I recently made an enquiry on the National Rail Enquiries Website for the recommended journey from Bat & Ball to Tilbury Riverside. I expected to be advised to travel to either London Bridge or Cannon Street via Sevenoaks then transfer to Fenchurch Street and travel to Tilbury Town by c2c and change there on to the bus service to Tilbury Riverside.

However the three suggested routes were as follows: –

1. Bat & Ball, Sevenoaks, Hither Green and Gravesend then walk to the riverside and take the Gravesend/Tilbury ferry across the Thames

2. Bat & Ball, St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet and Gravesend then walk to the riverside and take the Gravesend/Tilbury ferry across the Thames

3. Bat & Ball, Sevenoaks, Waterloo East and Gravesend then walk to the riverside and take the Gravesend/Tilbury ferry across the Thames

The fare quoted with a Goldcard railcard discount was the same for all three routes – £15.90. Interestingly the fare was the same even if it involved changing at a London terminal (Sevenoaks to Dartford changing at Hither Green is less than Sevenoaks to Dartford changing at London Bridge or Waterloo East) and even if it involved the use of HS1.

According to National Rail Enquiries it’s a 25 minute walk from Gravesend station to Gravesend Pier. It’s not clear why a c2c journey was not offered – perhaps they have offended the national body by innovations like automatic Delay-Repay?

Incidentally, why are there no trains direct to Tilbury Riverside? It’s because the station was closed on 30 November 1992. You can read more about the station here (archive).