Same Times, Different Meanings

[GraceM]

I'm looking to book a train from Canterbury East to London Victoria; a journey I've done many times, but since the repairs undertaken on the Victoria Line the timetable is strange. When I go to book a train on Trainline, it looks like this with the same departing times, some with 0 changes and others you need to change at Faversham to continue to Victoria. Can someone help explain what's going on and are there any direct trains to Victoria at this time? If so, which train do I board?

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[I13]

I'm looking to book a train from Canterbury East to London Victoria; a journey I've done many times, but since the repairs undertaken on the Victoria Line the timetable is strange. When I go to book a train on Trainline, it looks like this with the same departing times, some with 0 changes and others you need to change at Faversham to continue to Victoria. Can someone help explain what's going on and are there any direct trains to Victoria at this time? If so, which train do I board?

View attachment 129280​

On Sundays, there is an hourly direct train to Victoria (08:19 - 10:18 as an example), but this is a slow stopping service. At Faversham, it is overtaken by a faster service from Ramsgate (arriving 09:48), and the timetable is set up to allow a cross platform interchange onto the faster service. So if you're comfortable changing at Faversham (just across the platform), you can get a faster service, but if you'd rather avoid changing, you can still get to London it'll just take half an hour longer.

 

[GraceM]

On Sundays, there is an hourly direct train to Victoria (08:19 - 10:18 as an example), but this is a slow stopping service. At Faversham, it is overtaken by a faster service from Ramsgate (arriving 09:48), and the timetable is set up to allow a cross platform interchange onto the faster service. So if you're comfortable changing at Faversham (just across the platform), you can get a faster service, but if you'd rather avoid changing, you can still get to London it'll just take half an hour longer.

Thank you. The issue is I travel with a heavy suitcase so it's easier for me just to stay on, despite the half hour difference.

 

[30907]

Thank you. The issue is I travel with a heavy suitcase so it's easier for me just to stay on, despite the half hour difference.

That is no problem. The ticket you are looking at is valid on any train that the system lets you select. Just choose one and buy the ticket (before you get on!) - you can always change your mind at Faversham.