The next step
Here are the Trains 4 Deal proposals -
WEEKDAYS: new hs services for work & leisure trips from london;
hs trains for off-peak and railcard ticket holders
Sandwich*/Deal ---> St Pancras CURRENT HS SERVICE
05.56 ---> 07.19
06.24 --> 07.49
06.58 ---> 08.24
07.26 ---> 08.49
Proposed additional UP services
09.28 --> 10.51 +
10.28 --> 11.51 +
11.28 --> 12.51 +
+ morning service provided by adding one currently idle train on the Dover to St Pancras line. It could be kept in service longer to provide further hourly services at 12.28, etc, as demand warranted
18.58 --> 20.21 ++
++ evening service provided by returning the 16.42 St Pancras to Sandwich train back to London.
* Trains leave Sandwich 6 mins earlier
St Pancras --> Deal/Sandwich*
Proposed additional DOWN services
07.10 --> 08.36 +
08.10 --> 09.36 +
09.10 --> 09.36 +
10.10 --> 09.36 +
+ morning service provided by adding one currently idle train on the Dover to St Pancras line. It could be kept in service longer to provide further hourly services at 11.10, etc, as demand warranted
CURRENT HS SERVICE
16.40 --> 18.06
17.42 --> 19.06
18.42 --> 20.06
23.12 --> 00.34
* Trains arrive in Sandwich 6 mins later
05.56 ---> 07.19
06.24 --> 07.49
06.58 ---> 08.24
07.26 ---> 08.49
Proposed additional UP services
09.28 --> 10.51 +
10.28 --> 11.51 +
11.28 --> 12.51 +
+ morning service provided by adding one currently idle train on the Dover to St Pancras line. It could be kept in service longer to provide further hourly services at 12.28, etc, as demand warranted
18.58 --> 20.21 ++
++ evening service provided by returning the 16.42 St Pancras to Sandwich train back to London.
* Trains leave Sandwich 6 mins earlier
St Pancras --> Deal/Sandwich*
Proposed additional DOWN services
07.10 --> 08.36 +
08.10 --> 09.36 +
09.10 --> 09.36 +
10.10 --> 09.36 +
+ morning service provided by adding one currently idle train on the Dover to St Pancras line. It could be kept in service longer to provide further hourly services at 11.10, etc, as demand warranted
CURRENT HS SERVICE
16.40 --> 18.06
17.42 --> 19.06
18.42 --> 20.06
23.12 --> 00.34
* Trains arrive in Sandwich 6 mins later
"VAGUE PROMISES ARE NOT ENOUGH"
"Vague promises about a future all-day HS service are not good enough," said campaigner Ian Killbery. "We propose specific timetable improvements for the 2014-18 franchise that are achievable and affordable. Building on the success of the present commuter trains, they will further test the market and accelerate the growth of railway patronage between London and the coast."
The current timetable with 4 morning peaktime HS services up to London with 4 back as above was "funded by KCC as a response to the Pfizers closure, it offers well-paid job opportunities to local people in the capital, but at top-rate peak fares ."
Tom Rowland said, "To attract more world-class science start-ups, Discovery Park needs a similar HS service down from London, timed so a visitor can spend a working day in Sandwich. This will also benefit other local businesses and tourism, for which the service also needs to run at weekends. This will use some rolling stock that is currently spare during the day."
Tom Rowland said, "To attract more world-class science start-ups, Discovery Park needs a similar HS service down from London, timed so a visitor can spend a working day in Sandwich. This will also benefit other local businesses and tourism, for which the service also needs to run at weekends. This will use some rolling stock that is currently spare during the day."
"Cheaper fares and railcards"
"We propose that the first 4 morning trains to Dover are extended through to Ramsgate, arriving at Deal 08.36 and hourly to 11.28 - making Off Peak day trips from London with lunch by the seaside an economical treat."
For the benefit of local travellers, 3 trains now starting in Dover would run earlier from Deal and Sandwich, for the first time giving a direct HS service to London on an off-peak ticket (currently £37.50 day return. instead of £67.60 on the peaktime trains) with further railcard discounts possible to £24.75.
For the benefit of local travellers, 3 trains now starting in Dover would run earlier from Deal and Sandwich, for the first time giving a direct HS service to London on an off-peak ticket (currently £37.50 day return. instead of £67.60 on the peaktime trains) with further railcard discounts possible to £24.75.
WEEKENDS: the first direct hs services for leisure travel to and from the coast
Sandwich/Deal ---> St Pancras
Proposed additional UP services
06.28 --> 07.51 (Saturdays only) *
07.28 --> 08.51 (Sat and Sun) *
08.28 --> 09.51 (Sat and Sun) *
09.28 --> 10.51 (Sundays only) *
* these services currently run empty from depot to Dover
18.28 --> 19.51 (Sat and Sun) **
** evening service provided by one currently idle train. It could be kept in service to provide further hourly services at 19.28, etc, and also earlier e.g. 17.28 etc - as demand warranted.
St Pancras --> Deal
Proposed additional DOWN services
09.10 --> 10.36 (Sat and Sun) **
** morning service provided by one currently idle train. It could be kept in service to provide further hourly services at 10.10, etc, as demand warranted
21.12 --> 22.36 (Sundays only) *
22.12 --> 23.36 (Sat and Sun) *
23.12 --> 00.36 (Sat and Sun) *
* these services currently run empty from Dover to depot
Proposed additional UP services
06.28 --> 07.51 (Saturdays only) *
07.28 --> 08.51 (Sat and Sun) *
08.28 --> 09.51 (Sat and Sun) *
09.28 --> 10.51 (Sundays only) *
* these services currently run empty from depot to Dover
18.28 --> 19.51 (Sat and Sun) **
** evening service provided by one currently idle train. It could be kept in service to provide further hourly services at 19.28, etc, and also earlier e.g. 17.28 etc - as demand warranted.
St Pancras --> Deal
Proposed additional DOWN services
09.10 --> 10.36 (Sat and Sun) **
** morning service provided by one currently idle train. It could be kept in service to provide further hourly services at 10.10, etc, as demand warranted
21.12 --> 22.36 (Sundays only) *
22.12 --> 23.36 (Sat and Sun) *
23.12 --> 00.36 (Sat and Sun) *
* these services currently run empty from Dover to depot
The long-awaited weekend HS service would launch by stopping some of the early and late trains that currently run through empty to start and end the Dover service. "This would be great for local people travelling to London and beyond to visit family, weekends away, and on football and shopping trips."
Tell us what you think
The campaign needs case studies of how the loss of our HS services in March 2014 would impact on individuals and how we want the politicians to keep their promises to expand the service to all day and at the weekends
The campaign needs case studies of how the loss of our HS services in March 2014 would impact on individuals and how we want the politicians to keep their promises to expand the service to all day and at the weekends
OR
Click the bold link below to generate an e-mail to KCC.
We've addressed it for you to David Brazier, the new head of the KCC Transport Committee and Paul Carter, leader of the council.
Feel free to change or add to the text we have suggested. Politicians take these more seriously when people customise the text and we have had brilliant contributions from people via this page in the last few days.
We will be adding other letters for you to send in the coming days.
Click the bold link below to generate an e-mail to KCC.
We've addressed it for you to David Brazier, the new head of the KCC Transport Committee and Paul Carter, leader of the council.
Feel free to change or add to the text we have suggested. Politicians take these more seriously when people customise the text and we have had brilliant contributions from people via this page in the last few days.
We will be adding other letters for you to send in the coming days.
Trains4Deal publishes business case for a full HS1 Service
Here is our submission sent to DfT (Department for Transport) 18 months ago for a full, seven day a week high speed service to Deal and Sandwich. Push the button below to see the report.
But for the government's franchise chaos, we should be seeing rival train operating companies competing to bid to run this service. Instead, we have a closed-doors negotiation between Southeastern and DfT to extend their franchise 2014-18 with no other bidders.
But for the government's franchise chaos, we should be seeing rival train operating companies competing to bid to run this service. Instead, we have a closed-doors negotiation between Southeastern and DfT to extend their franchise 2014-18 with no other bidders.
...And please help. We're investigating the possibility of mounting a judicial review in the High Court of KCC's mad decision, if we can't change their minds with sweet reason

Trains4Deal membership/donation
Help support the lobbying work of our local rail users group
Help support the lobbying work of our local rail users group