Author Archives: Keith Alderman

Senior Railcard Moments November 2018

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association Posted on by

Our Bat & Ball correspondent, Keith Alderman, has now retired. However, when Thameslink allow him, he’s making good use of his Senior Railcard!

Delay Repay Claims; total 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2018 inclusive = £104.19
(Southeastern £36.50, Thameslink £28.50, South West Railway £12.40, Southern £1.10, Virgin £25.69). One claim outstanding, one under dispute about amount paid.

This month’s delays: total 110 minutes, Southeastern 101, Thameslink 9.

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Senior Railcard Moments October 2018

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association Posted on by

Our Bat & Ball correspondent, Keith Alderman, has now retired. However, when Thameslink allow him, he’s making good use of his Senior Railcard!

Delay Repay Claims: total 1 January 2018 to 31 October 2018 inclusive = £99.59
(Southeastern £33.00, Thameslink £28.50, South West Railway £12.40, Virgin £25.69)

This month’s delays: total 117 minutes, Southeastern 55, Thameslink 62

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Where is my train? The displays are starting to tell you

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association Posted on by

Whilst I was waiting for trains at Bat & Ball and Sevenoaks I noticed that the displays on the information screens are now advising passengers where the train they are waiting for currently is. When I arrived at Sevenoaks the 08.13 was shown as being between Chislehurst and Petts Wood.

This is a welcome development and allows knowledgeable travellers to change their plans – or get another cup of coffee – accordingly. It’s disappointing that it’s taken so long for this information from the signalling system to be fed through to the customer displays, but better late than never!

Thameslink services are a mystery … to Thameslink

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association Posted on by

I received the following response to my claim submitted to Thameslink when they cancelled the 18.22 Sevenoaks to Bat & Ball and delayed my journey by thirty minutes:-

Journey Details
25 October 2018
Sevenoaks to Bat & Ball at 18:22

Decision: Declined

We have checked the journey you have claimed for and our records show that this service was operated by another train operator (London South Eastern Railway). In line with our privacy policy and in order to ensure that your query/complaint is dealt with as efficiently as possible we will forward the details of your claim to them.

It seems that Thameslink do not know what train services they operate!

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Tickets not opening barriers?

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association Posted on by

I am experiencing frequent incidents of railway tickets that I have purchased not opening ticket barriers at Southeastern and Thameslink London stations: London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Blackfriars and St Pancras International are the main offenders. Is anybody else having this problem or know the reason for it?