NEW improved December HS timetable for DEAL

Two new Southeastern high-speed services launch in the new timetable which starts 9th December 2012:

(07:26 Deal to St Pancras) 
(16:40 St Pancras to Deal)

Deal to St Pancras (weekdays)

St Pancras to Deal (weekdays)

A full Southeastern HS timetable starting 9th December can be downloaded here.

December Timetable Changes - DEAL & Sandwich receive additional HS services

DEAL and Sandwich will receive an additional service to St Pancras in the morning and from St Pancras in the evening.

0742 Dover to St Pancras will start back from Sandwich at 0720 and also call at DEAL (0726). As result of passenger requests, this provides for a later arrival into St Pancras for Sandwich and DEAL passengers at 0849.

1642 St Pancras to Margate will start at 1640 and divide at Ashford. The front 6 coaches will form an additional train to Sandwich (arr 1813) calling at Folkestone West (arr 1735), Folkestone Central (arr 1738), Dover Priory (arr 1749), and DEAL (arr 1806). The rear 6 coaches will continue as now to Margate. This provides an earlier return service from St Pancras to Sandwich and DEAL and also an additional through service from St Pancras to Folkestone & Dover at the start of the evening peak.

KCC responds to DfT rail franchise consultation with all-day High Speed service requirement for DEAL

Kent County Council has responded to the Department for Transport's rail franchise consultations. The two consultation responses - for the South Eastern and for the Combined Thameslink franchises - were approved by Bryan Sweetland, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste. 

Q7 The Council, in response to representations from the local Rail User Group and other stakeholders, now proposes that the new franchise specification should include a requirement for this High Speed service to operate all day. This would undoubtedly support the regional economic growth so urgently needed in this part of Kent, where unemployment is among the highest level in the county. The provision of an all-day High Speed service between London St Pancras, Folkestone, Dover, Deal and Sandwich should encourage access to London employment and education opportunities for residents from East Kent, and also the location by businesses in this part of Kent bringing new local employment opportunities. 

This is great news but there is a sting in the tail! KCC also mention their aspiration for off peak High Speed services to be increased from one train per hour to two trains per hour but only for Folkestone West, Folkestone Central and Dover Priory. Considering they mention their surprise at the success of the exisiting passenger numbers using High Speed from Deal and Sandwich this does seem very short sighted. 

Full documentation is available here.