TLC are pleased to announce that we’ve secured some respite for the long-suffering passengers on the Tonbridge to Redhill line. This line is heavily used by school children (particularly to Tonbridge) and the special timetable introduced after the landslip at Godstone contained huge gaps at peak travel times (50-55 minutes in the morning). Were it light and warm (I.e. spring through to summer), this could be bearable but in the cold winter, it is rather unpalatable.
We should point out that we understand local schools have been very supportive of pupils, which we very much welcome. It’s a stressful time for parents and school children and so a little understanding goes a long way.
Southern have added an additional service in both the morning and afternoon school runs, which aims to address this gap, but this comes at the cost of retiming other train services around this. The morning train arrives in at Tonbridge at 8:20 and the afternoon service leaves at 16.46. This comes into effect from 10 February (next Monday).
Whilst we’re encouraged that Southern (with some prodding) have addressed a failing in the timetable, we feel that they’ve cut some corners to achieve this. Normally there are 3 trains operating on this line. Since the landslip, there has only been 1 operating (hence the low frequency of service). There are also maintenance issues and we’ve heard from lots of people that the train is dirty with broken toilets etc. We have pushed Southern hard to allow another unit into the area so that they can increase the frequency of service to half hourly (rather than hourly). We believe that as far as possible, the regular timetabled service should be provided. It also allows a little bit of flexibility as if anything happens to the sole train, Southern will have to scrabble around borrowing a train from Southeastern. As Southeastern passengers know, there isn’t a spare train to be had.
Southern have refused, saying that if they did that, they would have to short form services elsewhere, due to a lack of available stock. Our members are suffering multiple times, so that other people can sit in comfort.
This is poor from Southern and just shows that although Network Rail are investing a lot in PR in this area, Southern only pays it lip service. On this point, we’re not entirely sure Network Rail have thought through their message. They love to point out how old this section of railway is and how it’s not built to today’s standards. Well presumably you didn’t only just realise this, so what have you been doing about it in recent years? Answers on a postcard (but would probably fit on the back of a stamp!)
We hear from rail user groups (at the other end of the line) that their bus only services are running over capacity (and therefore leaving people behind) and that the pick up points are a little chaotic. Their side is also short changed by only 1 unit being run on the line.
Southern, where are your trains and why is it always our line that is made to suffer?