[Travel] Newcastle to Brighton direct train service

[clapham_gull]

The old services if I recall correctly were Brighton to Edinburgh and Manchester. These used to go via the West London line that passes through Kensington Olympia. They became delay central as it became easier to delay one long distance service continuously rather than multiple "local" services.

The target audience for the old services was oldies with big suitcases who couldn't manage changing trains in London, rather than football supporters, just to manage some expectations here.

I was going to post that they would need to trundle through Clapham Junction to Shepherds Bush, sharing the line with the overground which is effectively an overground tube these days.

Interesting, if a train from Clapham Junction went seriously North I'd consider it.

But as it's stopping there, it's up to Euston etc....

Off topic, a train from Balham to Gatwick (and Brighton) direct would be very sensible (the line is there) - connecting the Northern line with an airport.

Currently it just goes through the station.

 

[Uter]

Absolutely this, speaking as someone who does the journey relatively regularly and in a lot less than the eight hours being suggested (on here at least) for this new route.

I don't think it would take 8 hours, unless I missed something in the press release, but it will certainly be a little longer than changing in London.

However, for passengers travelling to Newcastle from Brighton, the chances are they are booked on an advance ticket for a specified train at King's Cross and will have built some contingency time into their planning to allow for this, which obviously adds to the journey time. If you are encumbered with luggage or have small children with you or mobility difficulties then changing trains can be very off putting. The time penalty for a service like this might be a much smaller consideration for some people compared to you.

 

[Uter]

I was going to post that they would need to trundle through Clapham Junction to Shepherds Bush, sharing the line with the overground which is effectively an overground tube these days.

Interesting, if a train from Clapham Junction went seriously North I'd consider it.

I think this service will avoid London completely, via the North Downs line.

 

[clapham_gull]

I think this service will avoid London completely, via the North Downs line.

Oh yes, just looked. Blimey, that a detour to get to Newcastle.

Why on earth would you do that with Victoria Line whipping you up to Kings Cross ?

I hate the tube (really) - but spend a lot of time in Liverpool. I do cabs back down here with elderly relatives and their suitcases, but on my own the Victoria line smashes through London.

 

[Uter]

Oh yes, just looked. Blimey, that a detour to get to Newcastle.

Why on earth would you do that with Victoria Line whipping you up to Kings Cross ?

I hate the tube (really) - but spend a lot of time in Liverpool. I do cabs back down here with elderly relatives and their suitcases, but on my own the Victoria line smashes through London.

Time is not the primary consideration for everyone. And of course this service isn't primarily aimed at those in Brighton wanting to avoid a change of trains in London. The vast majority of passengers for this service won't be travelling end to end. 20 stops = 380 possibly journeys.

 

[clapham_gull]

Time is not the primary consideration for everyone. And of course this service isn't primarily aimed at those in Brighton wanting to avoid a change of trains in London. The vast majority of passengers for this service won't be travelling end to end.

I'd imagine it's the primary consideration and secondly price.

IF the service was very cheap, yes many would take it. But it was comparable I'd imagine most would take the very very interchange from Victoria to Kings Cross. Struggling to see a market from Gatwick to the North of England.

Whilst the vast majority of passengers aren't end to end - those who don't have easier alternatives ?

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Off topic, a train from Balham to Gatwick (and Brighton) direct would be very sensible (the line is there) - connecting the Northern line with an airport.

Currently it just goes through the station.

This has likewise puzzled me for a long time. I worked in London a few years ago and accessing the Northern Line at Balham would have been dead handy.

 

[Uter]

I'd imagine it's the primary consideration and secondly price.

IF the service was very cheap, yes many would take it. But it was comparable I'd imagine most would take the very very interchange from Victoria to Kings Cross. Struggling to see a market from Gatwick to the North of England.

Whilst the vast majority of passengers aren't end to end - those who don't have easier alternatives ?

Quicker with a change of train doesn't mean easier for a huge lot of people. If you are travelling with luggage, children, the elderly or for leisure purposes convenience is a big consideration and time probably less so. Fear of the Underground seems to be a common thing too. Given Gatwick is a planned stop, this is going to have a lot of appeal for airport passengers coming from North of London. I am sure there is a substantial market for this service. It doesn't sound like you are one of them, but I think you are underestimating it's appeal for others.

 

[clapham_gull]

This has likewise puzzled me for a long time. I worked in London a few years ago and accessing the Northern Line at Balham would have been dead handy.

I've been informed of some technical reason, but forgot. Nothing more annoying that coming back from Brighton seeing your house from the train as it passes through the station and then having to return back from Clapham Junction.

Another annoying thing about Balham (yes I know we have great transport links) is there neither a direct bus to Clapham Junction or Vauxhall where there is huge interchange.

We have that odd extra platform at Balham where nothing stops. Unless there is engineering works where they use it instead for the local trains. To get to Gatwick (or Brighton) you go two stops up to Clapham Ju saynction and then back through again.

An extra stop at Balham connects Brighton, Gatwick, Haywards Heath to the Northern Line,

As you say, very odd.

 

[clapham_gull]

Quicker with a change of train doesn't mean easier for a huge lot of people. If you are travelling with luggage, children, the elderly or for leisure purposes convenience is a big consideration and time probably less so. Fear of the Underground seems to be a common thing too. Given Gatwick is a planned stop, this is going to have a lot of appeal for airport passengers coming from North of London. I am sure there is a substantial market for this service. It doesn't sound like you are one of them, but I think you are underestimating it's appeal for others.

I have multiple friends North of London and none of them know where Gatwick is. If this is primarily (as you say) an airport stop, that is already very congested.

The expansion plans are somewhat laughable unless something is done with the rails.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The Brighton to Malvern train was still running until a few years ago. I sometimes got on it, when going to Pompey, changing at Havant.

 

[mile oak]

At a guess about 8 or so hours, especially with the round the houses route.

Thats the strange thing apart from not having to change trains arent other existing services quicker? Even if you discount waiting for connections the overall travelling on a train time?

 

[AnotherArch]

Just got on train at Donny that left Newcastle at 7.23. Short walk between Kings X and St Pancras. ETA in Brighton 12.18. That's under 5 hours.

 

[Skuller]

Time is not the primary consideration for everyone. And of course this service isn't primarily aimed at those in Brighton wanting to avoid a change of trains in London. The vast majority of passengers for this service won't be travelling end to end. 20 stops = 380 possibly journeys.

Oh, good hit, sir! (P(n,r)=n!/(n−r)!)

 

[Vicar!]

This would be excellent. IIRC there used to be a long distance service to Manchester from Brighton many moons ago which ran maybe once a week as well as another Long Distance service to Great Malvern.

This is the sort of route innovation that the rail network needs to engage in.

Happy memories of this. Drink up in the Jolly Angler and stumble onto the Brighton service, back on the coast by the time the hangover had cleared.