Those out late in London need to check the times of their last trains in the new timetable from 20 May.
In particular the last services from Charing Cross vary during the week. On Monday to Wednesday the last train departs Charing Cross at 23.45 (rather than 00.15 now). Cinderellas from our area need to be at Charing Cross thirty minutes earlier if they want to avoid travelling by pumpkin! However, on Tuesday an Wednesday a later service departs Cannon Street at 00.35, and leaving Charing Cross after midnight and changing at London Bridge is possible. On Thursday and Friday, the last departures from Charing Cross are, as now, at 00.15. Why is there no later service provided on Mondays?
For those go home to the Bat & Ball area a welcome improvement is that there are later Thameslink services departing Sevenoaks, the last one is at 23.22 rather than 22.30. However, a later departure at 23.52 would be welcomed because it would connect with the 23.10 from Charing Cross which is used by many people returning home after attending shows and concerts.
Here are the details:
Last Trains Monday to Friday
| Journey | Current Timetable | New Timetable |
| Charing Cross Sevenoaks |
d 00.15 a 01.03 |
Mon-Wed d 23.45 a 00.18(On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, departure from Cannon Street at 00.35, arrives 01.09) Thu-Fri |
| Charing Cross
Bat & Ball |
d 21.45 (change Sevenoaks) a 22.33 |
d 22.40 (change Sevenoaks) a 23.25 |
| Blackfriars Otford Bat & Ball Sevenoaks |
d 23.42 a 00.42 a 00.45 a 00.48 |
d 23.46 a 00.48 a 00.51 a 00.55 |
| Victoria
Sevenoaks |
d 23.55 (change Orpington) a 01.03 |
d 23.58 (change Orpington) a 01.03 |
| City Thameslink Otford Bat & Ball Sevenoaks |
d 22.43 a 00.08 (1) a 00.11 (1) a 00.14 (1) |
d 22.56 a 00.18 (1) a 00.21 (1) a 23.57 (2) |
| Victoria
Bat & Ball |
d 23.52 (change Bromley South) a 00.45 |
d 23.55 (change Bromley South) a 00.51 |
| Victoria Otford |
d 00.22 a 00.58 |
d 00.25 a 01.00 |
(1) Change Blackfriars
(2) Change London Bridge
Another welcome addition is the addition of the 23.55 Victoria to Ashford service, which means we now have a half-hourly service on the Maidstone East line right up until the last train at 00.25.
Still battling for improvements to the services to the City though….