Total delays this month 426 minutes: very poor.

Delay Repay Claims; total 1 January 2015 to 30 November 2015 inclusive = £55.65. Five claims outstanding.

Keith is a SRTA member and a regular commuter from Bat & Ball to London via Sevenoaks. Each month he gives his personal experiences and views.

Week of 2 November

Total lateness 52 minutes, Southeastern 39, Thameslink 13

• Monday 2 November – I was on leave this week and only travelled twice. Thameslink only today from Bat & Ball to Bromley South and return. Two minutes delay on the return journey.
• Friday 6 November – I needed to take my car to a garage in Dunton Green this morning and collect it at about 12.00. After delivering the vehicle I walked to Dunton Green and travelled to Bat & Ball via Sevenoaks. A three minute delay arriving at Sevenoaks. The return journey was a different story. As I approached Bat & Ball Station to catch the 11.10 to Sevenoaks at about 11.04 there was a train in platform two. I thought that the 11.10 was early but as I approached the door the train departed; it was the 10.40 running late. The 11.10 was expected at 11.15; it actually departed at 11.20 arriving at Sevenoaks at 11.25. I crossed to platform two for the 11.36 departure to Dunton Green. Just before the train departed I noticed that it was advertised as fast to Chelsfield. I quickly detrained and asked a member of staff if it was stopping at Dunton Green and was told that “due to the weather” it was not. It would appear that XX-36 departures were not stopping at Dunton Green and Knockholt but the XX-06 departures were calling at all the usual stations. The 12.06 departure was delayed by six minutes whilst late running mainline services were allowed through in front of it.

Week of 9 November

Total lateness 137 minutes, Southeastern 85, Thameslink 52.

• Monday 9 November – The start of another week where the 07.23 was too full and I travelled on the 07.28 every day from Sevenoaks. This morning the 07.28 was very slow on route to London arriving eight minutes late in to Cannon Street. This evening was also one of poor performance which continued most of the week. The 17.24 departed one minute late and lost time arriving at Sevenoaks at 17.59.50 as we came to a halt the doors could be seen closing on the 18.00 departure to Bat & Ball and this train actually departed at 17.59.54, six seconds before the correct departure time. This obviously did not go down too well with people intending to travel on this train to Bat & Ball and Otford. To add insult to injury and really rub salt in to the wounds the 17.45 from Cannon Street to Folkestone was late, due Sevenoaks 18.16 arrived 18.18. However the 1818 departure to Victoria via Bat & Ball and Otford was dispatched late at 18.21.
• Tuesday 10 November – The 07.10 from Bat & Ball was very late arriving at Sevenoaks at 07.27, the 07.23 to Cannon Street had departed and I just managed to board the 07.28 departure because it was not dispatched until 07.29. A slow journey to London arriving six minutes late in to Cannon Street. My return journey was not any better; the 17.24 departed Cannon Street two minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks at 18.01 eight minutes late. The 18.00 to Bat & Ball could again be seen departing as we arrived at Sevenoaks. The 18.18 departure to Bat & Ball was not dispatched until 18.20.
• Wednesday 11 November – Minor delay arriving at Sevenoaks, on time in London. Not so good in the evening: the 17.24 was ten minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks. Fortunately for me the 18.00 departure to Sevenoaks was delayed by nine minutes, arrival at Bat & Ball was twelve minutes late.
• Thursday 12 November – I did not travel to work today but to Egham instead. Thirteen minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks from Bat & Ball but no other significant delays to report.
• Friday 13 November – Minor delays today but connections at Sevenoaks were made.
• Saturday 14 November 2015 – A shopping trip to Bromley today; bad start Thameslink cancelled my train. Another delay replay claim.

Week of 16 November

Total lateness 86 minutes, Southeastern 49, Thameslink 37.

• Monday 16 November – Minor delays today and no seat for me on the journey to London this morning. The 17.24 was crowded this evening.
• Tuesday 17 November – Both the 07.23 and 07.28 to Cannon Street were both very busy today, no seat for me. The 17.24 was very slow through South London this evening.
• Wednesday 18 November – I did not travel to work today but with Passport in hand I headed North to Rochford in Essex. Between them Southeastern and Thameslink subjected me to a total of twenty minutes of delay.
• Thursday 19 November – Back to work today; an earlier start than usual because I needed to be home earlier this afternoon. A bad start to the journey the 06.42 from Bat & Ball was thirteen minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks. I had to travel to Charing Cross and then continue to Cannon Street by London Underground services from Embankment. Minor delays on my journey home in the early afternoon.
• Friday 20 November – Minor delays this morning. Both the 07.23 and 07.28 to Cannon Street had seats available this morning, I opted for the 07.28 departure. The 17.24 from Cannon Street was late again and missed the 18.00 departure from Sevenoaks to Bat & Ball.

Week of 23 November

Total lateness 151 minutes, Southeastern 78,Thameslink 73

• Monday 23 November -The 07.10 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks was shown as “Delayed” on the information screen this morning. “Delayed” is not a good thing to see. It usually means the Signalman acknowledges the existence of the train somewhere on the network but due to problems they have not decided what to do with it; could be a long wait! I decided to travel to Blackfriars and then the Underground to Cannon Street. Another Delay Repay claim. The 07.12 train to Blackfriars crossed the 07.10 departure from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks at 07.19 at Shoreham. I estimate this train would have been twenty minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks. I travelled home later than usual this evening. The 17.45 from Cannon Street was late arriving at Sevenoaks and missed the connection to Bat & Ball.
• Tuesday 24 November – Minor delays in both directions today but connections achieved.
• Wednesday 25 November – A few minutes delay on route to work this morning both the 07.23 and 07.28 arrival at Sevenoaks were full and standing this morning; no seat for me. The leading unit of the 07.28 was low density stock which did not help! There were major problems and delays coming home this evening due to an obstruction on the line between Knockholt and Sevenoaks. Over an hour’s delay to my journey; another Delay Repay claim submitted after a scenic journey via Swanley. Another problem was the train information screens at Sevenoaks this evening. The screen for platform four was displaying details of the train standing at platform three!
• Thursday 26 November – Nothing really to report today; minor delays on the way to work and almost on time when I travelled home at about 20.30 hours.
• Friday 27 November – Again minor delays on the way in to London, on time on the journey home.

I am signing off this month’s report a week earlier than usual because I am moving to a new office and my journey will change from Monday 30 November 2015.