Rail replacement service Guildford/Redhill Sat/Sun 2/3 April

[whole diary]

[Steve Bray]

Over the weekend of 2/3 April, a rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Redhill and Guildford (although it seems that Southern's Redhill/Reigate service will operate as will FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s Shalford trains). The revised timetable posters are already displayed - well in advance. From these, I am disappointed to see that passengers travelling from Reading to Gatwick and vice versa, will in most cases be forced to make 2 changes, at both Guildford and Redhill, with travel on a non-stop bus between Guildford and Redhill, from where the journey continues by train to Gatwick (8 minutes or so).

Now, consider the characteristics of the average Gatwick passenger - they will invariably have several large suitcases, and potentially, there could be families travelling if the school holidays have started. To expect them to have the inconvenience of changing twice (at largish stations with lots of steps etc) will certainly make them think twice about making this journey and make it stressful for those who are unfamiliar with these stations.

I really do not know why First aren't operating non-stop buses from Gatwick to Guildford and vice versa as they have done previously.  This would mean that passengers only have to make one change. Who decides the Rail replacement schedule - Network Rail or FGW? In my opinion, this revised schedule does not put the passenger first, and this is wrong.


Ironically, having looked at the National Rail Journey Planner for Gatwick to Reading on this weekend, there are some 'left-field' itineraries i.e. Gatwick - London Bridge - Paddington - Reading, or Gatwick Clapham J - Basingstoke - Reading. The simplest route appears to be Gatwick - Clapham J - Reading, though its a long way to drag those cases from Platform 12 to 5 at Clapham!