Direct seaside trains from Woolwich line returning this summer
Direct trains from the Greenwich and Woolwich line are returning once again this summer with weekend services running from Saturday 28th May.
Southeastern have put on direct trains to seaside resorts including Whitstable, Herne Bay, Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate for many years now.
Over the peak summer season they normally also operate seven days a week but there’s none evident yet.
On Saturday 28th May two services are running, for example, with the first calling at all stations between London bridge and Dartford.
Here’s an example of timings:
Greenwich 8:42am
Woolwich Arsenal: 8:56am
Abbey Wood: 9am
Whitstable: 10:19am
Margate: 10:38am
Broadstairs 10:45am
Ramsgate: 10:53am
And with Crossrail it’s also quick 10 minutes from Canary Wharf to Abbey Wood on the Elizabeth Line for easy step-free changes at Abbey Wood and avoids the need for those in parts of east London going into central London.
They could of course take HS1 from Stratford, though that is normally more expensive.
The downside (or upside depending on your persuasion) is that direct trains from the Woolwich line are operated by 30 year old Networkers. That means no air conditioning on hot summer days.
Engineering work
Services will not operate every weekend due to engineering work on certain days. Always check journey planner before heading off.
Two direct return trains are in operation on May 28th, all all being well with engineering works that will be the norm over summer weekends.
Thank God! They’ve decided to throw us a bone…do you happen to know if it’s going to be a £10 return?
No idea there’s normally some summer promos. DfT in charge now though so who knows. It’d make a lot of sense if they did.
Half the networkers are air conditioned depending on if they are BR or GEC units. They look the same but one set only have opening windows. They are however, both a bit unloved now and needing a half life refit.
It’s so slow that it would be better to use either Victoria or St. Pancras for HS1, it should be fast like it used to be.