In message , at 08:53:18 on Sat, 27 Nov
2004, Mark Townend remarked:

Not all of Essex is 45min drive from Ebbsfleet at all times.
Not all trains in Essex are 'slow'

But you need to accept that those are the "normal" parameters. You can't
legitimately dismiss what "most people" would perceive, by isolated
counterexamples.

I do take the point you're going nearly 'all the way' into London to pick
the train up at Stratford if you're setting off from somewhere along the
north Thames bank.

I was thinking anywhere bounded (roughly) by the A12 and M25, out as far
as Witham.

Perhaps some enterprising organisation might start
express coach services from this area to Ebbsfleet via the M25.

That would be a good idea, yes.

I can't see
parking at Ebbsfleet being free either (what's the fee at Ashford?).

About a fiver a day. Very good value.

The opinion that everyone will drive anyway would mean that efforts to
improve public transport links at airports would be pointless too!

There's no harm in improving the link at Airports, but you also have to
improve the links at the end the punters live. To that extent, none of
the existing plans really help someone taking the E* who lives in
Southend.

--
Roland Perry