On 3 December South Eastern Trains introduced restrictions on use of off-peak fares from Sevenoaks and other stations that increase costs for many rail travellers. This was brought in “overnight” with minimal consultation and no public communication. The changes to fares must be suspended until DfT, the train operators and TfL are ready to deliver a system which includes benefits as well as costs for most users.
Continue readingTony Clayton
Abolishing Day Travel Cards would be bad for Rail users, bad for London, and a kick in the teeth for train operators working to rebuild services
Sevenoaks rail users are up in arms at a suggestion from Transport for London to abolish day travel cards, which many of us use to get to – and around – London
Continue readingThere are significant changes to the timetable for services from Sevenoaks, Dunton Green and Otford from 11 December. The detailed timetables have been published at https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/live-travel-information/december-timetables and Southeastern kindly gave us a briefing on the concepts behind the new timetable and the main features. We have looked at the timetable in detail and these are our main observations.
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Govia Thameslink Rail have extended the timetable for suggestions on how to spend their fine for last years’ timetable meltdown. They are seeking views by 31 August.
Their team will be at our local stations in the next few days. They will be at:
- Sevenoaks: Tuesday 20th August, 4pm to 7pm, to ask how to spend £30,000
- Bat & Ball: Wednesday 21st August, 7 am to 11 am to ask how to
spend £80,000
Govia Thamelink was fined £15 million for last year’s timetable meltdown. After work by MPs, local councils and rail traveller groups this has been allocated to stations, for projects to help passengers hit by the collapse in services.
For stations we cover on the Darenth Valley line £340,000 will be allocated to projects that help passengers directly. Amounts at each station depend on how badly services were affected.
Please let us know what you think? Decisions will be taken end July, and GTR will give extra weight to passenger groups like ours.
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Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association are still working through the over 900 pages of small print of the Department for Transport’s specification for the new Southeastern franchise. Main points so far are:
- A cut in peak hour fast commuter trains to London – from ten in 2013 to eight in 2022. That means more overcrowding.
- A 50% cut in direct trains to and from Tunbridge Wells. Local commuters and school students could have to wait 30 minutes.
- No more direct trains from Sevenoaks to Hastings.
- No extension of the proven TfL Oyster/Contactless payment system to Sevenoaks.
- No extra seats between Sevenoaks and London
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