Direct trains between Sidcup and Bexleyheath lines

[telstarbox]

Due to the Hither Green resignalling, there will be direct trains between Sidcup and Bexleyheath in the last week of July, for example:

Realtime Trains - 2Z72 0957 Sidcup to London Charing Cross

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[30907]

Makes sense - compared with just a couple of trains each way in the normal timetable. The regular trains via Slade Green continue to run.

 

[Horizon22]

Its an adaptation of a rounder service instead running to Charing Cross. Has happened quite a few times. Doubt it will be well loaded at all as the locals will just get the bus.

 

[30907]

Its an adaptation of a rounder service instead running to Charing Cross. Has happened quite a few times. Doubt it will be well loaded at all as the locals will just get the bus.

Even to go to London?

 

[Horizon22]

Even to go to London?

From Sidcup - yes. I doubt people would take the 30 minute train back on themselves towards say Welling rather than take a bus.

 

[43066]

Its an adaptation of a rounder service instead running to Charing Cross. Has happened quite a few times. Doubt it will be well loaded at all as the locals will just get the bus.

There was an even madder variation of this a couple of years back: Orpington to the Cross via the the Lee spur, down the Sidcup, back up the Bexleyheath line, if memory serves...

 

[Horizon22]

There was an even madder variation of this a couple of years back: Orpington to the Cross via the the Lee spur, down the Sidcup, back up the Bexleyheath line, if memory serves...

I remember that! A friend of mine got this and didn't travel by train much and queried the +60min journey!

 

[brad465]

There was an even madder variation of this a couple of years back: Orpington to the Cross via the the Lee spur, down the Sidcup, back up the Bexleyheath line, if memory serves...

I remember that! A friend of mine got this and didn't travel by train much and queried the +60min journey!

Yes that was my first experience of the Lee spur (and many others I imagine), I think (correct me if I'm wrong), they did this during the final works around London Bridge and/or the Bermondsey Dive under area?

 

[SlimJim1694]

Yeah it was. I had the pleasure of running a couple of those. Think it was via Woolwich and sidcup though, not bexleyheath.

 

[30907]

From Sidcup - yes. I doubt people would take the 30 minute train back on themselves towards say Welling rather than take a bus.

Yes, but when I said "to London" I was thinking London termini, rather than the nextdoor suburb - where even from Sidcup the longer journey is balanced by the convenience of a through train.

 

[MikeWh]

Yes, but when I said "to London" I was thinking London termini, rather than the nextdoor suburb - where even from Sidcup the longer journey is balanced by the convenience of a through train.

I agree, some people will use them from Sidcup. More will do so from Bexley and Crayford.

 

[DVD]

I live in Sidcup so will probably use the service via the Crayford Spur and Bexleyheath line once or twice next week as it is relatively rare routing. I note that it's running at half hour intervals (including at peak times) but that the journey time from Sidcup to Charing Cross is 58 to 60 minutes. It would certainly be more attractive to those travelling from the Crayford end. Presumably the down service from Charing Cross will not be advertised as running to Sidcup as this might mislead the unwary into thinking the route via Hither Green is running as normal.

 

[Horizon22]

Yes, but when I said "to London" I was thinking London termini, rather than the nextdoor suburb - where even from Sidcup the longer journey is balanced by the convenience of a through train.

Yep the further towards Dartford you get, the more attractive the option is. I was saying most locals starting at Sidcup wouldn't think "oh stay on this through train go back on myself and loop towards London", rather "oh I'll hope on a bus and catch my train there". Travelcards and PAYG is being accepted but not National Rail only tickets which might nudge people towards the train.

Much like the Bexleyheath line work earlier in the year, I reckon people will tend to stay at home - even more so given the current situation.

 

[Horizon22]

I live in Sidcup so will probably use the service via the Crayford Spur and Bexleyheath line once or twice next week as it is relatively rare routing. I note that it's running at half hour intervals (including at peak times) but that the journey time from Sidcup to Charing Cross is 58 to 60 minutes. It would certainly be more attractive to those travelling from the Crayford end. Presumably the down service from Charing Cross will not be advertised as running to Sidcup as this might mislead the unwary into thinking the route via Hither Green is running as normal.

Advertising is an interesting one, but as it's actually via Bexleyheath I suspect it will say "Sidcup via Bexleyheath" on the CIS etc. That wouldn't sound normal to most.