Northfleet / Ebbsfleet International connection

[shinkansen1966]

Has anything ever done been done to properly connect Northfleet station to Ebbsfleet International ?

The two station are 200 metres apart. With modest expense, the two could be connected with a covered walkway, Waterloo Main/East style.

Northfleet could be renamed Ebbsfleet International to bring it within the fold of the main station. In turn much of South East London would be connected to Ebbsfleet. Passengers would avoid the detour at Gravesend and save 20 mins on their train journey.

 

[142094]

I don't know the area too well but I don't see the need for a walkway between the two. I expect that most locals/people travelling there will know how close they are together. The same situation occurs in a few other places, Wigan being a good example.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Well, actually I do think if not a walkway at least some - substantial - change to the pedestrian access route between the two stations would be needed before any number of people would consider it reasonable to change between the lines there. At present the quickest direct walking route is maybe five times longer than the distance as the crow flies, and both dangerous and unpleasant!

There really is no practical provision made for walking from one to the other - all of the infrastructure is designed for cars (often fast moving). It's not really a comparable situation to that in Wigan or Catford or Southend, where it is perfectly reasonable to walk between the stations, even if the actual distance between the stations is comparable.

The following page (and some of those linked from it) illustrate this somewhat
http://bexcentric.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/ebbsfleet-international-two-feet-undersupported/

 

[shinkansen1966]

I expect that most locals/people travelling there will know how close they are together.

Exactly. So why not rename Northfleet to 'Ebbsfleet International' and spend some money on a walkway integrating the station? Not only locals, but others outside the immediate area would be able to see the benefits of a integrated station. For instance, those in Greenwhich & Woolwich both with DLR connections could be at Ebbsfleet International in approx 40 minutes. And with a through train.

Ever the cynic, I smell a rat. Expect SouthEastern Railways object to the Northfleet integration with Ebbsfleet. Because it would abstract from revenue for their high speed service to St Pancras.

 

[142094]

Either that or have a free or low cost shuttle bus between the two. Again I don't know the area that well, and it has been said that the distance walking is too far. Plus I don't know how much demand there would be.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Most people for London from Northfleet will use the Vict service/Cannon St etc, most people for North kent in Northfleet will get a train from Vict/Cannon St from Northfleet station. I doubt too many people in Northfleet will want a HS1 train that does the same speed as locals (to Kent) and pay a load more for it. There's enough staff and maps at Ebbsfleet Intl to make your own way anyway...

 

[LE Greys]

Exactly. So why not rename Northfleet to 'Ebbsfleet International' and spend some money on a walkway integrating the station? Not only locals, but others outside the immediate area would be able to see the benefits of a integrated station. For instance, those in Greenwhich & Woolwich both with DLR connections could be at Ebbsfleet International in approx 40 minutes. And with a through train.

I would call it Ebbsfleet North as a compromise. Well, it's a good idea to make more of the connections. This might improve the north-south links within Kent (Dartford-Ashford for instance). A better way of crossing Thames Way would be useful as well, and especially an underpass under the Kent Coast chord.

Ever the cynic, I smell a rat. Expect SouthEastern Railways object to the Northfleet integration with Ebbsfleet. Because it would abstract from revenue for their high speed service to St Pancras.

Sounds possible, although Southeastern really ought to get a percentage of the revenue for this. Perhaps they should start calling St Pancras the "West End Terminus" like the LT&SR used to when they had a connection via South Tottenham.