Extend Southern to Salisbury from So'ton

[whole diary]

[DevonTrains2008]

Does anyone else think this is a good idea? It would allow access to Ashford International for passengers who used to go to Waterloo from Salisbury, Yeovil, Exeter and from stations south of Bristol 

[devon_metro]

Not really convinced the costs would be sustainable for electrification, unless the line from Salisbury - Basingstoke was also electrified.

[DevonTrains2008]

ah, I see, Southampton to Ashford Intl. is an electrified route then. It's probabaly best to route West Of England customers through So'ton Central and change there.  Do Southern have any diesels?

P.S Where in Devon is your nearest station?

[devon_metro]

Routing woe passengers via soton would add an age onto the journey, and yes the Southern services are operated by electric trains.

My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services, of which Paignton serves this purpose.

[Chris from Nailsea]

My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services

I think it should - after all, we've seen a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at Minehead! 

[G.Uard]

ah, I see, Southampton to Ashford Intl. is an electrified route then. It's probabaly best to route West Of England customers through So'ton Central and change there.  Do Southern have any diesels?

  Class 171 Turbostars

[Btline]

My local station is Goodrington Sands, sadly seeing no national rail services, of which Paignton serves this purpose.

I know the feeling D/M!

The diagram above shows a Class 170/1 DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) operated by Southern.

However, they are all used up on current duties (unless Uckfield and Ore lines were electrified = not going to happen).

[paul7575]

This has been suggested before elsewhere. The SN Brighton to Ashford is a 171 DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) - because the line is not electrified beyond Ore, which is about half way to Ashford. The running time east of Brighton is 1h44m, Salisbury to Brighton is 2h15m, so 4 hours.  But, I suspect you might need to change at Brighton - I'm not sure for definite, but I don't think you can run from Hove, into Brighton, and reverse out again onto the East Coastway? (Any info welcome on that bit...) 

So the choice is between a 4 hour plus trip, or 90min with 20 mins on the underground, or the direct bus, or a taxi. I know which one I'd choose, especially as Ashford sees a much reduced Eurostar service nowadays...

The point about SN having only enough DMUs for the lines already necessary  is made earlier.

Paul

[grahame]

Here's a picture of the Ashford - Brighton service



Thanks to WikiPedia user Hassocks5489 who has put this in the public domain (so I don't really need to give credit, but I want to anyway!)

I don't know about reversal right across Brighton - I suspect you can't - but just imagine linking up the Ashford - Brighton and Brighton - Gt Malvern services.   Someone will be proposing Waterloo to Manchester next 

[Hafren]

If I remember correctly there is (limited) cross-Brighton access. The basic hourly pattern used to include a Littlehampton-Seaford service, but it was withdrawn (c. 2002?). As far as I'm aware the connection is still there, but it wouldn't be a good idea to make heavy use of it - basically one of the 'west' platforms has a connection to the main/east lines. The points are half way down the platform, so a long train couldn't do it, and if another train needs to use the platform or is delayed there then the east/west train is stuck. Also an east/west train will conflict with any main line arrivals/departures as it crosses to/from the platform - all very inconvenient to path!

[Btline]

I would imagine a service would reduce flexibility at the (very full) station.

[RichardB]

Surely it would be quicker for people from Salisbury etc to travel via Waterloo and the tube.

A service to Ashford from Salisbury would take a very long time.  Better to take an expensive taxi Waterloo - St Pancras if need be.

[DevonTrains2008]

Honiton to Salisbury - 1.5 hours
Salisbury to Ashford International (Via Southampton) - 4 hours
Eurostar check-in - min. 30 mins

Total time to join Eurostar: 6 hours

Honiton to London Waterloo - 3 hours
London Waterloo to St Pancras International - 20 mins
Eurostar check-in - min. 30 mins
St Pancras to Ashford International - 40 mins

Total: 4.5 hours

Yes, the Ashford route is 1.5 hours longer but it saves the need to carry luggage around London and you could make a saving on the Eurostar fare (?)

[G.Uard]

Haven't services from Ashford Int. been drastically curtailed since the opening of St Pancras Int? 

I am sure an etended 'Coastway' service would be appreciated by some, but considering the already lengthy journey time with reversal to/from Brighton and Pompey, you would probably need some sort of suspended animation facility to preserve the passengers.

[Btline]

Yes, although a Brussels train is back soon.