[Travel] Southern scraps off-peak Brighton to Victoria trains

Garage_Doors · Feb 3, 2020

Being a non habitual user of trains i assume this not only means less trains but also not discounted fares, so how much is it likely to cost to got to London for the day?

Is it more feesable to drive?

On one of the rare occasions had to go yesterday but found it was a bus replacement service so drove up to Tower bridge instead and found that the traffic weren't too bad to be fair.

Lower West Stander · Feb 3, 2020

Not sure this is too big a deal.

There are plenty of Thameslinks. And Gatwick Express.

If they run of course.....

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Eeyore · Feb 3, 2020

Trying to unscramble this. Looks like there will be no direct trains off-peak. Change at Haywards Heath.

The Optimist · Feb 3, 2020

Thameslink to London Bridge is normally the cheapest option.

vegster · Feb 3, 2020

I have recently started hearing radio ads from Southern saying they are investing in building extra roofing on stations, so punters don't have to wait in the rain so long when their service is cancelled, I suppose the money has to come from somewhere ?

Weststander · Feb 3, 2020

Just use Thameslink instead.

beorhthelm · Feb 3, 2020

depends on how broad their definition of "peak is" and if they remember the evening Victoria-Brighton route. there's 4 trains an hour, during the day can be 1/10th capacity.
real question here is why it takes 2 years to do the work, seems an awfully long time.

studio150 · Feb 3, 2020

Lower West Stander said:
Not sure this is too big a deal.

There are plenty of Thameslinks. And Gatwick Express.

If they run of course.....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

But don't a lot of Southern off peak tickets say not valid on Gatwick Express.

Certainly going to hit getting to the Amex from up the line next season

Eeyore · Feb 3, 2020

Weststander said:
Just use Thameslink instead.

Might need to extend the platforms at EC for the waiting punters as well.

Weststander · Feb 3, 2020

Brighton Lines said:
Might need to extend the platforms at EC for the waiting punters as well.

London Bridge and Blackfriars Stations are fine for then getting onto a variety of tube lines to anywhere in central London.

beorhthelm · Feb 3, 2020

Brighton Lines said:
Might need to extend the platforms at EC for the waiting punters as well.

good point, and Clapham. hopeful they'll run shuttle service to cover.

Madafwo · Feb 3, 2020

When did this start, or when does it start? I know there are going to be some changes due to the redevelopment of Gatwick Airport but it doesn't appear that they have already got rid of direct trains from Brighton to Victoria.

Weststander · Feb 3, 2020

Madafwo said:
When did this start, or when does it start? I know there are going to be some changes due to the redevelopment of Gatwick Airport but it doesn't appear that they have already got rid of direct trains from Brighton to Victoria.

May 20 to May 22.

The cause is the Gatwick work, according to the Argus.

Harry Wilson's tackle · Feb 3, 2020

vegster said:
I have recently started hearing radio ads from Southern saying they are investing in building extra roofing on stations, so punters don't have to wait in the rain so long when their service is cancelled, I suppose the money has to come from somewhere ?

You have to salute their faultless logic.

Not Andy Naylor · Feb 3, 2020

Their press release suggests (but it's not clear) that they're scrapping a couple of trains per hour, or rather sending them to Eastbourne instead.

"We recognise that this will involve change for passengers at Brighton. We are maintaining eight trains to London per hour in the high peaks, and while outside of these times, the service will reduce to six trains per hour, we will be running longer trains."

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/02/03/southern-scraps-off-peak-brighton-to-victoria-trains/

beorhthelm · Feb 3, 2020

Not Andy Naylor said:
Their press release suggests (but it's not clear) that they're scrapping a couple of trains per hour, or rather sending them to Eastbourne instead.

"We recognise that this will involve change for passengers at Brighton. We are maintaining eight trains to London per hour in the high peaks, and while outside of these times, the service will reduce to six trains per hour, we will be running longer trains."

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/02/03/southern-scraps-off-peak-brighton-to-victoria-trains/

not clear at all. the press release as presented doesnt mention the train changes at all, only the reasons. the bit at the end, as you quote, is a long way from all off-peak trains will be cancelled.

Madafwo · Feb 3, 2020

Weststander said:
May 20 to May 22.

The cause is the Gatwick work, according to the Argus.

I tend not to read the Arsegas, especially when it comes to the railway.

So they're not scrapping them, they're reducing them to ease congestion through Gatwick while the works are happening? And they're forewarning people about it as well? String 'em up.

Edit: Just read the press release myself, so they are indeed stopping the direct services off peak for 2 years. That'll be fun.

You can read all about it on the Southern website here.

vegster · Feb 3, 2020

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
You have to salute their faultless logic.

I definitely recall large canopies at West Worthing and Portslade stations years past that covered to the edge of the platforms, I think they became slightly dangerous ( ergo, in need of repair, ergo costing money ) and were subsequently ripped down as a short term cost saving exercise. Sad really, the Victorians really built things with style and to last and we just do bodge jobs on everything these days.

Superseagull · Feb 3, 2020

Not sure how making platforms a bit longer and a new concourse area ends up with a bill of £150 million?

thedonkeycentrehalf · Feb 3, 2020

Not Andy Naylor said:
Their press release suggests (but it's not clear) that they're scrapping a couple of trains per hour, or rather sending them to Eastbourne instead.

"We recognise that this will involve change for passengers at Brighton. We are maintaining eight trains to London per hour in the high peaks, and while outside of these times, the service will reduce to six trains per hour, we will be running longer trains."

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/02/03/southern-scraps-off-peak-brighton-to-victoria-trains/

The excuse is that they can't have the splitting service for Littlehampton & Eastbourne/Ore so will instead run those as two separate trains and lose a Brighton service. They also said that passengers wanting to use tickets can either pay more to use the GE services to Victoria or change at Haywards Heath to pick up one of the other services.

Good news for those along the coastway as we generally get longer trains up to Victoria but will also likely mean harder to get a seat on the way home.

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[Travel] Southern scraps off-peak Brighton to Victoria trains

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