Why were Gillingham trains diverted via Greenwich......

[route53]

.....in the 2000s

For much of its existence the Gillingham semi fast were always ran via Lewisham, apart from the 2000s when they diverted via Greenwich, calling at that station only.

Around the same time there was another semi fast service via Lewisham which ran from Plumstead to at first Victoria then later on to Cannon Street.

Any particular reason why this pattern occurred?

[wirewiper]

Jan 9, 2020 16:38:38 GMT route53 said:

.....in the 2000s

For much of its existence the Gillingham semi fast were always ran via Lewisham, apart from the 2000s when they diverted via Greenwich, calling at that station only.

Around the same time there was another semi fast service via Lewisham which ran from Plumstead to at first Victoria then later on to Cannon Street.

Any particular reason why this pattern occurred?

The opening of the DLR to Lewisham in late 1999, which along with the Jubilee Line Extension altered many people's travel patterns in South-East London. The growth of Canary Wharf and the existence of the DLR created new demand for travel to and from Canary Wharf, and for passengers on the North Kent Line the journey was faster changing at Greenwich rather than Lewisham. 

[route53]

Jan 9, 2020 16:51:35 GMT wirewiper said:

Jan 9, 2020 16:38:38 GMT route53 said:

.....in the 2000s

For much of its existence the Gillingham semi fast were always ran via Lewisham, apart from the 2000s when they diverted via Greenwich, calling at that station only.

Around the same time there was another semi fast service via Lewisham which ran from Plumstead to at first Victoria then later on to Cannon Street.

Any particular reason why this pattern occurred?

The opening of the DLR to Lewisham in late 1999, which along with the Jubilee Line Extension altered many people's travel patterns in South-East London. The growth of Canary Wharf and the existence of the DLR created new demand for travel to and from Canary Wharf, and for passengers on the North Kent Line the journey was faster changing at Greenwich rather than Lewisham. 

Thanks I thought this was the case, I wonder why it was changed back

[vjaska]

Being a Brixton resident, the one I miss is seeing Eurostar trains running from Waterloo onto the Victoria to Kent line making a right racket - good memories

[route53]

Jan 9, 2020 17:43:05 GMT vjaska said:

Being a Brixton resident, the one I miss is seeing Eurostar trains running from Waterloo onto the Victoria to Kent line making a right racket - good memories

I lived in Sydenham Hill in the early 2000s and it was worth the half wait for a train because I’d see at least three Eurostar’s flying past en route to the continent:-)

[route53]

Journeys were much quicker when the fasts ran via Greenwich but I believe they wanted to make all the stations on the Greenwich branch 6tph, I can get Deptford gaining the extra trains but Maze Hill and Westcombe Park are sleepy stations,

[Dillon95]

Jan 9, 2020 18:41:43 GMT route53 said:

Journeys were much quicker when the fasts ran via Greenwich but I believe they wanted to make all the stations on the Greenwich branch 6tph, I can get Deptford gaining the extra trains but Maze Hill and Westcombe Park are sleepy stations,

I guess they were hoping more Greenwich/Blackheath residents would use them with a more attractive 6tph service.