We have already set out the details of changes to services from Sevenoaks to London Bridge from January 2015 because of the London Bridge rebuilding project.

Less attention has been given so far to seemingly unrelated changes to the Maidstone East line services to Otford, Kemsing, Borough Green, West Malling and East Malling.  We are grateful for the following analysis from our Maidstone East line correspondents Karen Harding and Peter Mount who have been looking into this.

Morning Peak

The main changes are that the City trains (such as they are) are starting from/terminating at Blackfriars.  There is an additional City train in the morning, which doesn’t get into Blackfriars until 1000 – unfortunately no use for the majority of people who need to be at work by 0930 or earlier.

In addition the existing 0727 from Maidstone East is moving to 0732 and the 0746 is earlier at 0743. Initially there will be confusion for everyone because the 0732 will be the express (with first class) and the 0743 will be the suburban service – although it is arguably more logical to run them in the new order.

It’s a pity that Southeastern have not restored the City service that used to run around 0800 from Maidstone East.  That would have been better for later starters in the City – and would have filled the gap in departures between 0743 and 0820.

Evening Peak

There is also an additional evening service from Blackfriars at 1904.  This will be welcomed by City works.  However it has a knock-on effect from those coming from the West End.  The previous 1907 from Victoria will move to 1922, and it will change from an express to suburban (slow) service.   Not only is that a longer journey in itself, but some people will miss existing bus connections, further extending their commutes by an additional 30 minutes.

Late Evening

We are concerned by the continuing lack of a decent evening service after 2100.  Southeastern have managed to put on an additional Victoria to Bromley South service at 37 minutes past the hour.  However when Karen enquired whether this could be extended down the line – perhaps even just to Maidstone East – she was told that “there was no call for it”.  Tell that to the people who have frequently been out for an evening in town and find the existing services often packed!  It’s even worse of course if – as regularly happens – one of the hourly trains is cancelled – having to stand and wait for 2 hours takes the gloss off even the most convivial evening.

Karen spoke about this point at a “Meet the Manager” meeting at Cannon Street one morning, to be met with a shrug of the shoulders and the comment “well at least you’ve got a service that late – you could live in Crowborough when they stop at 10.30!”  We think that two wrongs don’t make a right!