Mondays to Fridays
Following intensive campaigning by TRUG, strongly supported by the three local
Members of Parliament, c2c have, from 13th December, restored the full 8 cars to
the 0816 service from Pitsea (via Grays 0837, Rainham 0848) to Fenchurch Street.
Severe overcrowding followed its halving in September to only 4 cars; as you may
know, it is one of the most vital and popular morning peak services, due to its
strategic timing with respect to “Flexi Season” validity, and 0930 City starters
(it’s also one of only two peak Thurrock trains to call at West Ham!). c2c have
stated that ONLY the following service (0834 from Pitsea, 0855 from Grays etc.)
will be shortened – for which, as we know, four coaches is quite sufficient.
The 0804 Grays – Fenchurch Street via Ockendon service is
restored to [as pre-September] start back at Pitsea at 0749, then call Stanford
0756, Grays at 0807; other times unchanged. Therefore it won’t reach Chafford
until near enough 0811, eliminating the recent problem of 3-minute early
departures!
We are also delighted to announce that long-term campaigning by TRUG has
succeeded in gaining TWO additional through evening peak services from Fenchurch
Street, at 1636 and 1747, via the Ockendon / Chafford route – continuing a
half-hourly service all through the evening peak, augmented to approximately
every 15 minutes from 1732 to 1833.
NOTE that most London-bound trains via the Rainham route will depart Thurrock
stations one or two (and, off-peak, THREE) minutes later than at present, to
take out excess time at Barking and reach London at the same times as now. (Also
applies on Saturdays)
NO improvement yet to late evening services – though last services and
connections for Thurrock should all use platforms 7/8 at Barking, for a
cross-platform connection.
Saturdays
Other than the last Down service, all Thurrock route services between Fenchurch
Street and Southend will operate via Chafford Hundred (which currently applies
between 0800 and 1900). Outside these times, services via Rainham will operate
between Grays and Barking only, with 5- or 6-minute connections at each end,
though NOT ‘cross-platform’. Thus, Chafford / Ockendon passengers benefit, at
Rainham’s and Purfleet’s expense. c2c say that this is ‘temporary’, for a year,
to minimise disruption effects when Channel Tunnel Rail Link construction
requires “possessions” (short closures) of the Rainham route.
No change to Sunday services.
Page Updated 01/01/2005
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