As children return to school, an extra Southeastern train will make it easier for pupils to get home in east Kent.
An additional weekday afternoon service is now operating between Faversham and Ramsgate.
It was introduced following a request from Ursuline College in Westgate where a change to its finishing time would have meant children had to wait an hour for the next service.
Mark Wittekopf, from Southeastern’s train planning team, said: “We know our railway provides access to education, employment and training opportunities for millions of people across the south-east.
“The introduction of this additional train is an example of how we’re working with communities to provide a better service. We hope it will make it easier for children to get home, while removing the need for more car journeys in the area.
“Electric rail travel is one of the most sustainable transport options – with just one Southeastern train removing up to 500 cars from the roads.
The train leaves Faversham at 15:15, calling at Whitstable (15:24),
Chestfield & Swalecliffe (15:27),
Herne Bay (15:32),
Birchington-on-Sea (15:40),
Westgate-on-Sea (15:44),
Margate (15:48),
Broadstairs (15:54),
Dumpton Park (15:58) and
Ramsgate (16:02).
It then joins another train and forms the 16:07 to Charing Cross via Canterbury West and Ashford International.
Regretfully Stagecoach have not responded to this reasonable request hence my grandson and others who used the old route to get home now have to wait 50 minutes and travel a totally different route to get to Cliffsend and Minster. What is it going to be like for them in the winter or when it is raining.
Not just children. Pensioners in Minnis Bay now have to get two buses each way to hospital appointments since the axing of the 34 bus route.
“What is it going to be like for them in the winter or when it is raining”??
Do like we all had to put a coat/raincoat on !
Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge…
Indeed! Kids today are wimps.
Silly comment, you happy for kids to hang around for an hour (then you would say haven’t they got anything else better to do) waiting for a train in the rain etc, doesn’t make them wimps, things are a lot different from when you and I were kids, shelters, waiting rooms, toilets etc have all gone, but at least you got your cheap dig in as usual, as no one is so grand as you, unbelievable
I was responding to the comment about buses, not trains. Many could easily walk or cycle… unlike elderly people in need of medical help at hospitals, a comment you chose to completely ignore. Unbelievable.
Peter Checksfield : So my grandson and all the other students should walk or cycle from King Ethelberts school to Ciffsend and Minster, walking along narrow roads where in very many parts there is no footpath. Congratulations for your suggestion.
No… but your silly statement about being worse for them in rain and winter is ludicrous. Buy them a decent coat for Christmas instead of a smartphone.
They do have decent sensible winter clothing thank you and I do not and have not purchased him a smartphone. Even with sensible clothing you still expect him to walk or cycle. I think you need to walk and cycle this route yourself before criticising. END.
I’m in my 60s, and just last week I cycled from Birchington to Ramsgate via Minster and Cliffsend. If I can do it…
We all used to cycle miles to school and home again all year round back in our day. Sometimes I got wet and cold but it was better than walking. But I do understand there is a lot more traffic on the roads these days and concede it is much more dangerous for kids. I would be worrying the get home safely.
It is true Peter, you just come on here to ‘Will Self’ it over everyone else. There is a little gaggle of you guys and the odd girl.. on here that have nothing nice to say about anything. Why don’t you make proper suggestions and comments instead of tediously trolling everything. Compassion is an incredible thing.
Your comment that kids are wimps is just so typical of the outgoing generation. You aren’t the worst Troll.. looking at Egon .. but you do encourage it
The extra train isn’t costing you anything, though your free bus pass costs the rest of us…
Lazy spoilt brats.
Let it go Peter, you’re just making yourself look silly again
This is an important addition to the local train service. According to realtimetrains.co.uk, it runs every weekday, so it is not a school train. It is advertised as a Faversham to Charing Cross train, and provides a much-needed direct afternoon service for passengers travelling to stations from Thanet Parkway to Canterbury West and beyond. Most of these journeys rely on a 7 minute connection at Ramsgate; these are from platforms 4 to 1, and are often not successful.
A shame it is only running in one direction. I’d go to Ashford more often if I could get a direct train back to Birchington-on-Sea.
ahhhhhh, so southeastern CAN invest profit into providing better services after all?!
Southeastern has been operated by the Department for Transport since 2021. It is not a private company, and, given it has substantial financial support, I don’t think there are any profits.
How does this help Ursuline College students travelling to Herne Bay, Whitstable, etc when the train is travelling in the opposite direction? At least have one going in each direction.