then tried Pen Mill as the destination and got some wierd results. (N.B. all this done on Southeasterns website). With Pen Mill...

Saw for the first time this mornining a SE 375 in the new livery. "Purple" doors and dark plue undersides coming down the Canterbury line into Ashford. Looked very nice. Too far away for numbers but a non pantograph 4 car unit. Saw it about 09:55.

Just looked at prices in Mid june for a day return. From SET web site £67.20 day return. Same website offers advances at £12:00 single 09:43 to STP then VT to BRUM also 3 VT returns at £12:00 single advance to Ashford around miday. Seems good, is this as good as its gets.