I can't answer why Southeastern are crewing Southern services today, but until December(?) 2008 the intermediate stations were in fact managed by the South Eastern franchise, with Connex (later Southeastern) running Class 508s between Tunbridge Wells and London Bridge along the route. I think the South Central franchise had begun operating some services of their own in the final years leading up to the transfer of stations and services to that franchise though, alongside Southeastern's own services.
That's a good reason but I don't understand why it was transferred to Southern in the first place, surely it should have been left with South Eastern in the first place seeing as they operate over the route for retaining route knowledge anyway?
Because the DfT said so.
At the point the route was transferred to Southern, Southeastern then ceased to run services on the section between London Bridge and Redhill, and some Tonbridge services worked through to both Victoria and London Bridge. The transfer of London Bridge services to Thameslink consequently led to Redhill to Tonbridge being operated as a standalone shuttle.
Yes if its southeastern driver and guard.
Thanks. That makes sense.
There's a daily set of empties to London Bridge and back
Wait, SN drivers can operate GWR stock?
Yes, it avoids GWR having to have a driver depot at Redhill, just as using Southeastern staff avoids Southern having to have a traincrew depot at Tonbridge. (GWR have a small compliment of guards at Redhill.)
Yes, plenty of examples where TOCs cover each other's services.
When the Uckfield line was modernised with Class 171s and all day through trains to London Bridge in the early 2000s there were major losses of passengers from all the Kent stations on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line. Today the lines somewhat of a backwater with school kids the major traffic which don't need a through service to London.
These are historical arrangements as Redhill has always had a link for North Downs lines as did Tonbridge depot.
Very historical. The line from Tonbridge to Redhill and on to Reading was originally an outlier of the South Eastern Railway from Kent, worked down the jointly owned Brighton line from London Bridge to Redhill, then east and west. This service pattern persisted to at least the end of steam in the 1960s, and also through trains from one branch to the other, reversing at Redhill. When Western Region dmus took over the service in the 1970s-80s Tonbridge crews handled them, and as they also signed Ashford to Hastings such units very occasionally turned up on that line as well.
Why are they not run in passenger service (possibly even using Southern units)? Also, what are the headcodes?
As touched upon, this was under threat since time ago. Diversions for Tonbridge to London Bridge services via East Croydon were going to become impossible, despite being quite common during major works. Pleased to hear it has not lapsed.
5Y77 1122 Tonbridge -London Bridge via Redhill
There won't be any Southern units available, as they're in use on the Redhill to Tonbridge services.
Please delete ^
Thanks, that explains things.
None of these headcodes bring up anything in RTT... It is half 10 on Tuesday in the UK right now, right?
Yes, there are only two LTP crew diagrams on these circuits and they swap over on 5Y78 at Redhill around 13:00.
Alas, which Southern Services from London Bridge via Redhill, are you thinking off? There only a Victoria to Reigate... Thameslink do, from London Bridge (High Level mostly) but then that would be a "Pass in Cab" situation.
