Service pattern after Marshlink electrified

[SouthEastBuses]

To allow extra trains, could you not invest in double tracking the whole line?

But, there is one question. Is there demand for that?

 

[leytongabriel]

I would think that the main reason for not having every 40 minute services would be timetabling them with every 60/30 minute services.

People making a scheduled connection with another hourly service which creates an over 40 minute connection should definitely prefer the service to be every 40 minutes rather than hourly.

I don't think that accounting for very picky users, who could just check the train times in advance, should be more important than making journeys effectively faster and more frequent.

The primary issue with running an every 40 minute Marshlink service at the moment will be that:

• The Marshlink would require 4 rather than 2 diesel trains to operate a Hastings-Ashford shuttle (because of the single tracking meaning that trains need to pass at Rye) (although maybe this would be good for battery trains since it would provide significant periods of time to recharge at Hastings and Ashford).
• Running every 40 minute services beyond Hastings or Ashford would create timetable complications with the every 60 minute timetables.

The hypothetical situation of Marshlink electrification of this thread allowed me to develop a creative potential solution to allow a more frequent Marshlink service, whilst having all of the services running through via Lewes, and the additional stock and crew required (compared to running an hourly Marshlink service) would probably be just 1 extra EMU and crew in service.

I don't think it's about over-picky users, it's about making a service easy to use. And most connecting services do not match up with 40m service intervals. Watford - St Albans Abbey and the GOBLIN are examples of lines where 40m services were held to be unhelpful and the 20 + 40 IoW service came in for a good bit of flak.

 

[JamesRowden]

I don't think it's about over-picky users, it's about making a service easy to use. And most connecting services do not match up with 40m service intervals. Watford - St Albans Abbey and the GOBLIN are examples of lines where 40m services were held to be unhelpful and the 20 + 40 IoW service came in for a good bit of flak.

The over 40 minute connection I had at Ashford because of the hourly services did not help make the service easy to use. It makes one wonder if it is worth making the rail journey at all.

 

[30907]

The over 40 minute connection I had at Ashford because of the hourly services did not help make the service easy to use.

Though there are very few destinations from/to Ashford that are only hourly.
Eurostars excepted

Do we just accept that HS1 will not make it to Rye and Hastings anytime soon?
If this is the case, would you have a 2nd stopper tph? 1 fast SN tph along with 1 slow?

I don't think 2tph can be done even with electrification

I might opt for a 1tph limited stop and a 1tp2h slow service.

Seems sensible, but I need 3 extra units to make it work (will try again when I'm less tired).
1tph Ashford-Rye plus 1tph Ashford-Brighton, serving (some/all) the halts, would be a reasonable compromise.

 

[JamesRowden]

Though there are very few destinations from/to Ashford that are only hourly.
Eurostars excepted

In normal times:

• All stations to Eastbourne
• Maidstone East Line Stations which only get 1tph
• All stations between Canterbury West and Ramsgate
• All stations between Ashford and Folkestone
• All stations between Dover and Ramsgate

 

[Kite159]

In normal times:

• All stations to Eastbourne
• Maidstone East Line Stations which only get 1tph
• All stations between Canterbury West and Ramsgate
• All stations between Ashford and Folkestone
• All stations between Dover and Ramsgate

Plus the two stations between Wye & Canterbury for 1tph?

------

If it does get 3rd rail, 1tph from Brighton as an extension of either the Hastings or Ore service which can be semifast (Ore - Rye - Ham Street - Ashford), 1tph from the Hastings bay platform to call at the stations before Rye. Maybe in the peaks the stopper hides in the bay and a Victoria - Ore service is extended to Ashford.

 

[bramling]

I was a South Eastern resident, but I'd still say CIG !

Actually, if we’re allowed to pick any of the latter day SR units, then I’d go for VEP. They were my favourite of the three. Someone has to like them, after all.

Actually, for all the moans about them they are one of a few types of train which managed to find itself at home on any type of work, metro to express.

 

[yorksrob]

Actually, if we’re allowed to pick any of the latter day SR units, then I’d go for VEP. They were my favourite of the three. Someone has to like them, after all.

Actually, for all the moans about them they are one of a few types of train which managed to find itself at home on any type of work, metro to express.

Yes, I have a soft spot for them.

 

[30907]

In normal times:

• All stations to Eastbourne
• Maidstone East Line Stations which only get 1tph
• All stations between Canterbury West and Ramsgate
• All stations between Ashford and Folkestone
• All stations between Dover and Ramsgate

Beg your pardon, I meant to say major destinations.
But I should have checked a recent timetable, as towards the coast there are typically 2 trains quite close together then a long gap, which connecting off the Marshlink must be a problem.

 

[yorksrob]

In normal times:

• All stations to Eastbourne
• Maidstone East Line Stations which only get 1tph
• All stations between Canterbury West and Ramsgate
• All stations between Ashford and Folkestone
• All stations between Dover and Ramsgate

Plus the two stations between Wye & Canterbury for 1tph?

------

If it does get 3rd rail, 1tph from Brighton as an extension of either the Hastings or Ore service which can be semifast (Ore - Rye - Ham Street - Ashford), 1tph from the Hastings bay platform to call at the stations before Rye. Maybe in the peaks the stopper hides in the bay and a Victoria - Ore service is extended to Ashford.

Don't forget poor old Pluckley !