Since I’ve been travelling about a bit more recently, I’ve noticed there are now poor connections with the Canterbury West line and the Marshlink line at Ashford ‘International’.
There were 3 tph between Canterbury West (CBW) and Ashford. The Highspeed (which remains the same), a ‘fast stopper’ from Ramsgate to London stopping at Wye, and a train which started at CBW stopping at all stops to Ashford, then to Maidstone East and London, which is the train which has been removed, with the Ramsgate train now stopping at all stops.
Southbound it is a 44 minute wait, and northbound it is 42 mins. So, 86 minutes wasted waiting in total if on a day trip somewhere. It now makes travelling from that area of Kent down to Rye/Hastings/Eastbourne much longer, and car now a more attractive option. Previously, journey times were definitely competitive against the car, with traffic in Ashford being the most unappealing.
Obviously, the Marshlink train times can’t really be changed much, and I can understand why Southeastern have reduced trains on the CBW line. It was quiet on those services (except the High Speed) even before Covid, and 3 tph was perhaps excessive. I just hope the connections at Ashford will somehow improve soon.