A total of 144 minutes delay: Southeastern 115, Thameslink 29.

Delay Repay Claims; total 1 January to 30 September 2017 inclusive = £116.65
(Greater Anglia £10.80, Southeastern £28.80, Thameslink £71.30, Virgin £5.75)

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 04 September 2017

Total lateness 19 minutes, Southeastern 11, Thameslink 8

• Monday 04 September – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived there one minute late today. The 06.31 departure from Sevenoaks was two minutes late arriving at Waterloo East. The new tracks from New Cross to London Bridge were in use today.
• Tuesday 05 September – Thameslink excelled themselves this morning, the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived there twenty seconds early!  The 16.21 to Bat & Ball was running late and effectively cancelled for passengers requiring Bat & Ball because it ran fast to Bromley South via Orpington. The 16.30 to Bat & Ball was on time.
• Wednesday 06 September – My destination was Chappel & Wakes Colne today. I commenced my journey on the 08.00 service from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks which arrived there on time. I could have continued to Cannon Street on the 08.08 but this train was crowded therefore I waited for the 08.27 which had seats available and arrived on time at Cannon Street. I walked to Liverpool Street and waited for the 10.02 departure to Ipswich intending to travel as far as Marks Tey where I would change trains for the short distance to Chappel & Wakes Colne. Unfortunately, the 10.02 service was delayed on route and arrived late at Marks Tey missing the connecting service. This resulted in an hour delay to my journey a delay repay claim being submitted to Greater Anglia.
• Thursday 07 September – Thameslink excelled themselves again this morning, the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived there thirty seconds early! The 06.31 departure from Sevenoaks was one minute late arriving at Waterloo East. I intended catching the 15.43 from Waterloo East today but upon arrival at Waterloo East it was apparent that Southeastern were having problems. I travelled home on the late running 15.33 service which was five minutes late at Sevenoaks.
• Friday 08 September – It was raining when I arrived at Bat & Ball station this morning and this appeared to have affected the train service. The 06.16 to Blackfriars and beyond was shown as “Delayed” and the 06.24 to Sevenoaks was expected at 06.26. I did not see the 06.16 service but the 06.24 arrived and crawled in to Sevenoaks at 06.30; three minutes late. I expected to see the 06.31 to Waterloo pulling in to Sevenoaks station but no, Southeastern were also running late. Arrival at Waterloo East was also three minutes late today. I returned home on the 15.43 service which arrived three minutes early at Sevenoaks. The 16.21 to Bat & Ball was on time.
• Sunday – 9 September – I am heading to Heathrow for a flight to Belfast today. My Thameslink train from Bat & Ball arrived one minute late at Sevenoaks and the Southeastern one was two minutes late at Charing Cross. I continued my journey by the Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus then the Piccadilly line to Heathrow terminal five.

Week of 11 September 2017

Total lateness 39 minutes, Southeastern 39, Thameslink 0

• Saturday 16 September – I started my journey today on the 09.38 service from Londonderry to Belfast on route to the George Best airport for a flight to Heathrow. My journey was on time until I arrived at Charing Cross where no trains were departing due to somebody trespassing on the railway south of London Bridge. I should have travelled to Sevenoaks on the 18.30 service but I had to make my way to Victoria for a train home. I travelled on the 18.52 departure changing at Otford. Arrival at Sevenoaks was at 19.44, one minute late but actually a 39 minutes delay to my journey.

Week of 18 September 2017

Total lateness 21 minutes, Southeastern 16, Thameslink 5

• Monday 18 September – A bad start to the week by Thameslink, the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived there three minutes late just in time to see the 06.31 to Waterloo East depart as I walked towards the footbridge. Two sets of doors did not open at Bat & Ball station this morning so a few passengers had to move quickly along the platform to board the train this morning. Whilst waiting for the late running train I noticed that two lights on platform one and one on the footbridge are not working. I advised the staff at Sevenoaks station when I arrived there. At Bat & Ball I noticed that a small canopy has been erected on top of the ticket issuing machine to provide shelter from the rain to people purchasing tickets. However, it is in a position where a very tall person may knock their head on it as they walk past the machine when ascending or descending the slope at the entrance to the station.
• Tuesday 19 September – The 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks was one minute late today. The 06.31 to Waterloo East arrived there three minutes late this morning. It was busy today with many Orpington passengers having to stand.
• Wednesday 20 September – The 06.31 to Waterloo East was busy again today with many Orpington passengers having to stand.
• Friday 22 September – My destination was Canterbury today, I commenced my journey from Bat & Ball on the 09.42 to Sevenoaks where arrival was on time. The 10.00 to Canterbury West also arrived on time. I returned home on the 14.42 which arrived at Sevenoaks one minute early. The 16.00 to Bat & Ball was on time.

Week of 25 September 2017

Total lateness 65 minutes, Southeastern 49, Thameslink 16

• Monday 25 September – A bad start to the week by Network Rail, overrunning engineering works in Sevenoaks tunnel that prevented train services running between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge in both directions. This lasted until about 14.00 hours. Accordingly, there were no fast services to London this morning. I travelled on the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks which arrived there two minutes late. At Sevenoaks I assessed the situation and decided that a Thameslink train to Blackfriars was better for me than a slow service to Cannon Street. Accordingly, I boarded the train that had brought me to Sevenoaks and travelled to Blackfriars, arrival there was on time at 07.48. However, in real terms there was an hour delay to my journey to Waterloo East. I checked early afternoon to see if the early disruption would affect my journey home and all appeared to be well. It was fortunate that I checked again at 15.00 hours because the 15.43 from Waterloo East was now shown as being cancelled. I quickly commenced my close down procedures and departed my office in time to catch the 15.33 departure from Waterloo East. This ran to time arriving at Sevenoaks at 16.04. Whilst waiting for the 16.21 to Bat & Ball the train that should have been the 15.43 from Waterloo East arrived at Sevenoaks, on time; perhaps it was started from either Victoria or Blackfriars this afternoon. (It started from London Bridge – Ed )
• Wednesday 27 September – My destination is St Albans today. I travelled on the 08.46 direct from Bat & Ball to St Albans were arrival was two minutes early. I returned on the 14.33 service changing at London St Pancras, arrival at Bat & Ball was one minute late at 16.11.
• Thursday 28 September – A bad start to the day by Thameslink, the 06.24 from Bat & Ball to Sevenoaks arrived there five minutes late. The 06.31 to Waterloo East was slightly late today but departed before I could cross the footbridge to platform one. I travelled to Waterloo East on the 06.41 service which arrived on time but my journey was delayed by thirteen minutes.