Information for GTR Southern passengers during strike (no DOO discussion)

[swt class 450]

Betchworth - P1 - Eastbound - 4 coaches - 93m
Betchworth - P2 - Westbound - 7 coaches - 140.2m
Dorking Deepdene - P1 - Eastbound - 4 coaches - 87.8m
Dorking Deepdene - P2 - Westbound - 4 coaches - 87.8m
Dorking West - P1 - Eastbound - 5 coaches - 111.9m
Dorking West - P2 - Westbound - 5 coaches - 102.7m
Gomshall - P1 - Eastbound - 3 coaches - 91.44m
Gomshall - P2 - Westbound - 3 coaches - 91.44m
Chilworth - P1 - Eastbound - 4 coaches - 85.95m
Chilworth - P2 - Westbound - 4 coaches - 85.95m
Shalford - P1 - Eastbound - 6 coaches - 104.24m
Shalford - P2 - Westbound - 6 coaches - 97.84m

As per the Sectional Appendix. (Shalford is 6 at 97m, but Dorking West is 5 at 102m? Okay...)

Thanks for the info. I dont think either platform at Dorking Deepdene can fit four coaches though. I use this station a few times a week (sometimes every day) and it only just about fits a three coach 165 or 166 (which takes up the entire platform) with no room for anything else.

 

[Barn]

It would be useful if the 165s and 166s were fitted with SDO as most of the platforms on the North Downs Line (except Dorking Deepdene) can fit more than three coaches.

As far as i am aware this is how many coaches they can fit each.

Betchworth - P1 - Eastbound - 6 coaches
Betchworth - P2 - Westbound - 4 coaches
Dorking Deepdene - P1 - Eastbound - 3 coaches
Dorking Deepdene - P2 - Westbound - 3 coaches
Dorking West - P1 - Eastbound - 6 coaches
Dorking West - P2 - Westbound - 6 coaches
Gomshall - P1 - Eastbound - 4 coaches
Gomshall - P2 - Westbound - 4 coaches
Chilworth - P1 - Eastbound - 4 coaches
Chilworth - P2 - Westbound - 4 coaches
Shalford - P1 - Eastbound - 6 coaches
Shalford - P2 - Westbound - 6 coaches

Does anyone know the exact length of these platforms (in metres)?

Strange that by far the most important station in that list is the one with the shortest platforms!

 

[swt class 450]

Strange that by far the most important station in that list is the one with the shortest platforms!

Yes thats what i thought as well. I presume that is part of the reason why Arriva Cross Country and Virgin Cross Country never called at Dorking Deepdene (as i dont think 220s and 221s have SDO).

 

[Controller1701]

Is it possible that Shalford has only part of the platform(s) usable? I know one of my local stations has a 12 car platform (fully served by thumpers in years gone by) but one end of the platform is now fenced off to make it an 8 car platform, which would explain the discrepancy.

Paul

 

[swt class 450]

Is it possible that Shalford has only part of the platform(s) usable? I know one of my local stations has a 12 car platform (fully served by thumpers in years gone by) but one end of the platform is now fenced off to make it an 8 car platform, which would explain the discrepancy.

Paul

No none of the stations between Redhill and Guildford have any part of the platforms fenced off. The full length of all of the platforms at all of the stations can be used.

 

[Carlisle]

Yes thats what i thought as well. I presume that is part of the reason why Arriva Cross Country and Virgin Cross Country never called at Dorking Deepdene (as i dont think 220s and 221s have SDO).

Probably a low budget construction when opened by BR built only for what was required at the time

 

[tsr]

Probably a low budget construction when opened by BR built only for what was required at the time

The construction of the station at Dorking Deepdene is much more reminiscent of a lightly-used rural halt than a lot of the others locally, despite being one of the busiest and best-served. Indeed, the platforms at Dorking West (which is rather less busy, though nowhere near as quiet as the statistics used to pretend) are much longer and more substantial.

Unlike a number of the other North Downs stations, I've never really looked into the history of the construction of Deepdene, but I suspect it was limited in scale partly by budget and partly by its placement on a fairly narrow, high embankment. It comprises a lightweight set of structures which are very spartan given its decent usage, but it has to be remembered that GWR, and FGW before them, have probably never wanted to spend much to improve them, because it would probably get ruined by the schoolkids - in fact, it's probably the busiest unstaffed station in the area which sees a significant school run.

 

[infobleep]

The construction of the station at Dorking Deepdene is much more reminiscent of a lightly-used rural halt than a lot of the others locally, despite being one of the busiest and best-served. Indeed, the platforms at Dorking West (which is rather less busy, though nowhere near as quiet as the statistics used to pretend) are much longer and more substantial.

Unlike a number of the other North Downs stations, I've never really looked into the history of the construction of Deepdene, but I suspect it was limited in scale partly by budget and partly by its placement on a fairly narrow, high embankment. It comprises a lightweight set of structures which are very spartan given its decent usage, but it has to be remembered that GWR, and FGW before them, have probably never wanted to spend much to improve them, because it would probably get ruined by the schoolkids - in fact, it's probably the busiest unstaffed station in the area which sees a significant school run.

Wasn't Dorking West originally called Dorking Town. I think because Dorking Deepdene is near Dorking Main it gets more trains stopping their than Dorking West, despite the fact Dorking West is step free and Dorking Deepdene isn't.

 

[Thebaz]

Anyone know what happened to the Thameslink southbound tonight (28/12)? sounds like it was up the spout. 2154 from Bedford arrived at Farringdon 20L but then they didn't let any pax on. Subsequent train via ECR never ran and no reasons given. My missus nearly didn't make it home!

 

[30909]

Wasn't Dorking West originally called Dorking Town. I think because Dorking Deepdene is near Dorking Main it gets more trains stopping their than Dorking West, despite the fact Dorking West is step free and Dorking Deepdene isn't.

Off topic I know, Deepdene opened in 1849 as Box Hill & Leatherhead Road, basically a halt to serve east Dorking, Box Hill and Deepdene House.
Dorking Main, previously Dorking North, opened in 1867.
Dorking West, formerly Town, open with Deepdene and included Goods shed and Yard a connection to the Gas Works, a Cattle Loading Dock for traffic to from Dorking Market, a water column and subway connecting offset platforms in typical SER style with station house and other facilities.

 

[infobleep]

With the 16.14 cancelled from Haywards Heath to London, what happens the portion that comes from Eastbourne that arrives at 16.10? What do they do with the rolling stock?

Once upon a time that was from Ore and joined the Littlehampton portion Haywards Heath. However today it's starting from Eastbourne and terminating at Haywards Heath. The Littlehampton portion is cancelled throughout.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

 

[infobleep]

Well it appears the 16.14 from Haywards Heath has been reinstated but not the 17.14. When I got to the station the large screen listed it. The smaller yellow screen showed the first train as being the 15.10 terminator, the second as being the 16.14 and the third being the 16.10 terminator. Now the 16.10 forms the 16.14! Still that is an older screen so it probably can't cope.

As I waited to board the train, a lot of people got off. A tannoy announcement was saying that the train just in would not be terminating.

When I boarded the train I heard an announcement saying this train was now continuing on and not terminating. The member of staff saying this had only just been informed. Of course most people had already disembarked by now so hadn't heard his announcement. So that's why they needed the station announcement.

Someone who boarded on my carriage, shouted out to people, in case they didn't understand and they all got back on.

We then preceeded to leave before the Thameslink train, which had arrived and appeared to be a Southern branded train today or if not a green one with Thameslink stickers. That's almost as confusing.

It make sense for us to leave first in my opinion because we are a faster train than them but I don't know about positions further up the line beyond East Croydon. The other train stops at Balcombe and Three Bridges and we don't.

Then as we pulled out late, we stated to slowed down and then stop. The Thameslink train then went passed us. They now reckon we'll be 10 minutes late into Gatwick Airport.

Needless to say I have a connection I wanted to make at Gatwick Airport. I will probably just make it but it will be tight. Less so if I'd got the Thameslink but as that is slower and not an official connection, I decided to board my current train. Wrong move today.

Needless to say the train was 12 minutes late into Gatwick Airport. It only left Haywards Heath 3 minutes late and may be could have made up some of that time had it been slowed to carry on in front of the Thameslink train. Who knows.

So it lost 9 minutes because of the Thameslink train in front. That is 3 minutes per station stop, as both trains had to pass through or stop at the same platforms.

We are now running fast to East Croydon, just as the Thameslink train is doing. There should be enough platforms at East Croydon that we won't need to wait for them to depart before we can pull into a platform there.

 

[infobleep]

The reason for the trains delay was changed from cancelled to industrial dispute.

The train left Haywards Heath three minutes late. I guess maybe a minute could have been saved if the passengers had known not to get off.

However the Thameslink train left 2 minutes late, yet was allowed to overtake our train.

This I think the delay wasn't caused by the industrial dispute and if it where, I still think the majority of the delay was caused by letting the Thameslink train go in front.

The conspiracy theorist in me wonders, did they wanted this train to be late so they could blame the staff.

 

[LBSCR Times]

The conspiracy theorist in me wonders, did they wanted this train to be late so they could blame the staff.

Signallers decision unless requested by the NR Control as the Thameslink service only has 10 minutes at London Bridge, and if more than a few minutes late, then loses its pathway north of East Croydon.
Hence why so many of the TL services from Brighton to London Bridge get terminated East Croydon.

 

[infobleep]

Signallers decision unless requested by the NR Control as the Thameslink service only has 10 minutes at London Bridge, and if more than a few minutes late, then loses its pathway north of East Croydon.
Hence why so many of the TL services from Brighton to London Bridge get terminated East Croydon.

Thanks for that. I'd like to think I'd bear that in mind but next time someone else might take a different decision so there isn't much one can do in such circumstances.

I see on the Southern Web Site they have the following heading:

Alternatives if trains aren’t running or are limited on my route

Under this is the following quote:

Will you declassify First Class accommodation?
Yes. To allow us to carry as many of our customers as possible, all First Class accommodation will be available to standard ticket holders on:
Southern
Gatwick Express
Thameslink (between Brighton and London)
If you have a First Class ticket, you will be entitled to a refund for the different between first and standard class fares on the affected dates. Please claim using our First Class declassification claim form.

If the delcassificaton is really based on trains not running or limited service, at point is the service classed as limited? Do they only take Southern services into account or does it include Gatwick Express. I would assume not Thameslink, even though, those are being cancelled due to a lack of drivers.

I was talking to a member of Southern staff last night and he said they are not told of such changes as to first class being declassified or not. I think he looked it up in the Web Site, as I had done earlier that day.

Incidentally a Southern branded train was working the 7.02 Brighton to London Bridge. I assume first class was declassified on that, based on the above. To make it more interesting, it was actually a Thameslink service that the branded Southern train was working. Here it is at Gatwick Airport.

 

[Deepgreen]

Thanks for the info. I dont think either platform at Dorking Deepdene can fit four coaches though. I use this station a few times a week (sometimes every day) and it only just about fits a three coach 165 or 166 (which takes up the entire platform) with no room for anything else.

Yes - some of those are wrong - for example, Dorking Deepdene can accommodate absolutely no more than three coaches at either platform.

 

[Bishopstone]

No trains on the Seaford branch again, tomorrow.... until 17.45 when, miraculously, lots of staff are found to run the football trains which Brighton and Hove Albion FC subsidise.

Getting people to work, college and hospital appointments is - again - a lower priority than kick ball.

 

[infobleep]

No trains on the Seaford branch again, tomorrow.... until 17.45 when, miraculously, lots of staff are found to run the football trains which Brighton and Hove Albion FC subsidise.

Getting people to work, college and hospital appointments is - again - a lower priority than kick ball.

They must be cancelling some other services instead.

 

[Barn]

If I buy a Dorking any permitted including via Redhill ticket, what are people's thoughts on entitlement to delay repay and other compensation if my Reigate to London journey is disrupted but services from Dorking are fine? I think it should still be claimable but does anybody have practical experience?

 

[maniacmartin]

I've been awarded delay repay with no hassle from other TOCs before when I've wanted to take a particular route so I could break my journey at a station not on another route for which trains are running. I just specify my journey as to whatever the break point is and enclose the tickets. (e.g. in your case Dorking to Purley).

If you weren't intending to break your journey somewhere only served on the Redhill route, and had no real reason to insist on going all the way to London Terminals on the Redhill route when trains were running on another route, I would expect your claim to be denied.

 

[Barn]

My reason would be that I didn't start my journey at Dorking but rather started short at Reigate and in normal circumstances the quickest route from Reigate to London Terminals is via Redhill.

 

[infobleep]

My reason would be that I didn't start my journey at Dorking but rather started short at Reigate and in normal circumstances the quickest route from Reigate to London Terminals is via Redhill.

In such case I'd claim from Reigate and not Dorking as your journey starts there.

 

[Barn]

In such case I'd claim from Reigate and not Dorking as your journey starts there.

Agreed, but can I do that and upload the details of the Dorking ticket?

 

[maniacmartin]

Agreed, but can I do that and upload the details of the Dorking ticket?

That's what I would do

 

[infobleep]

Agreed, but can I do that and upload the details of the Dorking ticket?

Yes you can.

 

[infobleep]

Now that the OBS role has come into being, have GTR issued a press release stating how many additional trains are running during the RMT strikes and the reasons why they can now provide the extra services during the strikes compared to before?

 

[infobleep]

I see the 15.11 to Victoria and 17.10 Littlehampton and Chichester are cancelled due to driver being taken ill. It got me wondering, do Thameslink drivers ever get taken ill? I never see any disruption notices mentioning them getting ill and trains being cancelled.

It's a shame the online departure boards cannot list multiple reasons for the delays.

 

[Deepgreen]

If I buy a Dorking any permitted including via Redhill ticket, what are people's thoughts on entitlement to delay repay and other compensation if my Reigate to London journey is disrupted but services from Dorking are fine? I think it should still be claimable but does anybody have practical experience?

I have a Dorking to London terminals annual season, via Epsom or Redhill, and put over £100 in DR vouchers towards my new season! I claim for either route's delays if that is the one I used that day.

 

[Deepgreen]

I see the 15.11 to Victoria and 17.10 Littlehampton and Chichester are cancelled due to driver being taken ill. It got me wondering, do Thameslink drivers ever get taken ill? I never see any disruption notices mentioning them getting ill and trains being cancelled.

It's a shame the online departure boards cannot list multiple reasons for the delays.

There was an incident not long ago when a TL driver was taken ill (at Elephant and Castle I think) and had to be removed from the train there. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he had a heart attack and subsequently died.

 

[KTHV]

There was an incident not long ago when a TL driver was taken ill (at Elephant and Castle I think) and had to be removed from the train there. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he had a heart attack and subsequently died.

He was fine in the end - ended up as a severe case of food poisoning.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=110984