The Anonymous Widower

Kent On The Cusp Of Change – Reading To Tonbridge

The Kent On The Cusp Of Change article in the July 2017 Edition of Modern Railways talks about reopening a service between Reading and Tonbridge stations.

This is said.

Kent County Council has recommended the restitution of through services to Reading, as existed many years ago when the route was operated by ‘Thumper’ stock. The council says that consideration should be given to a future option of providing a through Ashford – Tonbridge – Redhill – Gatwick – Redhill – Guildford – Reading service, potentially as a joint operation between the Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Eastern franchises.

This could build on the existing service level between Reading and Gatwick provided by GWR, and would link together several of the major towns of the south-east region with each other and with their local international airport.

The introduction of bi-mode rolling stock now being deployed across the railway network would resolve the problem of gaps in the electric power system on sections of this route.

In The East-Facing Bay Platforms At Reading Station, I talked about using trains with batteries to perform this service and considered it feasible.

I still do, but then bog-standard bi-mode trains might be a better option in terms of cost.

I also believe that a Reading to Ashford service via Gatwick Airport would be a very valuable route with the following connections.

• Wales and the West at Reading station.
• Gatwick Airport
• Hastings at Tonbridge station.
• Rail services to the Continent at Ashford station.

I also think, that once more Continental services stop at Ashford, as I indicated in Ashford Spurs, that this rail link could be one of those rail routes where usage is way about any forecast.

Conclusion

Given Gatwick Airport’s ambititious plans, I rate an Ashford to Reading service as a high possibility.

See Also

These are related posts.

• Abbey Wood Station
• Ashford Spurs
• Crossrail
• Elimination Of Slow Trains
• Fawkham Junction Link
• Highspeed Routes
• High Speed To Hastings
• Historic Routes
• Longfield Station
• Maidstone
• Thameslink
• Thanet Parkway Station
• Track Improvements
• Ultimate Class 395 Train
• Victoria As A Highspeed Terminal

To know more read Kent On The Cusp Of Change in the July 2017 Edition of Modern Railways.

June 27, 2017 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Ashford Station, Gatwick Airport, Kent, Kent On The Cusp Of Change, Reading Station, Southeastern