In message , at
20:05:32 on Fri, 26 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.

Why not?

Because it's so much easier for most of them to drive 45mins to
Ebbsfleet and park there, than find a way of getting to their local
station, not being able to park, and getting a slow train all the way to
Stratford, just to get a fast one back to Ebbsfleet again.

On the way back, which will often be late in the evening, how much
better to have a nice warm comfortable drive home, than standing around
at Stratford waiting for another slow train to (eg) Southend, then
having to get a taxi the last part of the way.
--
Roland Perry

In article , Huge
writes
John writes:
In article , Huge
writes
(Colin Rosenstiel) writes:
In article ,

[13 lines snipped]

So, why do we have the current Thameslink blockade? Isn't it to do with
needing possession of the line to create the provision of new Thameslink
interchange services? And if they're not going ahead with the
provision, why bother with blockading the line in the first place?

They are building a box under Midland Road which could be used as a
station if they had the money to fit it out. :-((

Could you elaborate on that? Or point me to a URL?


There are some new photos on www.ctrl.co.uk - under photos select
construction 2004 and then contract 105

What, they have pictures of no money? How does that work?

They have pictures of a hole in the ground - if you have some money then
I'm sure they'd put a station in it for you!
--
John Alexander,

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
.uk...
In message , at
20:05:32 on Fri, 26 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.

Why not?

Because it's so much easier for most of them to drive 45mins to
Ebbsfleet and park there, than find a way of getting to their local
station, not being able to park, and getting a slow train all the way to
Stratford, just to get a fast one back to Ebbsfleet again.

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

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

On the way back, which will often be late in the evening, how much
better to have a nice warm comfortable drive home, than standing around
at Stratford waiting for another slow train to (eg) Southend, then
having to get a taxi the last part of the way.

Presuming one won't be partaking of alcoholic refreshment on the eurostar!

I'm sure there will be some Essex residents who will drive to Ebbsfleet and
others who will interchange at Stratford according to where they live, their
preference and whether they have exclusive access to a car for the full
period of their trip away (unless being dropped off/picked up). I can't see
parking at Ebbsfleet being free either (what's the fee at Ashford?).

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

--
Mark

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

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...
"Solar Penguin" wrote in message
...


So, why do we have the current Thameslink blockade?
Isn't it to do with needing possession of the line to
create the provision of new Thameslink interchange
services? And if they're not going ahead with the provision,
why bother with blockading the line in the first place?

It is in order to excavate the area where the new St. Pancras
Midland Road station will be and to install the concrete box
into which the station will (eventually) be installed and fitted out.
Imagine City Thameslink with nothing there apart from walls.

There is nothing in City Thameslink except walls, and a chocolate machine.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

In message , at 12:00:17 on Sat,
27 Nov 2004, John Rowland
remarked:
Imagine City Thameslink with nothing there apart from walls.

There is nothing in City Thameslink except walls, and a chocolate machine.

They've removed the platforms and stairs, have they?
--
Roland Perry

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Roland Perry wrote:

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.

I most certainly do not. Where i grew up, Colchester, a large town in
Essex, is not 45 min drive from Ebbsfleet, not by a long chalk, and is
well served by fast trains to London.

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.

Ah, nothing that i'd count as actual Essex, then!

tom

--
resistance is fertile

Roland Perry wrote in message o.uk...
In message , at
08:19:31 on Fri, 26 Nov 2004, remarked:
Not *in*, but *under*, St. Pancras though, surely? The lack of
provision will be the distance of the new Thameslink station from
King's Cross main line station - certainly no closer, and possibly
even further from parts of King's Cross than the current Thameslink
station is.

Are you sure? The new St Pancras station has shown how close KX
platforms 9-11 are to the outside world, if you don't go via platform 8.
Where is the most south-easterly exit for the new Thameslink station
proposed to be?

Looking at the plans, the exit appears to be under the far side of the
new (i.e. still to be) built MML platforms on the west side of the
"new" St. Pancras - so not ideal, compared to the more costly rejected
option of siting the Thameslink station in a new tunnel under Pancras
Road, instead of using the existing tunnel under Midland Road.

In message ,
at 13:17:50 on Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
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.

I most certainly do not. Where i grew up, Colchester, a large town in
Essex, is not 45 min drive from Ebbsfleet, not by a long chalk, and is
well served by fast trains to London.

Yes, Colchester is outside the area I was describing.

My route planner says 54 miles, so it'll depend a lot on the traffic!

The trains are fast, somewhat at the expense of people living further
down the line :-(

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.

Ah, nothing that i'd count as actual Essex, then!

You don't think Brentwood, Chelmsford, Witham, Southend, Basildon and
Grays are in Essex ?!?!?

--
Roland Perry

--- Jack Taylor said...

"Solar Penguin" wrote in message

So, why do we have the current Thameslink blockade? Isn't it to
do with needing possession of the line to create the provision of
new Thameslink interchange services?

It is in order to excavate the area where the new St. Pancras
Midland Road station will be and to install the concrete box into
which the station will (eventually) be installed and fitted out.

Ah... You mean, the Thamelsink customers are putting up with this
blockade, and they aren't even going to get a new interchange station
out of it? Just the option of a vague possibility of a new interchange
station at some unspecified point in the future...