CrossRail to Gravesend

[NorthKent1989]

When do you think this will happen? And what will happen to local rail services?

On the latter point I think CrossRail could take over all the stations to Gravesend thereby allowing SE (or Thameslink) to run fast beyond Abbey Wood calling at Dartford & Greenhithe only then Gravesend onward to Medway.

I hope for the Gravesend extension to be running by the late 2020s

 

[VT 390]

I would like to see Crossrail running fast from Abbey Wood to Dartford then all stops to Gravesend with Southeastern running a service every 10 minutes from Cannon Street calling at all stations via Greenwich and looping back to London either via Bexley or Bexleyheath. This would allow the Thameslink service to operate from London Bridge to Lewisham and then via Woolwich Arsenal calling only at main stations to Dartford then Gravesend continuing to Rainham as at present but with a much faster journey time.
Also I would like to see an extension built to allow Crossrail to run to Ebbsfleet International as well as Gravesend.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Pedantic point: Most plans are to extend Crossrail to Ebbsfleet, not Gravesend, so I suspect that Crossrail to Gravesend will never happen. Crossrail to Ebbsfleet may happen in the next 15 years or so.

Having said that, I'm not convinced this extension would be worth while. In my experience, SouthEastern/Thameslink trains are very lightly loaded East of Abbey Wood, so it's hard to argue that the demand is there to put twice as many trains on that section of track.

Personally I'd go for: Build a dedicated pedestrian link between Ebbsfleet and Northfleet, and sort out capacity between Slade Green and Dartford so that all trains on the Woolwich/Bexleyheath/Sidcup lines can all run to Dartford, with trains every 10 minutes extended to Gravesend (in my experience, virtually no-one uses the 'rounders' between Slade Green and Crayford/Barnehurst so may as well run a frequent service to Dartford on all lines allowing easy connections for the few people who do want to travel between the lines). Even allowing for all the new housing that's planned at Belvedere, I imagine that will be enough to cope with demand long into the future. And the required infrastructure will be a lot cheaper to build.

 

[Clip]

I do think this post is all about reinstating the semi fasts into town really and I don tthink TFL could be bothered with anything further if im honest - the project is over run over budget and any hopes are just fantasy and solely for the reintroduction of the lost semi fast services and this solution really isnt a credible one

 

[NorthKent1989]

I do think this post is all about reinstating the semi fasts into town really and I don tthink TFL could be bothered with anything further if im honest - the project is over run over budget and any hopes are just fantasy and solely for the reintroduction of the lost semi fast services and this solution really isnt a credible one

Not at all, CrossRail I think is needed beyond Abbey Wood, especially to Ebbsfleet, there’s nothing wrong with semi fasts however, time is of the essence if you live further out and I think CrossRail can help with this, bringing the Docklands, City and West End on one line is essential

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Crossrail should be to Gravesend and not Ebbsfleet and the point about a well-lit, dedicated and secure link from Northfleet to Ebbsfleet is the way forward.

It’s all a bit rubbish, all told.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Not at all, CrossRail I think is needed beyond Abbey Wood, especially to Ebbsfleet, there’s nothing wrong with semi fasts however, time is of the essence if you live further out and I think CrossRail can help with this, bringing the Docklands, City and West End on one line is essential

If Crossrail were extended to Ebbsfleet, what important destinations could you then get to by changing at Ebbsfleet that you wouldn't be able to reach roughly as quickly by staying on HS2 to Stratford or St Pancras?

 

[4-SUB 4732]

If Crossrail were extended to Ebbsfleet, what important destinations could you then get to by changing at Ebbsfleet that you wouldn't be able to reach roughly as quickly by staying on HS2 to Stratford or St Pancras?

I think the main thing people would argue is that it’s about getting some ‘amazing’ journey times from Ebbsfleet to North Kent and South East London for businesses to somehow then be ‘closer than ever’ to Brussels or Paris.

That said, almost anybody using it will be going on holiday or connecting down to Kent for leisure purposes. People living in the new Ebbsfleet Garden City will also find little use realistically when journey times will be distended as it will have to stop everywhere.

 

[VT 390]

People living in the new Ebbsfleet Garden City will also find little use realistically when journey times will be distended as it will have to stop everywhere.

But it would be a cheaper option than the High Speed services.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

But it would be a cheaper option than the High Speed services.

Quite frankly I’m not a fan of snarling up what will only be a replacement for legacy services between the Gravesend / Ebbsfleet area and London because people who move to Ebbsfleet Garden City want a cheaper train ride.

It’s up to the Government and franchisee to order suitable extra stock and ensure appropriate capacity for, I assume, at least 10tph that will be needed shortly between Ebbsfleet and London from all corners of Kent.