I'm confused more than usual. I am looking at Southeastern RR route from St Pancras International to Canterbury West. I get this notice on the SE website and app
"Southeastern trains which normally run between London Charing Cross and Ashford International and beyond will be running to and from London Victoria. To see these journeys, please re-plan your journey using London Victoria as your origin / destination. You will be able to use the Underground between Victoria, Charing Cross, Waterloo and London Bridge at no extra charge. Highspeed fares will still apply for journeys between London St Pancras International and Ashford International"
What's confusing is National Rail Live shows the route I want is running. Looking at Google Maps, Charing Cross goes to St Pancras and Ashford International is the stop before Canterbury. I'm staying nearer to St Pancras so want to take an easy direct train.
This is pre-planning to understand routes, apps and websites so do not need to book yet.
Thanks for all your help!!
Posted by
Wengen
2994 posts
The trains from st. Pancras are the High Speed trains. They run over the HSL till Ashford, and then on to Canterbury.
Southeastern also runs trains from Charing Cross to the Southeast. These take a different route, but also call at Ashford. These do not travel over the high speed railway.
There are no trains that do Charing Cross - st. Pancras - Ashford - Cantebury. That would be physically impossible. Look at the network map here: https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/-/media/goahead/southeastern/documents/network-map/se-network-route-map_full_nov2023.pdf
What southeastern is saying is that those trains that normally start at Charing Cross will be starting from Victoria in stead on some dates.
What you should do is not worry about those trains till the day before or so. This is mass transit. This is basically a subway (the trains are even very similar to those on many of the London Underground lines). Look up the schedule for your day and time of travel the day before, and then just buy a ticket and go.
Posted by
Lake District, England
9468 posts
What date is this on?- there will be rail engineering work at Charing Cross.
It is possible for trains from Kent to serve all terminus stations in South London if circumstances require.
On the Classic route there are three other stations between Ashford and Canterbury.
On this date the Classic (slower) route is diverted but the High Speed trains from St Pancras are seemingly running as normal.
Or that's how I read the notice.
PS -On both routes if you book ahead of time you get far lower fares than booking on the day.
Posted by
OP
Phoenix🌵
3288 posts
Thank you WengenK and isn31c for explaining. Date is not until the end of June, so I have plenty time to book. I'm just trying to learn and understand my options now. I'm not use to public transportation; it barely exists in Phoenix and is totally inefficient.
Kathy