duffield
Established Member
| Leg | From | Dep. WTT | Dep. Real | To | Arr. WTT | Arr. Real | Distance | ID | Oper Code | Origin | Destination | Class | Car. | Loading | Ref. |
| 1 | Nottingham | 0850 | OT | London St. Pancras | 1027 | 1026-1 | 126m34c | 1B25 | EM | Nottingham | London St. Pancras | 222 | 5 | Light | *1 |
| 2 | London St. Pancras | 1037 | 1041+4 | Ashford International | 1114 | 1120+6 | 56m10c | 1J24 | SE | London St. Pancras | Margate | 395 | 6+6 | Medium | *2 |
| 3 | Ashford International | 1124 | 1127+3 | Rye | 1146 | 1149+3 | 15m27c | 2D23 | SN | Ashford International | Eastbourne | 171 | 3 | Light | *3 |
| 4 | Rye | 1548 | OT | Ashford International | 1610 | OT | 15m27c | 2D42 | SN | Eastbourne | Ashford International | 171 | 3 | Medium | |
| 5 | Ashford International | 1616 | OT | London St. Pancras | 1654 | OT | 56m10c | 1L47 | SE | Dover Priory | London St. Pancras | 395 | 6+6 | Light | *4 |
| 6 | London St. Pancras | 1705 | 1707+2 | Nottingham | 1855 | 1900+5 | 126m34c | 1D61 | EM | London St. Pancras | Nottingham | 222 | 7 | Medium | |
| ALL | Nottingham | 0850 | OT | Nottingham | 1855 | 1900+5 | 395m62c |
*1: EMR 1st class complementaries: Cake slice not available until after 10:00!
*2: Service was delayed leaving St. Pancras due to a crossing incoming service, and lost a few minutes further before Ashford making the connection from P6 to P1 via a crowded subway somewhat marginal, however the service to Rye and Eastbourne was slightly delayed anyhow due to late boarding of a person with a wheelchair.
*3: Door on the 171 attempted to close repeatedly on the unattended wheelchair ramp. Appledore to Rye (and on to Ore) is single track with two platforms at Rye where services normally pass. Just outside Appledore station towards Rye the Dungeness power station freight line branches off to the south east. The signal box and station building at Rye are traditional and well maintained (see photos).
Rye: Its charms are well documented online, but this visit was for Camber, not Rye itself. Rye station has no toilets but there are public toilets in the car park. There is a large Jempsons supermarket opposite the station which is associated with Morrisons. It sells a huge variety of delicious looking “home made” cakes.
Camber: Stagecoach service 100 leaves from one of the bus stops just outside the station, on the hour each hour. The single fare to Camber is currently subject to the £2 cap. Return buses leave Camber Sands holiday park entrance at xx05. Real time bus tracking displays were available and appeared to be accurate.
It is an easy three mile walk from Rye station to Camber Sands, first turning left from the station entrance and leaving Rye via the A259 bridge over the river Rother then immediately turning right onto a well signposted footpath and cycleway which leads right into Camber. There are currently some diversions due to major flood bank works, but the diversions are obvious and parallel to the normal footpath; it’s necessary to cross through the flood defence works access road but this is facilitated by a “crossing guard” stationed there who opens the locked gates when necessary and safe, with no significant delay. The fields are currently full of sheep with many lambs and ewes close to the path.
Camber has high dunes towards the west end and a pleasant sand and shingle beach; facilities along the front consist of a couple of car parks, one with a beach bar and public toilets; there is another beach bar to the east. Shops are situated around the main Lydd Road a little way back from the seafront. There are no public benches along the front, but the groynes make quite good places to sit and picnic.
*4: Connection is tight at 6 minutes from P1 to P5, OK if on time. The arrival from Dover couples to the rear of 5L47 at Ashford to form a 6+6 coach train to St. Pancras. As usual it is wise to occupy the front coaches of the front unit if needing to make a short connection at St. Pancras, the front unit also is typically less crowded.
Photo: Rye Station Signal Box
Photo: Rye Station exterior
