SOUTHEND - 2
Trains headed for Britain used to only be allowed to carry passengers who were heading for Britain, and who were immigration checked by UK officials (who are resident in the European cities) before departure. Once in the train there are no further checks any more.
The only trains which stop at Lille or Calais are those coming from Brussels. Trains from Paris do not stop there. Because there were poor services from these places to Brussels, passengers from them TO Brussels were allowed to use them, which was no problem, but had to use lesser trains coming back again.
As a concession, the UK authorities then allowed that provided passengers were properly eligible to enter the UK, as of course the vast majority of those travelling from Brussels to Lille would be, they could use these trains, but they must be checked by the UK staff for eligibility, in case they stay on the train.
The only boarding station this affects is Brussels. All passengers boarding there are checked by UK staff. So for example someone from Russia travelling to Lille with a Schengen visa but not a UK one would not be allowed to travel by Eurostar, and would have to take the slow train.
There's no particular recheck of tickets after departing Lille or Calais, so having two tickets does not get you anywhere.
If the Belgians do not like the concession it can be withdrawn at any time.
Ths is really nothing to do with the lack of Eurostar boarding points in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Stratford or elsewhere - the cost per passenger of providing the separate security checks is the key issue there that makes them not worthwhile. I really do doubt the viability of the forthcoming Amsterdam service - the Brussels one is already marginal, the only good money is made on Paris.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
Age: 48
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WHBM,
I would have thought that much of the viability issue was down to train length - the three capitals sets have a whopping 18 coaches on each unit. We're talking here about F50s from LCYvSEN - can you imagine LHR-BRU on an A380! I know this is partly down to a safety rule, but that is subject to review. Otherwise services from AMS (&RTM) would join servies from CGN (&Liege) at Brussels Midi.
Ths is really nothing to do with the lack of Eurostar boarding points in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Stratford or elsewhere - the cost per passenger of providing the separate security checks is the key issue there that makes them not worthwhile. I really do doubt the viability of the forthcoming Amsterdam service - the Brussels one is already marginal, the only good money is made on Paris.
It is perhaps odd that security checks are still in place on the Spanish AVE when it was a local train that was hit. I know this issue is about borders, but both require personnel - in fact a security check would be more costly as machines are needed too. I would have thought that much of the viability issue was down to train length - the three capitals sets have a whopping 18 coaches on each unit. We're talking here about F50s from LCYvSEN - can you imagine LHR-BRU on an A380! I know this is partly down to a safety rule, but that is subject to review. Otherwise services from AMS (&RTM) would join servies from CGN (&Liege) at Brussels Midi.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sunny Side Up :)
Age: 60
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just bumping this thread back up the ranks, and picking some of you knowledgeable lots grey matter, I have been asked the following by a friend....
With SEN's expansion, this young lady is looking for employment, Ground based, not crew, so with Airlines such as Easyjet and the others mentioned, is it prudent for her to approach them directly, or do you think everything with regard to handling etc, would go through Stobarts ?
I have told her, just at the moment it's early days.
J
With SEN's expansion, this young lady is looking for employment, Ground based, not crew, so with Airlines such as Easyjet and the others mentioned, is it prudent for her to approach them directly, or do you think everything with regard to handling etc, would go through Stobarts ?
I have told her, just at the moment it's early days.
J
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cloud 9
Posts: 2,948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jamie,
I've known an A300 arrive/depart SEN also but there is one hell of a difference between public transport flights and maintenance ferry (non public transport) flights.
The UK registered A300 was granted CAA dispensation on the proviso that it was operated by a training commander and who had completed some test landings at another airfield first .... Were it African registered then who cares
I've known an A300 arrive/depart SEN also but there is one hell of a difference between public transport flights and maintenance ferry (non public transport) flights.
The UK registered A300 was granted CAA dispensation on the proviso that it was operated by a training commander and who had completed some test landings at another airfield first .... Were it African registered then who cares
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: LONDON, U.K.
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I understand that Southend Airport station opens on 18th July and the first train to stop there in service will be at 0405 from Southend Victoria towards London, with the first arrival from London at 0632
Perhaps Easyjet / Southend airport might be able to persuade the train operator to run an earlier train come spring 2012 ?
The train from London to Luton airport has plenty of passengers at 5 am - with almost everyone on the train travelling with some sort of luggage.
It took Stansted Express a while to realise, but they manage to run trains from London very early in the morning as well. The coach from London to Stansted is usually well patronised about 4 am
Alternatively, perhaps a company like National Express or Easybus might figure out that it's worth running a couple of coaches from London Victoria to Southend airport, with a couple of pick-ups in east London at about 4 am, and pay for an advertisement on either the Easyjet or Southend airport websites to publicise it ?
Come to think of it, National Express runs coaches during the night between Liverpool Street and Stansted, and accept Stansted Express tickets on their coaches. Yes, it's a bit of an overpriced swizz, but I imagine someone at National Express will want to give the same thing a trial at Southend.
If I was a commercial director at Southend airport, I'd be pushing quite hard to encourage early morning and late night transport from the airport
The train from London to Luton airport has plenty of passengers at 5 am - with almost everyone on the train travelling with some sort of luggage.
It took Stansted Express a while to realise, but they manage to run trains from London very early in the morning as well. The coach from London to Stansted is usually well patronised about 4 am
Alternatively, perhaps a company like National Express or Easybus might figure out that it's worth running a couple of coaches from London Victoria to Southend airport, with a couple of pick-ups in east London at about 4 am, and pay for an advertisement on either the Easyjet or Southend airport websites to publicise it ?
Come to think of it, National Express runs coaches during the night between Liverpool Street and Stansted, and accept Stansted Express tickets on their coaches. Yes, it's a bit of an overpriced swizz, but I imagine someone at National Express will want to give the same thing a trial at Southend.
If I was a commercial director at Southend airport, I'd be pushing quite hard to encourage early morning and late night transport from the airport
I'm sure the SEN management will be pushing the train operator to introduce an earlier train from next Spring and there's no reason to assume that won't happen.
It's worth bearing in mind that it's a condition of the runway extension planning consent that no passenger flight can be scheduled to depart SEN before 06:30, so one train arriving from London at around 05:40 is all that would be needed.
It's worth bearing in mind that it's a condition of the runway extension planning consent that no passenger flight can be scheduled to depart SEN before 06:30, so one train arriving from London at around 05:40 is all that would be needed.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's also the issue of slot allocation and London TMA problems, or lack of them, at SEN for EZ.
Given that EZ will be the main player and have entered into a commercial agreement with Stobarts, I would doubt that they're going to be forced to use the cheap (but pax unfriendly) early slots, as is the case at some other larger and busier airports in the region. Notwithstanding airframe usage, EZ should be able to timetable their first outbounds at a slightly more humane time, making them even more attractive than the alternatives.
Given that EZ will be the main player and have entered into a commercial agreement with Stobarts, I would doubt that they're going to be forced to use the cheap (but pax unfriendly) early slots, as is the case at some other larger and busier airports in the region. Notwithstanding airframe usage, EZ should be able to timetable their first outbounds at a slightly more humane time, making them even more attractive than the alternatives.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
notwithstanding airframe usage, EZ should be able to timetable their first outbounds at a slightly more humane time, making them even more attractive than the alternatives.
The reason some locos depart at Dark O'clock is that allows a whole other rotatioin to be squeezed in during operating hours, if they don't do this, costs creep up and Joe Public realises this and trys a different loco making a false economy.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Somewhere between here and there....
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The reason some locos depart at Dark O'clock is that allows a whole other rotatioin to be squeezed in during operating hours, if they don't do this, costs creep up and Joe Public realises this and trys a different loco making a false economy.
One reason Debonair went bust. Poor scheduling such as their daily LTN-BCN W pattern through LGW. Mid summer, leave LTN at 0800z when the others are on their way back or heading to the next destination !! Same with CIA, leave LTN 1015z. Madness.
One reason Debonair went bust. Poor scheduling such as their daily LTN-BCN W pattern through LGW. Mid summer, leave LTN at 0800z when the others are on their way back or heading to the next destination !! Same with CIA, leave LTN 1015z. Madness.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Essex
Age: 53
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
from another forum.
An Easyjet Airbus A319 will be visiting the airport next Monday for the media launch of next years flights they will be announcing 5 more destinations to add to the Barcelona, Faro & Ibiza routes already announced I am unable to disclose them until that date sorry!!.
The remaining destinations will be announced at a later date.
An Easyjet Airbus A319 will be visiting the airport next Monday for the media launch of next years flights they will be announcing 5 more destinations to add to the Barcelona, Faro & Ibiza routes already announced I am unable to disclose them until that date sorry!!.
The remaining destinations will be announced at a later date.