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Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – July 2024

The forum continued with the online format for this meeting and twenty attendees were present. Speakers as usual were from Network Rail, South Eastern, plus several new councillors who were attending their first forum and our local bus operators. Kent County Council were not represented on this occasion. Highlights as follows:

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Network Rail updates​

  • High Brooms accessibility project – planned for the current five year Control Period 7 which commenced in April 2024. Funding decision by the DfT still awaited and delayed because of the general election. Reading between the lines, the project funding could be approved, not approved or a reduced level awarded which would lead to a revised design ie reduction in scope – very much a watching brief.

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  • Hastings line – Kent and Sussex routes allocated £4.85bn for the current five year period. works to include embankment stabilisation, drainage in tunnels, improved power supply to Tunbridge Wells station and repairs to the canopy at High Brooms.

 

South Eastern

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  • Commute to work showing a small increase against pre-pandemic levels as some employers now mandating office attendance on least some days. Remains heavily focused on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Leisure travel volumes remain strong at weekends.

  • June timetable revision – improvements from TW mainly around better spacing in the morning peak, some longer trains and three additional services between 0900-1030. Saturday morning TW starters have also returned to the timetable.

  • Recruitment drive – SE have launched a new campaign to attract people to a railway career.

  • Class 377 trains may be introduced on the TW services to replace the ageing Networker trains later this year.

  • Procurement exercise to replacement Networkers is now underway.

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Our questions

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  • The Association is very pleased to note the improvements in the June timetable especially the return of the TW starters on Saturdays although questioned why this is only between 0919 and 1219 rather than all day provision.

  • The Association queried why the last weekday limited stop service from Charing Cross (1315 / 1410 at TW) now calls additionally at West St Leonards at 1441 when the nearby secondary school does not finish until 1510.

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Buses

  • Arriva – some service enhancements planned for routes 281 and 219.

  • Nu-venture – road works in Goudhurst a point of concern.

  • The two pound max fare scheme now extended to December.

Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – March 2024

The forum continued with the online format for this meeting and twenty attendees were present. Speakers as usual were from Network Rail, South Eastern, Kent County Council, and our local bus operators. Highlights as follows.

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Network Rail updates

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  • Gatwick service – Tonbridge to Gatwick is the preferred option with an hourly service. No start date advised.

  • High Brooms accessibility project – planned for the next Control Period 7 commencing April 2024. Design incorporating two lift shafts and a new footbridge has been completed but we are still awaiting DfT sign off on funding. Approval or otherwise for this project should be known very soon.

  • Hastings line – further track works, signalling and earth works planned over the next five years to improve the resilience of the line.

 

South Eastern

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  • Flexi ticket trial will be extended /digital season tickets now being rolled out.

  • Commute to work level fairly static against pre-pandemic level and remains heavily focused on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. isure travel has remained solid with both Saturday and Sunday very strong.

  • Automatic ticket machines (ATMs’) will be upgraded to support more ticketing options

  • June this year – some timetable work planned to space out services more evenly from TW.

  • Customer satisfaction levels improved to 87 percent.

  • Thursday 15th February was the busiest single day since 2019 in terms of London bound travel.

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Our questions

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  • The Association is keen to see the phased return of TW starters/ finishes on Saturday to reflect the increase demand for off peak travel.

  • The Association stressed the need to monitor passenger numbers on our line as some morning peak trains are very busy and some employers are now mandating staff to be in their offices for at least part of the week.

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Kent County Council / buses

  • Arriva – advised that passenger numbers on local routes are now around 78 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

  • Concerns raised about short notice road works and their impact on bus services which impacts all operators.

  • Industry keen to see what happens when the two pound max fare scheme finishes in October.

Committee Members Needed

The Association's committee no longer has a member who travels regularly to London. If you would be interested in joining the committee, whether or not you commute, we would be interested in hearing from you at twdrta@outlook.com ! Even if you can spare as little as an hour a month, you still could make a valuable contribution.

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