The Bognor Belle, 21/10/17.

Sutton and Streatham S Jn, not Wimbledon.

(PS Loads of speed restrictions all day)

 

Ok, thanks. Whilst Raynes Park is required trackage (and probably impossible to do nowadays as this trip confirms), so is Sutton, so whichever way I would have been happy.

The 'Christmas Sussex Belle' last year was a decent taster of how crap a run down the Brighton mainline is these days. Luckily, we had a late departure from Victoria aided by a Southern strike, so we had a rare decent run. Think it's a part of the network where it's advisable to grab a trip while you can.

 

And in this case, due to the unusual number of destinations involved in this one trip, I'll wheel out my usual 'they get you from A to B, B to C and C to A again somehow' argument, which means that they have touched the bases in terms of advertised destinations, which at the end of the day, is what they can legitimately claim to be marketing in this instance.

 

I am very glad I am not on this. What a trundle. I doubt if it will reach 60 mph all day

 

Good stuff. The challenge is point to point rather than speed, then.

 

Now on RTT

Out http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55189/2017/10/21/advanced
Bognor to Littlehampton http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55190/2017/10/21/advanced
Return http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55193/2017/10/21/advanced

 

The trip to Bognor in 2006 ( my first trip with RTC) took 3 hours from Victoria to Bognor, so it is no real suprise it is a trundle, but this trip has been never about speed more about the rare track. Not on this one but I might photograph it.

 

Will give a wave if I spot you! If that's the case, it seems the Brighton line trundle is pretty long-standing.

 

Hopefully the weather plays ball. Wind warnings coming out of your ears for Saturday so let's hope no trees decide to make a late entry to the party.

 

Looking at the weather, I think the term is definitely 'bracing'. Probably best to dive into the nearest pub at both locations, and hope to goodness that the route is clear enough back to London...

 

Just my luck I'm busy when 46100 comes through Haywards Heath. Not had the chance to see a Royal Scot yet so that'll have to wait a bit longer.

 

Network rail are imposing a blanket 50mph TSR across the region tomorrow

 

Don't suppose anyone has a list of the station speed restrictions for the Arun Valley line tomorrow?

 

True but its going to affect the timetable for service trains with subsequent effects on everything on the rails.

 

Indeed. If things are running stupidly late, I might have to make a decision at Littlehampton to get back to London sooner as I have an onward transport connection at 22:00.

 

Might be better off as it's less likely to "get in the way" if everything's slowing up

 

I think you will find that isn't region wide, at least as yet, but actually:

50 mph Blanket speed restrictions imposed by the Kent control on the following routes between 1000 Saturday 21st and 2200 Saturday 21st:

Ashford to Dover
Ashford to Margate
Tunbridge Wells to Hastings,
Hastings to Ashford,