A total of 224 minutes delay – Southeastern 150, Thameslink 74. Somewhat better than last month, but still very poor performance. A horrible journey home on Monday 8 February and lucky to have the day off on Friday 12 February.

Delay Repay Claims; total 1 January 2016 to 29 February 2016 inclusive = £25.80 two claims against Thameslink 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 1 February 2016

Total lateness 69 minutes: Southeastern 39, Thameslink 30.

• Monday 1 February – The 06.30 departure for Waterloo East which arrived in London one minute early this morning. The loose paving slab at the start of the ramp up towards the station entrance at Sevenoaks is still presenting a trip hazard but some “helpful” person has moved the cone that identified the potential danger to one side. The 16.43 from Waterloo East was four minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks and the 17.30 departure to Bat and Ball arrived there on time this evening.
• Tuesday 2 February – My neighbour gave me a lift to Sevenoaks Station again this morning. The 06.24 from Bat & Ball arrived at Sevenoaks one minute late today and the 06.30 departure for Waterloo East likewise arrived in London one minute late this morning. The 16.43 was very busy this evening not all the people joining the train at Waterloo East found a seat in the part of the train that I was travelling in.
• Wednesday 3 February – This week’s report on the lighting at Bat & Ball is as follows; five lights on the platform and two out of four on the footbridge are not working. No change since last week! The 06.24 from Bat & Ball arrived at Sevenoaks on time today and similarly the 06.30 departure for Waterloo East arrived in London on time this morning. The train to London was quite busy today, few people joining at Orpington got a seat.
• Thursday 04 February – This morning one the platform lights that has not been working for a few weeks was flickering, the other faulty ones were still not working. The 06.24 was one minute late arriving at both Bat & Ball and Sevenoaks this today. The 06.30 departure for Waterloo East arrived in London four minutes late.
• Friday 5 February – A day off work, and I decided to go to Dover. That turned into quite an adventure which you can read about here. I pity Dover travellers who have to endure this every day at the moment.

Week of 8 February 2016

Total lateness 83 minutes: Southeastern 73, Thameslink 10.

• Monday 8 February – This week’s report on the lighting at Bat & Ball is as follows; four lights on the platform and two out of four on the footbridge are not working. The 06.24 from Bat & Ball arrived at Sevenoaks on time today and had many more passengers on it than usual. Southeastern were running late this morning: the 06.30 did not depart Sevenoaks until 06.37 and arrived at Waterloo East eight minutes late at 07.07. The train to London was quite full on arrival at Sevenoaks probably due to the train formation being all low density stock (more comfortable seats though!). On departure from Orpington many were standing and a few sitting on the floor.  A terrible journey home this evening – trying Waterloo East, Blackfriars and Cannon Street. I eventually reached Bat & Ball one hour and one minute late. Yet another Delay Repay claim submitted!
• Tuesday 9 February – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball departed one minute late and the proceeded at a snail’s pace towards Sevenoaks arriving there two minutes late at 06.29. Fortunately Southeastern were also running late so an easy connection with the 06.30 to Waterloo East was achieved. This train departed at 06.33 and arrived three minutes late in London. I travelled home on the 16.13 from Waterloo East, two minutes early at Sevenoaks but the Thameslink service to Bat & Ball was ten minutes late.
• Wednesday 10 February – So far this week both the 06.24 from Bat & Ball and the 06.30 to Charing Cross have been quite busy, the 06.24 appears to be having a lot more regular travellers on it recently.
• Thursday 11 February – One more platform light was not working on Bat & Ball Station this morning.  When I arrived at the Bat & Ball the information screen showed the 06.24 departure as being on time, this soon changed to “Expected 06.25” which in reality became a 06.28 departure and seven minutes late arriving at Sevenoaks at 06.31. Fortunately Southeastern were running late in harmony with Thameslink. The 06.30 service to Waterloo East was just coming to a stand as I was halfway across the station footbridge and I arrived on platform one as the doors were opening. A three minute late departure and six minutes late arriving at Waterloo East. The late arrival in to London this morning was attributed to a major points failure outside of Charing Cross Station.
• Friday 12 February – Did not travel today. Listening to BBC Radio Kent it appeared to be a good day not to be using the railway system due to the poor service that was being run.
• Saturday 13 February – My destination today is Watford Junction. The 07.10 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived three minutes late at both stations. The 07.19 to Charing Cross was two minutes late at Sevenoaks but two minutes early in London. I travelled home from St Albans to Watford Junction and then to Euston. I could not buy a ticket for the St Albans to Watford journey; no ticket machine or staff. Good job there was no need to submit a delay repay claim! My journey from London Charing Cross at 19.40 to Bat & Ball via Sevenoaks was on time throughout.

Week of 15 February 2016

Total lateness 35 minutes: Southeastern 24, Thameslink 11.

• Monday 15 February – This week’s report on the lighting at Bat & Ball is as follows; four lights on the platform and two out of four on the footbridge are not working. I would have thought that Southeastern/Network Rail have had more than enough time to fix these lights since I first reported the problems; especially as illumination on the footbridge is only fifty percent of what it should be. Health and safety issue? I had a long time to count the failed lights this morning because Thameslink cancelled the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks. They were actually only running about fifty percent of the timetabled service. When I arrived at Bat & Ball Station the information screen was showing the following: –

06.24 – Sevenoaks cancelled
06.42 – Sevenoaks on time
06.48 – Blackfriars cancelled
07.10 – Sevenoaks cancelled
07.12 – Blackfriars on time
07.39 – Blackfriars on time
07.40 – Sevenoaks cancelled
07.56 – Blackfriars on time
08.00 – Sevenoaks on time

I assume that the 06.16 departure to Blackfriars ran because there was only a fox on platform one when I arrived at the station who did not seem too pleased because I had disturbed his raid on the rubbish sacks at the station. I eventually travelled to London on the 06.49 from Sevenoaks to Waterloo East which was two minutes late departing but one minute early arriving in London.

• Tuesday 16 February – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball was on time today. At Sevenoaks the problems started, the media was broadcasting that a broken rail between Grove Park and Hither Green was causing delays. Once I was on platform one the information screen advised passengers that the 06.30 was calling additionally at Knockholt, the 06.44 was diverted to London Blackfriars and the 06.49 was diverted to London Victoria.  I travelled on the 06.30 because it was the only service going to Waterloo East and the train diverted to Blackfriars was fourteen minutes later. Although Blackfriars is much closer to my office I thought a fourteen minute head start would get me to work quicker. When the 06.30 departed the driver announced that he had additional stop orders to call at Dunton Green, Knockholt and Chelsfield. These, plus delays incurred between Grove Park and St Johns including a scenic detour via Lewisham, resulted in a twenty-one minute late arrival at Waterloo East. The return journey this evening was much better, one minute late at Sevenoaks and on time at Bat & Ball.
• Wednesday 17 February – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball departed one minute late and was also one minute late arriving at Sevenoaks. The 06.30 to Waterloo East was on time at arriving at Sevenoaks but the driver ran past the eight coach stop board which caused a scramble on the platform as commuters repositioned themselves for when the doors were released! It departed two minutes late and was almost full, however it was two minutes early arriving in London.
• Thursday 18 February – Derby was my ultimate destination today. I travelled on the 07.39 departure from Bat & Ball arriving seven minutes late at City Thameslink where I detrained to validate my Oyster Card before joining another train to continue my journey to St Pancras. This train was three minutes late departing City Thameslink but was on time departing St Pancras. The time allowed for the journey across central London appears to have some recovery time built in to it! Midland mainline ran to time between London and Derby in both directions although on the return journey there was a slight delay outside of St Pancras waiting for a platform to become available. I travelled back to Bat & Ball on the 17.22 departure which arrived two minutes early there.
• Friday 19 February – Later start to the day than usual and I travelled direct to Blackfriars on the 09.16 departure from Bat & Ball which was on time arriving in London.

Week of 22 February 2016

Total lateness 37 minutes: Southeastern 14, Thameslink 23.

• Monday 22 February – The 06.24 was advertised as due 06.25 when I arrived at the station, this soon became 06.27, then 06.29. According to a fellow passenger information online was advising 06.32! The train arrived at 06.30 and pulled in to Sevenoaks at 06.33, six minutes late. Fortunately Southeastern were also running late and I just boarded the 06.30 to Waterloo East. This train was about three/four minutes late departing and was three minutes late arriving in London.  This service was quite busy today with only a few unusable middle of three seats empty on departure from Orpington.
• Tuesday 23 February – This week’s report on the lighting at Bat & Ball is as follows; five lights on the platform and two out of four on the footbridge are not working. The 06.24 was very late today arriving at Sevenoaks at 06.33 where I watched the late running 06.30 depart. Whilst I was waiting for the 06.43 to Waterloo East I noticed that the 06.13 to Blackfriars and beyond was shown as expected to depart at 06.36. It did leave at 06.37 but direct to Bickley via Orpington. That explained why the 06.16 departure from Bat & Ball was cancelled this morning! The hand dryer in the gent’s toilet at Sevenoaks is still not working!
• Wednesday 24 February – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks was shown as being one minute late when I arrived at the station this morning. This changed to on time but later became expected at 06.26. Arrival in Sevenoaks was 06.29. Fortunately the 06.30 to Waterloo East was shown as being four minutes late so an easy connection was achieved. Arrival in London was on time after a spirited run towards the Capital.
• Thursday 25 February – This morning the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks was shown as being on time when I arrived at the station. However, as departure time approached this changed to expected at 06.26. The train departed Bat & Ball 06.28 and arrived at Sevenoaks at 06.31. It has occurred to me recently that on a regular basis this train appears to be on time when it is probably on the approach to Otford and then a delay occurs resulting in a late arrival at both Bat & Ball and Sevenoaks. Accordingly is the departure from Otford delayed and if so is this due to a conflicting movement across Otford Junction. This could be associated with the train from Maidstone to Blackfriars due at Otford at 06.27. The 06.30 departure to Waterloo East was already alongside platform 1 and when I reached the platform the doors closed. Fortunately for me and others who had just arrived on the same train as me there was a problem causing the departure to be delayed, I opened the door and found a seat. This train departed at 06.34 four minutes late and arrived at Waterloo East at 07.02 only three minutes behind time.
• Friday 26 February – A day off work today and my destination is Chappell and Wakes Colne. The 08.00 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks was 5 minutes late at both stations and missed the 08.08 departure to Cannon Street. The next fast service to Cannon Street was at 08.27 this train arrived in London eight minutes late. I still had more than enough time to walk to Liverpool Street, buy my ticket and board the 10.02 departure.

Incidents and this month’s issues

• Thameslink trains are currently displaying “New – Improving Information in development” on their on-board information screens. Whilst information is very important and the lack of it, or poor quality of it, is a frequent topic of customer complaint I would expect most users of Thameslink would also want more effort being applied to obtaining sufficient staff to run the published timetable and to run their services to time.
• A supply of the elusive timetable number six has now been received at Sevenoaks station.
• At St Pancras I obtained a supply of Thameslink Delay Repay claims forms with the new office address on them. None of the forms have a gummed edge therefore they cannot be easily sealed before posting them!
• The loose paving slabs at the start of the ramp up in to Sevenoaks Station have now been repaired.
• I recently looked at the National Rail Enquiries Website and spotted that they are still showing an image of the old style ticket on the section that advises you how to read your ticket!
• One night whilst I was waiting for my train to Bat & Ball at Sevenoaks I observed an unusual approach to litter clearance by platform staff on platforms 3 & 4; kick it on to the trackbed. I am sure Network Rail would not be amused!
• At Sevenoaks a “Meet The Manager” event was held on 23 February. I was armed with a list of points and issues printed on one whole side of A4! I spoke with one of the managers for about ten minutes. I gave him a copy of my list which contained my e-mail address so it will be interesting to see if I get a full response to some of the issues. Speaking to people at these events you cannot really expect them to answer in any detail because they have not had the opportunity to do any research to enable them to reply. Hopefully the lights at Bat & Ball Station and the hand dryer in the gent’s toilet at Sevenoaks Station will now soon be repaired.  It struck me as being slightly amusing that in the group of managers at the event there were two Revenue Protection staff in their usual uniform. Were they there to protect the managers from the hostile Sevenoaks commuters?!