The latest wave of the pandemic has led to train operators across the UK announcing reduced timetables as staff absences start to bite. Sadly, our local train companies are no exception. Below we summarise the main changes and our thoughts on them.
Southern
A reduced weekday timetable on Southern and Thameslink came into operation on Tuesday 4 January. This was effectively an extension of the engineering work timetable that had been running between Christmas and New Year and, remarkably, includes no Southern trains to or from London Victoria until 10 January – despite the engineering work which prevented those trains running having ended! Aside from the partial restoration of those Victoria trains, this temporary timetable is set to continue until further notice.
Tonbridge-Redhill services are extended to Reigate but we’ve lost our half hourly services in the rush hour and at school times, with only hourly services running. The effect on school travel between Edenbridge and Tonbridge is quite severe. Following our representations, Southern has confirmed that it is running an “addition” afternoon train from Tonbridge to Redhill at 16:17. However, in the morning the only choice of train for school children is the 07:05 from Redhill (07:21 from Edenbridge) which arrives into Tonbridge at 07:39. This is far too early but next train arrives nearly an hour afterwards and is too late! We’re pressing Southern to resolve this problem and they say they are aware of the issue and will “keep working” on it.
The are also cuts to early morning services on the line. The first train from Redhill to Edenbridge was at 05:24 but is now not until 06:26, which is too late for many key workers. We think Southern should do more to protect the first and last departures of the day.
Southeastern
We had thought Southeastern might be spared any cuts, but it’s now been announced that a reduced weekday timetable will come in effect on Monday 10 January and operate until further notice. The cuts are far less severe than on Southern, with only about 7% of trains removed overall.
There are two main sets of changes which effect us:
- Almost all our direct rush hour services to and from Cannon Street are removed. The only trains to survive are the departures from Tonbridge to Cannon Street at 05:39 (05:31 from Paddock Wood) and 05:57 (06:01 from Hildenborough). We had thought the 08:23 from Tonbridge to Cannon Street service was also running, but it appears not.
- Some off-peak trains on the Ashford-Paddock Wood-Tonbridge-Charing Cross route are removed. Trains from Paddock Wood to Charing Cross will run hourly only between 11:00 and 14:00 and hourly only from Charing Cross to Paddock Wood between 11:40 and 14:40. At other times trains will continue to run half hourly.
It’s good to see that Southeastern has not changed the first or last services of the day and has retained all the trains operating around 09:00 to 10:00, which tend to be busy with people taking advantage of off-peak fares. School trains are also unaffected. However, the temporary loss of the Cannon Street trains is a inconvenience and we’ll be pressing for the off-peak trains serving Paddock Wood to be restored as soon as possible.