The Anonymous Widower

Thameslink To Rainham

Modern Railways in August 2016, said that Thameslink would be running a two trains per hour (tph) service between Luton and Rainham via Greenwich and Dartford.

GTR’s Proposals

This document on their web site gives these outline proposals for Kent Thameslink services.

This is the opening paragraph.

Proposed new all-day Monday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday Thameslink service on the North Kent line via Greenwich, Dartford and Medway Towns.

They describe it in more detail later.

New cross-London journey opportunities providing multiple connectivity opportunities will be created between Luton – St Albans City – West Hampstead Thameslink – Central London (via London Bridge) – Greenwich – Abbey Wood – Dartford – Rochester – Rainham. This new route will provide multiple new connections with the new east to west Elizabeth Line (formally Crossrail) at Abbey Wood. The route can also be operated by 8 or 12 car trains.

I will now add a few comments.

The Eastern Terminal

In Rainham (Kent) Station, I took a look at the proposed terminal.

• Rainham station is Thameslink-ready with a bay platform 0 of sufficient length for a twelve-car Class 700 train.
• Rainham station can probably handle the two trains per hour (tph) from Luton without undue fuss.
• Rainham as a terminal means the string of important stations in the Medway towns, which includes Gravesend, Strood, Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham, could all be served by Thameslink.
• The only other station beyond Gravesend with a bay platform is Rochester.
• Terminating at Rainham doesn’t increase the train frequency over the busy level crossing.
• Terminating at Rainham gives 5 tph from Gravesend to Rainham and 7 tph between Rochester and Rainham, which creates a high-capacity frequent route through the Medway Towns.

It would appear to be the sort of choice, that is difficult to fault.

Should The Thameslink Service Stop At More Stations?

Coming back from Rainham today, I took a Highspeed service to Gravesend, from where I caught a Gillingham to Charing Cross service that was following a few minutes behind.

As there are several stopping services on the line, perhaps stopping at a few important stations will be sufficient.

• Greenhithe for the shopping at Bluewater.
• Dartford for all the connectivity.
• Abbey Wood for Crossrail.
• Greenwich for the culture and the Docklands Light Railway.

Stopping patterns could be altered to fit traffic patterns, passengers requirements and new property developments

Eight-Or Twelve-Car Trains

It would all depend on the traffic, but there doesn’t seem to be any reason why either train size can’t be used between Luton and Rainham.

Related Posts

A Design Crime – Ebbsfleet International Station

A Trip To Sheppey

A Twelve-Car Ready Railway

Along The North Kent Line

Between Abbey Wood And Belvedere Stations

Connecting North Kent And The Medway Towns To Ebbsfleet International Station

Extending Crossrail To Gravesend

Rainham (Kent) Station

Through The Medway Towns

What Do You Do With A Problem Like Sheppey?

September 20, 2016 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Crossrail, Kent, Rainham (Kent) Station, Thameslink