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Post by greenboy on Dec 14, 2023 19:36:34 GMT
Shortlands is the latest Southeastern station to be given step-free access from street to platform level. The existing subway and stairs to platform level will remain in use for people not needing step-free access. This will take the form of a new overbridge with lift access, which has aroused some opposition locally as the structure will stand above the existing station buildings. An alternative proposal to link lifts to the existing subway was made in 2017 but not carried out. This would have been considerably more expensive to construct and might have involved station closures whilst the work took place. Work on the new footbridge is due to commence at the end of January 2024 and last until Spring 2025. The station will remain open throughout. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/shortlands-station-set-to-get-step-free-access-with-new-lifts-and-footbridge-68124/ Great news although I can't imagine the lift to platforms 3 and 4 getting much use as very few trains stop there.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 27, 2023 7:19:10 GMT
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Post by greenboy on Dec 30, 2023 8:26:19 GMT
Also no Eurostar services
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Post by wirewiper on Dec 30, 2023 8:31:43 GMT
Also no Eurostar services <tweet snipped to save space> It's a pity Ashford International isn't open, as a limited shuttle Eurostar service to Lille, Brussels and Paris could be kept going from there.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 30, 2023 9:19:40 GMT
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Post by Mokujin on Dec 30, 2023 22:52:50 GMT
Eurostar really should look into reinstating Ashford International as a stop in the event of disruptions like this. This isn't the first time that the Eurostar from London has been completely suspended either.
Ashford has alternative train routes into London and the station is less awkward to navigate compared to Ebbsfleet which would benefit passengers as opposed to doing nothing.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 30, 2023 23:24:18 GMT
Eurostar really should look into reinstating Ashford International as a stop in the event of disruptions like this. This isn't the first time that the Eurostar from London has been completely suspended either. Ashford has alternative train routes into London and the station is less awkward to navigate compared to Ebbsfleet which would benefit passengers as opposed to doing nothing. I agree and lessons really need to be learnt after today's debacle. Ideally reinstate the Waterloo route although I'm not sure how practical that is.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 30, 2023 23:44:11 GMT
Eurostar really should look into reinstating Ashford International as a stop in the event of disruptions like this. This isn't the first time that the Eurostar from London has been completely suspended either. Ashford has alternative train routes into London and the station is less awkward to navigate compared to Ebbsfleet which would benefit passengers as opposed to doing nothing. I agree and lessons really need to be learnt after today's debacle. Ideally reinstate the Waterloo route although I'm not sure how practical that is. I don't think Eurostar can, don't they require border services to be present at such terminals? Ebsfleet and Ashford however both have that capability so I'm not sure why they weren't reinstated and at least a replacement bus service instated from St Pancras or even Stratford International to these locations.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 31, 2023 0:05:59 GMT
I agree and lessons really need to be learnt after today's debacle. Ideally reinstate the Waterloo route although I'm not sure how practical that is. I don't think Eurostar can, don't they require border services to be present at such terminals? Ebsfleet and Ashford however both have that capability so I'm not sure why they weren't reinstated and at least a replacement bus service instated from St Pancras or even Stratford International to these locations. Apparently it wasn't possible to reopen facilities at Ebbsfleet or Ashford and get staff in place at such short notice today but certainly some better contingency plans are needed. It's a shame that the Waterloo route ceased and there's probably not much chance of getting it reopened now but at least Ashford would be better than nothing and hopefully Southeastern could lay on a few extra trains to Central London.
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Post by buspete on Dec 31, 2023 0:33:02 GMT
No chance opening Waterloo International as that part of the station has been repurposed.
Going to ask a dumb question, why did they need to suspend, the traction is 25kv overheads so no danger here. I live close to that area how did the tunnel get flooded? We haven’t had a noticeable torrent of downpour last night?
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Post by vjaska on Dec 31, 2023 1:16:23 GMT
No chance opening Waterloo International as that part of the station has been repurposed. Going to ask a dumb question, why did they need to suspend, the traction is 25kv overheads so no danger here. I live close to that area how did the tunnel get flooded? We haven’t had a noticeable torrent of downpour last night? Not only that regarding Waterloo International being re-purposed, but I imagine capacity has increased on the older routing (the Chatham Mainline) since then that a diversion of services might be awkward? I believe it was a burst pipe that flooded the tunnel but happy to be corrected.
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Post by Mokujin on Dec 31, 2023 6:26:54 GMT
No chance opening Waterloo International as that part of the station has been repurposed. Going to ask a dumb question, why did they need to suspend, the traction is 25kv overheads so no danger here. I live close to that area how did the tunnel get flooded? We haven’t had a noticeable torrent of downpour last night? Not only that regarding Waterloo International being re-purposed, but I imagine capacity has increased on the older routing (the Chatham Mainline) since then that a diversion of services might be awkward? I believe it was a burst pipe that flooded the tunnel but happy to be corrected. According to the Managing Director of Southeastern on X (Twitter), the actual cause of the flood hasn't been found yet or at least made public. It was however rumoured at first to be an issue with the fire control system within the tunnel. The Fawkham Junction - Southfleet Junction path from the HS1 line to the Chatham Main Line is no longer in use, nor suitable for passenger trains at the moment which rules out a diversion to Waterloo amongst other reasons.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 31, 2023 7:54:52 GMT
Not only that regarding Waterloo International being re-purposed, but I imagine capacity has increased on the older routing (the Chatham Mainline) since then that a diversion of services might be awkward? I believe it was a burst pipe that flooded the tunnel but happy to be corrected. According to the Managing Director of Southeastern on X (Twitter), the actual cause of the flood hasn't been found yet or at least made public. It was however rumoured at first to be an issue with the fire control system within the tunnel. The Fawkham Junction - Southfleet Junction path from the HS1 line to the Chatham Main Line is no longer in use, nor suitable for passenger trains at the moment which rules out a diversion to Waterloo amongst other reasons. A lot of work would be needed to reinstate the Waterloo route and is unlikely to happen but the current situation is that if St Pancras is out of action for whatever reason there is no plan B. Something really does need to be sorted out if people are going to have any confidence in the service, flying seems much the better option. Southeastern are running a limited HS service.
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Post by TA1 on Dec 31, 2023 8:49:17 GMT
According to the Managing Director of Southeastern on X (Twitter), the actual cause of the flood hasn't been found yet or at least made public. It was however rumoured at first to be an issue with the fire control system within the tunnel. The Fawkham Junction - Southfleet Junction path from the HS1 line to the Chatham Main Line is no longer in use, nor suitable for passenger trains at the moment which rules out a diversion to Waterloo amongst other reasons. A lot of work would be needed to reinstate the Waterloo route and is unlikely to happen but the current situation is that if St Pancras is out of action for whatever reason there is no plan B. Something really does need to be sorted out if people are going to have any confidence in the service, flying seems much the better option. Southeastern are running a limited HS service. HS1 has been open for 16 going on 17 years, bar OHL's coming down, this is the first major incident to this extremity so unsure why there would be a mass exodus of passengers now flying, apparently flights to Paris rose to nearly £700 because of the excessive demand of passengers wishing to travel to Paris over the last couple of days. . SE HS are running a limited service, because only one of two tunnels are open, so single line working is in operation and paths will be limited.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 31, 2023 9:07:39 GMT
A lot of work would be needed to reinstate the Waterloo route and is unlikely to happen but the current situation is that if St Pancras is out of action for whatever reason there is no plan B. Something really does need to be sorted out if people are going to have any confidence in the service, flying seems much the better option. Southeastern are running a limited HS service. HS1 has been open for 16 going on 17 years, bar OHL's coming down, this is the first major incident to this extremity so unsure why there would be a mass exodus of passengers now flying, apparently flights to Paris rose to nearly £700 because of the excessive demand of passengers wishing to travel to Paris over the last couple of days. . SE HS are running a limited service, because only one of two tunnels are open, so single line working is in operation and paths will be limited. In normal circumstances flying is cheaper and obviously any disruption at an airport and a flight can be diverted to another airport. It's not been a great Christmas holiday for the railway industry.
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