North Kent HS1 Services

[brad465]

Seems like most of the people that do the complaining about the services are the ones that want to be travelling to Victoria. I don't see why specifically the HS services should be changed for their benefit to the detriment of everyone else.

True, but there were also a lot of complaints for people travelling to Cannon St between Ashford and Swanley via Maidstone. A regular service from Cannon St which ran to Ashford, fast to West Malling from London Bridge, then Bearstead, and Ashford was axed, as most passengers would use HS1. I believe more stations were served in the peak times, so the axed services would have been more useful for others on the Maidstone East line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This link should sort out the views of most people for HS1 services. Note how most of the comments are from Gravesend, Medway and East/North Kent locations:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8412699.stm

 

[notadriver]

Our trains run at 230 in that area (certainly at the tunnel exit near Rainham we do), so I presume the SouthEastern trains can run at their full speed from there also. However, I agree they need more power - in passing conversations in the past with SouthEastern drivers, I've heard they manage 200 fine, but 225 can be a struggle at times.

I think the Javelins are hampered from having to stop at Stratford too. From a cab ride I noted 200 kph attained by the tunnel exit and 225 kph by the Werrington crossovers. As you say 225 can be a struggle and it can't be sustained on any of the gradients on HS1.

 

[Bungle73]

I presume the report referred to is the "Rail Action Plan for Kent" that was presented to the Transport Minister in May. The report doesn't seem to specify the stations in question, but page 57 of the PDF version (internal page number 55) might be useful. There's more information on KCC's proposals in general here.

Thanks.

 

[Mike C]

I think the Javelins are hampered from having to stop at Stratford too. From a cab ride I noted 200 kph attained by the tunnel exit and 225 kph by the Werrington crossovers. As you say 225 can be a struggle and it can't be sustained on any of the gradients on HS1.

That ties up with my estimations. We get 230 on TVM from between km4 and 5 (somewhere underneath Islington) and green 300's at Southfleet (around km40) but due to the severe gradient there all the way up to Halfpence Lane "tunnel", it's not achieved in a 3CAPS set until around Nashenden. North of London sets could hit 300 before Medway easily.

The javelins get off the mark like a stabbed rat from what I've seen, but just lack the muscle on high speed gradients.

 

[mister-sparky]

It doesn't go anywhere near Folkestone.

The HS services to Dover Priory call at Folkestone West, so yes they do!

 

[Bungle73]

The HS services to Dover Priory call at Folkestone West, so yes they do!

But this thread is about the north Kent services.