Ramsgate to Denmark Hill and back again

[NeilCr]

I am making this journey in April to go to Kings Hospital

One of the cheaper options involves changing at Gravesend going and Bromley South coming back

But the times are tight to get in to the second train

At Gravesend 4 minutes to get from Platform 0 to Platform 1

At Bromley South 7 minutes to get from Platform 2 to Platform 4 -from memory involves getting over a bridge

I'm not the most mobile (with back pain)

It feels like too much of a chance to me but wondered about any other views.

Does anyone know if platforms 0-1 at Gravesend are adjacent please

Thanks for any insight

 

[jfollows]

Does anyone know if platforms 0-1 at Gravesend are adjacent please

Thanks for any insight

Yes


Left towards London.
From https://traksy.uk/live/M+32+GRVSEND

 

[AndrewE]

https://images.nationalrail.co.uk/e...7fc6ac5adc47eb96c8c/Gravesend_station_map.jpg seems to show 0 and 1 as being a single-track bay and a through line. Arriving at 0 I would be at the front of the train in case they open the doors on the wrong side and you have to run round the buffer stop.

 

[30907]

Does anyone know if platforms 0-1 at Gravesend are adjacent please

They are, but you would need to be at the rear coming from Ramsgate.
At Bromley S, the stairs and lifts are right at the back (London end), but there is a second footbridge about halfway along the platform

You can specify additional time for changing on some booking sites such as this forum's.

 

[Kite159]

https://images.nationalrail.co.uk/e...7fc6ac5adc47eb96c8c/Gravesend_station_map.jpg seems to show 0 and 1 as being a single-track bay and a through line. Arriving at 0 I would be at the front of the train in case they open the doors on the wrong side and you have to run round the buffer stop.

Platform 0 is a bay where the doors can only be released on the 'south' side as there is a fence along platform 1 (I presume to protect the track due to the 3rd rail) So whilst they share a platform face the OP will need to use the stairs or lift to access the platforms.
A 707 & 3at Gravesend Station by Kite, on Flickr

 

[NeilCr]

They are, but you would need to be at the rear coming from Ramsgate.
At Bromley S, the stairs and lifts are right at the back (London end), but there is a second footbridge about halfway along the platform

You can specify additional time for changing on some

Thanks - and to everyone else who has responded

Mea Culpa - the change at Gravesend is from 1-0 but the same question stands - I’ll just reverse the earlier replies!

Yes re the forum site. It’s just that there are some good deals with those specific journies and the outbound gets me to Denmark Hill about the right time

I’m a bit concerned about the tightness (especially at Gravesend) so will probably pay more for another less stressful journey

 

[paul1609]

Personally Id get the xx42 Charing Cross service from Ramsgate as far as Sevenoaks. Theres a 5 min connection there to a thameslink train to Denmark Hill. Id allow for a missed connection there so assume being on the train 30 mins later. If youre leaving Ramsgate on the 10.42 or after you can get a Super Off Peak Return to London Terminals and break your journey early. As its an overdistance ticket the forums site probably wont show this option.

 

[NeilCr]

Personally Id get the xx42 Charing Cross service from Ramsgate as far as Sevenoaks. Theres a 5 min connection there to a thameslink train to Denmark Hill. Id allow for a missed connection there so assume being on the train 30 mins later. If youre leaving Ramsgate on the 10.42 or after you can get a Super Off Peak Return to London Terminals and break your journey early. As its an overdistance ticket the forums site probably wont show this option.

Thanks

That’s a good shout!

As you say tight at Sevenoaks especially as it looks like it’s not the same or adjacent platform

But the one a half hour later would still get me to the hospital in time

Sadly it’ll be the 08.42 I’ll be on

 

[30907]

Platform 0 is a bay where the doors can only be released on the 'south' side as there is a fence along platform 1 (I presume to protect the track due to the 3rd rail) So whilst they share a platform face the OP will need to use the stairs or lift to access the platforms.
A 707 & 3at Gravesend Station by Kite, on Flickr

Beneath your feet, metaphorically at least, are platform 0 bufferstops with a walkway to P1 behind them.

 

[paul1609]

Thanks

That’s a good shout!

As you say tight at Sevenoaks especially as it looks like it’s not the same or adjacent platform

But the one a half hour later would still get me to the hospital in time

Sadly it’ll be the 08.42 I’ll be on

Yes, Sevenoaks station is two island platforms and you'd normally have to swap between the islands. (Typically Platform 1 to 4)
If you are in an 8 car train (sometimes more coaches are added at Ashford) the lift is closest to the rear doors of coach 5.
Punctuality is good here, in fact trains often arrive a min or so early and have to wait for time. So the connection is very doable but obviously with a hospital appointment you need a back up plan.
The Thameslink trains have quite a long turn round at Sevenoaks so even if you miss the 5 min connection the next one will be at the platform for you to wait in before very long.

 

[NeilCr]

Yes, Sevenoaks station is two island platforms and you'd normally have to swap between the islands. (Typically Platform 1 to 4)
If you are in an 8 car train (sometimes more coaches are added at Ashford) the lift is closest to the rear doors of coach 5.
Punctuality is good here, in fact trains often arrive a min or so early and have to wait for time. So the connection is very doable but obviously with a hospital appointment you need a back up plan.
The Thameslink trains have quite a long turn round at Sevenoaks so even if you miss the 5 min connection the next one will be at the platform for you to wait in before very long.

Once again thanks for the detailed information. Definitely looks the best bet - especially as the “slows” to London from Ramsgate are - in my experience anyway - much lighter loaded than HS1

I see there is a coffee kiosk on the station too so waiting shouldn’t be too onerous

 

[SE%Traveller]

Rather than change at Bromley South, you might consider changing at Gillingham instead. From there take the Gillingham to VIC via Denmark HIll, it arrives 3 mins after the Thameslink. it's a 20 min wait either way but at GIllingham it's adjacent platform transfer and a wait on the train...

 

[NeilCr]

Just to wrap this up and - once again - thank posters for the advice and information

At Sevenoaks the train stopped right by the stairs (thank you @paul1609) and I comfortably made the Denmark Hill train by a couple of minutes

Coming back I intended to travel via Sevenoaks. However approaching Bromley South we were on time and - on checking live trains - the Ramsgate train was down a couple of minutes. Once again the train stopped by the stairs (thank you @30907) and I had no need to hurry to get to the other platform in plenty of time for the connection

Much appreciated