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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2020 21:15:47 GMT
I’m surprised Eurostar have never considered running sleeper services, now they’ve extended services to Amsterdam it could work, is like to see a London to Paris to Amsterdam sleeper There was a plan in the 90s for night services when the channel tunnel was created called ‘Nightstar’ which would have run from various parts of the UK to Paris and Brussels. There would also have been a London to Netherlands and Germany overnight service as well. I seem to remember some carriages were actually built but the project was cancelled in the late 90s and carriages that had already been built were sold off. Sold to a Canadian rail firm Via for their sleeper services, albeit after some overhaul to the already built carriages. Nightstar was a great idea but low cost airlines killed it off for the most part. I still think there would be a demand for this kind of niche service, even once or twice a week during the summer season. Sleeper services on the Night Riviera and the Caledonian Sleeper still do quite well. I’d give it a go if they had them through the Channel Tunnel.
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Post by route53 on Oct 13, 2020 9:46:40 GMT
I’d reroute that Rainham Thameslink service to run via Sidcup, but it’s nonstop Dartford to London Bridge, this would be a true fast service, extend the current CX to Dartford via Woolwich to Gravesend and make that semi fast (Lewisham, Blackheath, Woolwich A, Abbey Wood, Dartford then all stops to Gravesend), the Greenwich line would also run to Gravesend but all stops to Dartford then Greenhithe and Gravesend, this will give Gravesend 4tph to Abbey Wood for CrossRail
The Gatwick Express would simply be an extra Victoria to Brighton Service, and the Thameslink service to Gatwick would be the new GX service, this would call from Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport, St. Albans the Core, East Croydon and Gatwick, it’s been pointed out that trains from London Bridge to Gatwick are much quicker than from Victoria which is only 5 mins faster than the other fast trains from Victoria to the coast
I’d also like for there to be a Canterbury to Reading service, via Medway, Strood then down the Medway Valley line to Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport then onto Reading via the North Downs line but this is probably pie in the sky
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Post by greenboy on Oct 13, 2020 9:59:15 GMT
I’d reroute that Rainham Thameslink service to run via Sidcup, but it’s nonstop Dartford to London Bridge, this would be a true fast service, extend the current CX to Dartford via Woolwich to Gravesend and make that semi fast (Lewisham, Blackheath, Woolwich A, Abbey Wood, Dartford then all stops to Gravesend), the Greenwich line would also run to Gravesend but all stops to Dartford then Greenhithe and Gravesend, this will give Gravesend 4tph to Abbey Wood for CrossRail The Gatwick Express would simply be an extra Victoria to Brighton Service, and the Thameslink service to Gatwick would be the new GX service, this would call from Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport, St. Albans the Core, East Croydon and Gatwick, it’s been pointed out that trains from London Bridge to Gatwick are much quicker than from Victoria which is only 5 mins faster than the other fast trains from Victoria to the coast I’d also like for there to be a Canterbury to Reading service, via Medway, Strood then down the Medway Valley line to Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport then onto Reading via the North Downs line but this is probably pie in the sky I think a Canterbury to Reading service would be better going via Ashford to Tonbridge.
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Post by bus12451 on Oct 13, 2020 16:54:22 GMT
I’d reroute that Rainham Thameslink service to run via Sidcup, but it’s nonstop Dartford to London Bridge, this would be a true fast service, extend the current CX to Dartford via Woolwich to Gravesend and make that semi fast (Lewisham, Blackheath, Woolwich A, Abbey Wood, Dartford then all stops to Gravesend), the Greenwich line would also run to Gravesend but all stops to Dartford then Greenhithe and Gravesend, this will give Gravesend 4tph to Abbey Wood for CrossRail The Gatwick Express would simply be an extra Victoria to Brighton Service, and the Thameslink service to Gatwick would be the new GX service, this would call from Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport, St. Albans the Core, East Croydon and Gatwick, it’s been pointed out that trains from London Bridge to Gatwick are much quicker than from Victoria which is only 5 mins faster than the other fast trains from Victoria to the coast I’d also like for there to be a Canterbury to Reading service, via Medway, Strood then down the Medway Valley line to Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport then onto Reading via the North Downs line but this is probably pie in the sky You'd be stripping Medway users of their link to Abbey Wood when Crossrail opens. Anyone living in Medway (excluding Strood) would have to change trains 3 times if they worked in the City or Canary Wharf. As arguably the most important line of the three, the Woolwich line should keep the Thameslink service for the most optimal outcome. There is already a CS - Gravesend/Strood service under the current timetable which is close enough, only in the peaks though. It's semi fast...sort of...calling pattern is a bit weird for this service. Also it runs via Greenwich, rather than via Lewisham. Your other two ideas are good, although the Canterbury to Reading service would be a bit too slow. Whatever TOC running this would have to find some diesel trains for this service. I'd like to see Southern run it with some 195s.
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Post by route53 on Oct 13, 2020 18:21:49 GMT
I’d reroute that Rainham Thameslink service to run via Sidcup, but it’s nonstop Dartford to London Bridge, this would be a true fast service, extend the current CX to Dartford via Woolwich to Gravesend and make that semi fast (Lewisham, Blackheath, Woolwich A, Abbey Wood, Dartford then all stops to Gravesend), the Greenwich line would also run to Gravesend but all stops to Dartford then Greenhithe and Gravesend, this will give Gravesend 4tph to Abbey Wood for CrossRail The Gatwick Express would simply be an extra Victoria to Brighton Service, and the Thameslink service to Gatwick would be the new GX service, this would call from Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport, St. Albans the Core, East Croydon and Gatwick, it’s been pointed out that trains from London Bridge to Gatwick are much quicker than from Victoria which is only 5 mins faster than the other fast trains from Victoria to the coast I’d also like for there to be a Canterbury to Reading service, via Medway, Strood then down the Medway Valley line to Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport then onto Reading via the North Downs line but this is probably pie in the sky You'd be stripping Medway users of their link to Abbey Wood when Crossrail opens. Anyone living in Medway (excluding Strood) would have to change trains 3 times if they worked in the City or Canary Wharf. As arguably the most important line of the three, the Woolwich line should keep the Thameslink service for the most optimal outcome. There is already a CS - Gravesend/Strood service under the current timetable which is close enough, only in the peaks though. It's semi fast...sort of...calling pattern is a bit weird for this service. Also it runs via Greenwich, rather than via Lewisham. Your other two ideas are good, although the Canterbury to Reading service would be a bit too slow. Whatever TOC running this would have to find some diesel trains for this service. I'd like to see Southern run it with some 195s. I see your point regarding Medway, tbh I’d only want Thameslink kept on the Woolwich line if it altered its stopping pattern to something akin to the old semi fasts, I think there is room for a fast to Dartford/Gravesend/Medway Service though so maybe both a semi fast Woolwich line SE or Thameslink and a super fast Charing Cross service non stop from Dartford (ran via Sidcup) Yes the service your talking about is the Strood to Cannon Street service which does have an odd stopping patter, it’s semi fast to Charlton then all stations to Cannon Street via Greenwich. Glad you like my Canterbury to Reading service, I think in a post Covid age it would work, with people leaving London and also working more from Home rail services will be less London centric for the foreseeable future.
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Post by route53 on Oct 13, 2020 18:22:59 GMT
I’d reroute that Rainham Thameslink service to run via Sidcup, but it’s nonstop Dartford to London Bridge, this would be a true fast service, extend the current CX to Dartford via Woolwich to Gravesend and make that semi fast (Lewisham, Blackheath, Woolwich A, Abbey Wood, Dartford then all stops to Gravesend), the Greenwich line would also run to Gravesend but all stops to Dartford then Greenhithe and Gravesend, this will give Gravesend 4tph to Abbey Wood for CrossRail The Gatwick Express would simply be an extra Victoria to Brighton Service, and the Thameslink service to Gatwick would be the new GX service, this would call from Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport, St. Albans the Core, East Croydon and Gatwick, it’s been pointed out that trains from London Bridge to Gatwick are much quicker than from Victoria which is only 5 mins faster than the other fast trains from Victoria to the coast I’d also like for there to be a Canterbury to Reading service, via Medway, Strood then down the Medway Valley line to Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport then onto Reading via the North Downs line but this is probably pie in the sky I think a Canterbury to Reading service would be better going via Ashford to Tonbridge. Yes that would be better actually. A Kent to Reading service would be similar to the East to West rail link between Cambridge to Oxford in that it links the Home Counties around London
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Post by bus12451 on Oct 13, 2020 18:53:04 GMT
You'd be stripping Medway users of their link to Abbey Wood when Crossrail opens. Anyone living in Medway (excluding Strood) would have to change trains 3 times if they worked in the City or Canary Wharf. As arguably the most important line of the three, the Woolwich line should keep the Thameslink service for the most optimal outcome. There is already a CS - Gravesend/Strood service under the current timetable which is close enough, only in the peaks though. It's semi fast...sort of...calling pattern is a bit weird for this service. Also it runs via Greenwich, rather than via Lewisham. Your other two ideas are good, although the Canterbury to Reading service would be a bit too slow. Whatever TOC running this would have to find some diesel trains for this service. I'd like to see Southern run it with some 195s. I see your point regarding Medway, tbh I’d only want Thameslink kept on the Woolwich line if it altered its stopping pattern to something akin to the old semi fasts, I think there is room for a fast to Dartford/Gravesend/Medway Service though so maybe both a semi fast Woolwich line SE or Thameslink and a super fast Charing Cross service non stop from Dartford (ran via Sidcup) Yes the service your talking about is the Strood to Cannon Street service which does have an odd stopping patter, it’s semi fast to Charlton then all stations to Cannon Street via Greenwich. Glad you like my Canterbury to Reading service, I think in a post Covid age it would work, with people leaving London and also working more from Home rail services will be less London centric for the foreseeable future. Agreed, I do realise that the Woolwich line is pretty congested as it is, but Thameslink was most definitely a downgrade in terms of the journey between Medway and London. Still no excuse for stopping at Slade Green instead of Erith. Also to add to your Canterbury to Reading service, it would provide Kent with a direct link to Gatwick Airport without the hassle of heading into London or changing at Redhill. Something that the county could really do with.
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Post by route53 on Oct 13, 2020 20:07:58 GMT
I see your point regarding Medway, tbh I’d only want Thameslink kept on the Woolwich line if it altered its stopping pattern to something akin to the old semi fasts, I think there is room for a fast to Dartford/Gravesend/Medway Service though so maybe both a semi fast Woolwich line SE or Thameslink and a super fast Charing Cross service non stop from Dartford (ran via Sidcup) Yes the service your talking about is the Strood to Cannon Street service which does have an odd stopping patter, it’s semi fast to Charlton then all stations to Cannon Street via Greenwich. Glad you like my Canterbury to Reading service, I think in a post Covid age it would work, with people leaving London and also working more from Home rail services will be less London centric for the foreseeable future. Agreed, I do realise that the Woolwich line is pretty congested as it is, but Thameslink was most definitely a downgrade in terms of the journey between Medway and London. Still no excuse for stopping at Slade Green instead of Erith. Also to add to your Canterbury to Reading service, it would provide Kent with a direct link to Gatwick Airport without the hassle of heading into London or changing at Redhill. Something that the county could really do with. Kent does need the link to Gatwick, it’s funny that it will soon be easier to get to Heathrow from Kent than to Gatwick which one county over. The Woolwich line will soon be relived by CrossRail when it finally opens so I can imagine there being a timetable recast for that reason, there should be 4tph from Gravesend to Abbey Wood at the very least. I think Thameslink as a whole is best suited to the Sidcup line, but I do agree that there’s far more going on at both Belvedere and Erith than Slade Green
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