Originally Posted by
Expressflight
The nearest crossover is just east of Hockley Station, about 5km from SEN, so that seems feasible for such a plan. The last London-bound train leaves Hockley at 23.12.
They will not wrong road a train that distance with Southend bound trains still on the down.
Anyway, the timetable changes in May and the last London bound train remains 23:05. Timetables are planned a year or so in advance, so the next revision - Dec 2019 - will be more or less set in stone by now.
If the train operator could get away with it they would simply run trains to London in the morning and back to Southend in the evening peak. They are contractually required to run an off-peak service, it's the only reason they do so.
The only way Southend Airport will get late night services to London is if it becomes a contractual requirement when the franchise comes up for renewal.
DJ is right. A coach service is required, I am surprised no one has come forward given the increased in pax
numbers.