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DevonTrains2008
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« on: January 15, 2009, 18:07:04 » |
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Does anyone else think this is a good idea? It would allow access to Ashford International for passengers who used to go to Waterloo from Salisbury, Yeovil, Exeter and from stations south of Bristol  |
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devon_metro
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« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2009, 18:30:40 » |
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Not really convinced the costs would be sustainable for electrification, unless the line from Salisbury - Basingstoke was also electrified.
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DevonTrains2008
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« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2009, 20:03:54 » |
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ah, I see, Southampton to Ashford Intl. is an electrified route then. It's probabaly best to route West Of England customers through So'ton Central and change there. Do Southern have any diesels?
P.S Where in Devon is your nearest station?
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devon_metro
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« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2009, 20:16:47 » |
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Routing woe passengers via soton would add an age onto the journey, and yes the Southern services are operated by electric trains.
My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services, of which Paignton serves this purpose.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2009, 20:29:43 » |
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My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services I think it should - after all, we've seen a FGW▸ HST▸ at Minehead!    |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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G.Uard
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« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2009, 22:13:33 » |
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ah, I see, Southampton to Ashford Intl. is an electrified route then. It's probabaly best to route West Of England customers through So'ton Central and change there. Do Southern have any diesels?
 Class 171 Turbostars |
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Btline
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« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2009, 22:41:02 » |
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My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services, of which Paignton serves this purpose.
I know the feeling D/M!  The diagram above shows a Class 170/1 DMU▸ operated by Southern. However, they are all used up on current duties (unless Uckfield and Ore lines were electrified = not going to happen). |
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paul7575
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« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2009, 23:14:12 » |
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This has been suggested before elsewhere. The SN Brighton to Ashford is a 171 DMU▸ - because the line is not electrified beyond Ore, which is about half way to Ashford. The running time east of Brighton is 1h44m, Salisbury to Brighton is 2h15m, so 4 hours. But, I suspect you might need to change at Brighton - I'm not sure for definite, but I don't think you can run from Hove, into Brighton, and reverse out again onto the East Coastway? (Any info welcome on that bit...)
So the choice is between a 4 hour plus trip, or 90min with 20 mins on the underground, or the direct bus, or a taxi. I know which one I'd choose, especially as Ashford sees a much reduced Eurostar service nowadays...
The point about SN having only enough DMUs for the lines already necessary is made earlier.
Paul
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grahame
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« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2009, 20:33:22 » |
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Here's a picture of the Ashford - Brighton service  Thanks to WikiPedia user Hassocks5489 who has put this in the public domain (so I don't really need to give credit, but I want to anyway!) I don't know about reversal right across Brighton - I suspect you can't - but just imagine linking up the Ashford - Brighton and Brighton - Gt Malvern services. Someone will be proposing Waterloo to Manchester next |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Hafren
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« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2009, 20:55:02 » |
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If I remember correctly there is (limited) cross-Brighton access. The basic hourly pattern used to include a Littlehampton-Seaford service, but it was withdrawn (c. 2002?). As far as I'm aware the connection is still there, but it wouldn't be a good idea to make heavy use of it - basically one of the 'west' platforms has a connection to the main/east lines. The points are half way down the platform, so a long train couldn't do it, and if another train needs to use the platform or is delayed there then the east/west train is stuck. Also an east/west train will conflict with any main line arrivals/departures as it crosses to/from the platform - all very inconvenient to path!
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Btline
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« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2009, 21:33:43 » |
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I would imagine a service would reduce flexibility at the (very full) station.
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RichardB
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« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2009, 00:00:11 » |
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Surely it would be quicker for people from Salisbury etc to travel via Waterloo and the tube.
A service to Ashford from Salisbury would take a very long time. Better to take an expensive taxi Waterloo - St Pancras if need be.
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DevonTrains2008
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« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2009, 16:18:37 » |
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Honiton to Salisbury - 1.5 hours
Salisbury to Ashford International (Via Southampton) - 4 hours
Eurostar check-in - min. 30 mins
Total time to join Eurostar: 6 hours
Honiton to London Waterloo - 3 hours
London Waterloo to St Pancras International - 20 mins
Eurostar check-in - min. 30 mins
St Pancras to Ashford International - 40 mins
Total: 4.5 hours
Yes, the Ashford route is 1.5 hours longer but it saves the need to carry luggage around London and you could make a saving on the Eurostar fare (?)
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G.Uard
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« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2009, 16:32:59 » |
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Haven't services from Ashford Int. been drastically curtailed since the opening of St Pancras Int?
I am sure an etended 'Coastway' service would be appreciated by some, but considering the already lengthy journey time with reversal to/from Brighton and Pompey, you would probably need some sort of suspended animation facility to preserve the passengers.
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Btline
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« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2009, 16:59:15 » |
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Yes, although a Brussels train is back soon.
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