Why is Southern's Redhill to Tonbridge service crewed by Southeastern?

[paul1609]

There was a thread here a while ago about Tonbridge crews working dmus from Ashford to Hastings in the 1980s, with photos

TRIVIA: Southern Region services worked by DMMUs | RailUK Forums (railforums.co.uk)

It was a diversion route when the direct Hastings line through Battle was not available, either through closures or because the stock was out of gauge for the narrow tunnels.

The Ashford to Hastings line was of course the original line to Charing Cross. Prior to electrification all the relief services seaside specials and services from other regions generally were routed via Ashford as there was more capacity on that line to run non stop trains and as you have said it avoided the gauge restrictions. Until the 1960s the Marshlink line also still had an up "businessmens" peak service through to Canon Street.
Hastings is one of those stations where up/ down changes at the station. The platform repeaters are OFF WSQ or OFF ORE to avoid confusion

 

[Sm5]

Today was

5Y77/5Y78/5Y79/5Y80

which is the most usual combination.

 

[Watershed]

One wonders why the crew cannot just drive one of the Southern regular service units, or if that's not possible either, just ride along in the cab.

The former would be an option, but would necessitate intertwining the two company's operations more than they (or the DfT) would like.

The latter was the solution that was adopted across many depots and little used routes pre-Covid, but has been kyboshed by the response to Covid.

 

[sonic2009]

Yes, plenty of examples where TOCs cover each other's services.

If memory serves me correct, wasn't there work for ATW drivers on GWR? Many years ago?

 

[tiptoptaff]

If memory serves me correct, wasn't there work for ATW drivers on GWR? Many years ago?

Wasn't all that long ago. Only stopped about 3years ago when 16x got cascaded to the Pompey route

 

[Sm5]

Please delete ^

New message:

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?

best way to find then in RTT is to look up “SE“ services at “Redhill”, “all day”.

Here was Tuesdays…

Realtime Trains | Departures from Redhill all day on 03/08/2021

Train information at Redhill all day on 03/08/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

and wednesdays..

Realtime Trains | Departures from Redhill all day on 04/08/2021

Train information at Redhill all day on 04/08/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

and todays..

Realtime Trains | Departures from Redhill all day on 05/08/2021

Train information at Redhill all day on 05/08/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

then plan from there.
They use the slow lines up to East Croydon (Via Merstham, South Coulsdon, Purley etc).

You can rely on it going, They do run most days.
You can usually bag a northbound stone working or two between 12-1pm as well..