North Downs Line Freight This Week

[Deepgreen]

This week, with the closure of the Redhill to Tonbridge line, a freight working was shown on RTT as being diverted over the North Downs line from Tuesday to Friday (runs as required). In 13 years of living by the North Downs line (at Betchworth and now Gomshall), this is the first time that I have been aware of any revenue freight running on the route. It is the Purley Foster Yeoman to Cliffe Brett Marine aggregates run, departing at 0948.

However, today, that run has been replaced by a later one running north, via East Croydon. I am wondering if the diversion via Gomshall was ever actually on the cards, or was it a 'planning error'? Apart from anything else, I imagine the drivers would require to be route-trained, if they are not already. I'm just curious about the prospect of the run via Gomshall happening at all this week.

 

[Freightmaster]

I am wondering if the diversion via Gomshall was ever actually on the cards, or was it a 'planning error'? Apart from anything else, I imagine the drivers would require to be route-trained, if they are not already. I'm just curious about the prospect of the run via Gomshall happening at all this week.

The 'VAR' schedule you refer to is booked to run [TThFO]:

Realtime Trains | 6Y93 0948 Purley Foster Yeoman to Cliffe Brett Marine | 19/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Y93 0948 departure from Purley Foster Yeoman to Cliffe Brett Marine on 19/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

...but 6Y93 only ever runs on a Wednesday, so it's just a spurious path, I'm afraid.



MARK

 

[Deepgreen]

The 'VAR' schedule you refer to is booked to run [TThFO]:

Realtime Trains | 6Y93 0948 Purley Foster Yeoman to Cliffe Brett Marine | 19/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Y93 0948 departure from Purley Foster Yeoman to Cliffe Brett Marine on 19/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

...but 6Y93 only ever runs on a Wednesday, so it's just a spurious path, I'm afraid.



MARK

Yes, 6Y93 is WO but until this morning it was showing on RTT as running via Gomshall, then it disappeared, to be replaced with the northbound version. The same applies tomorrow and Friday (0948 from Purley FY via Gomshall) but I deduce that they are dummies too? I just wonder why they were entered into the system at all if they were never going to run.

 

[Class15]

Yes, 6Y93 is WO but until this morning it was showing on RTT as running via Gomshall, then it disappeared, to be replaced with the northbound version. The same applies tomorrow and Friday (0948 from Purley FY via Gomshall) but I deduce that they are dummies too? I just wonder why they were entered into the system at all if they were never going to run.

6Y93, as Freightmaster says, only ever runs on Wednesdays but has paths for the entire week. None of the North Downs paths will run barring a very sudden change in trainplan.