SOUTHEND - 3 The new beginning
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southend
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Well said Barling Magna..
Ltnman is welcome to his opinion and I can't fault what he says most of the time. Southend does have it's teething problems especially rail
but SEN trains always were rubbish unless it's peak times. It's about time that changed. The terminal is small & does get busy at peak times plus there isn't a huge amount to do but then Stobart would never have got financial backing for a huge terminal first off, start small & extend when you have money/pax coming in. At the end of the day you choose where to go from: If you are looking for the holiday experience airport you go to Gatwick they cater for that. If you want fly cheap, pay the earth for food, parking and enjoy standing in pre-Imm' then go to Stansted. Luton sorry Ltnman but it's the last choice, exorbitant parking, station is a bus ride away, the terminal is awful and you don't move without paying for something. Like Barling Magna said if you want a coffee, paper and a short wait with a few other people, cheap parking and a quick getaway Southend is for you.
Ltnman is welcome to his opinion and I can't fault what he says most of the time. Southend does have it's teething problems especially rail
but SEN trains always were rubbish unless it's peak times. It's about time that changed. The terminal is small & does get busy at peak times plus there isn't a huge amount to do but then Stobart would never have got financial backing for a huge terminal first off, start small & extend when you have money/pax coming in. At the end of the day you choose where to go from: If you are looking for the holiday experience airport you go to Gatwick they cater for that. If you want fly cheap, pay the earth for food, parking and enjoy standing in pre-Imm' then go to Stansted. Luton sorry Ltnman but it's the last choice, exorbitant parking, station is a bus ride away, the terminal is awful and you don't move without paying for something. Like Barling Magna said if you want a coffee, paper and a short wait with a few other people, cheap parking and a quick getaway Southend is for you.
LTNman
I think you actually make some valid points, but I do feel it's true that you're still on the negative side of neutral in most of your posts. For example, where is your evidence that the departure hall "can't cope with 2 aircraft"? When I flew to AMS there was a FAO departure soon after and the hall was not at all crowded.
It isn't quite accurate to say there are no public transport links to SEN in the early morning. The first X30 from Chelmsford & Rayleigh arrives at 0527 and the first train from Southend town centre at 0505. The first train from Liverpool Street arrives at 0632 so some would use that for the 0730 departure to AMS. But I completely agree that there needs to be an earlier train from London and a later train to London in the evenings. Otherwise Stobarts should arrange a coach service - they could even do that with their own coaches perhaps.
It's obvious that easyJet were aware of the situation when they planned their SEN schedules and perhaps they feel that few people actually use the train at those times. Certainly they won't have been slow in coming forward with their thoughts on the subject.
As far as the terminal is concerned, again they knew its capacity so if their scheduling does cause congestion they cannot blame anyone else. I don't know if the additional departure area (with 100 seats) is yet in use, but that should result in there being a total of around 300 seats in departures, so it should be able to cope with at least 400 pax in departures at any one time without much discomfort. The possible maximums between 0630 and 0740 are about 550 pax and with three gates that should be manageable I would have thought.
I don't feel that SEN can be blamed for building a terminal of its present size (and it was always planned to extend it within a couple of years if necessary) because they couldn't know how successful it would prove. They've now moved to more than double its size as quickly as possible and in the interim to convert the admin office area into an additional 100-seat lounge, so they can't be accused of sitting on their hands. They also now have some experience of any shortcomings in the design of the current terminal and will make changes as necessary when building the extension.
I think you actually make some valid points, but I do feel it's true that you're still on the negative side of neutral in most of your posts. For example, where is your evidence that the departure hall "can't cope with 2 aircraft"? When I flew to AMS there was a FAO departure soon after and the hall was not at all crowded.
It isn't quite accurate to say there are no public transport links to SEN in the early morning. The first X30 from Chelmsford & Rayleigh arrives at 0527 and the first train from Southend town centre at 0505. The first train from Liverpool Street arrives at 0632 so some would use that for the 0730 departure to AMS. But I completely agree that there needs to be an earlier train from London and a later train to London in the evenings. Otherwise Stobarts should arrange a coach service - they could even do that with their own coaches perhaps.
It's obvious that easyJet were aware of the situation when they planned their SEN schedules and perhaps they feel that few people actually use the train at those times. Certainly they won't have been slow in coming forward with their thoughts on the subject.
As far as the terminal is concerned, again they knew its capacity so if their scheduling does cause congestion they cannot blame anyone else. I don't know if the additional departure area (with 100 seats) is yet in use, but that should result in there being a total of around 300 seats in departures, so it should be able to cope with at least 400 pax in departures at any one time without much discomfort. The possible maximums between 0630 and 0740 are about 550 pax and with three gates that should be manageable I would have thought.
I don't feel that SEN can be blamed for building a terminal of its present size (and it was always planned to extend it within a couple of years if necessary) because they couldn't know how successful it would prove. They've now moved to more than double its size as quickly as possible and in the interim to convert the admin office area into an additional 100-seat lounge, so they can't be accused of sitting on their hands. They also now have some experience of any shortcomings in the design of the current terminal and will make changes as necessary when building the extension.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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SEN Experience
I recently travelled on on of the easyjet mid afternoon departures from the new terminal
On the whole I found a lot of positives. Check in was efficient, security were polite and thorough, all terminal concessions seem reasonably priced and friendly. I haven't seen as much brand new GSE in one place in years. New steps, Charlatte baggage tugs, Schopf F110 tugs, tow bars, bog carts, ambulifts, airport ops vehicles.
The issue of terminal size did strike me but purely from a persepctive of the depth of the building as 8 desks is sufficient for current volumes. We were on a mid afternoon departure and check in was no problem with 70 pax but at peak times it would be different. Similarly when they called our flight in departures and everone stood up we were qued back to WH Smiths. They then loaded us into the covered walkway outside to wait in there. I couldn't help feeling that there should be more depth to the terminal and the whole holding walkway effort should be inside.
I think the extensions in progress will give a roomier feel, although terminal depth will eventually need to be addressed sooner or later
On our return we really could have flown through the terminal and onto the London bound platform if that had been our method of travel The walk from stand 5 to the station is probably the quickest I have come accross and even closer than Southamptons platform. Having two handlers load onto the belt instead of one poor soul on his own would have made things just a little speedier. Only one arrival going on at that time so they need to throw in adequate staff resource at off peak as well as peak times
So for me a good experience.
TT
On the whole I found a lot of positives. Check in was efficient, security were polite and thorough, all terminal concessions seem reasonably priced and friendly. I haven't seen as much brand new GSE in one place in years. New steps, Charlatte baggage tugs, Schopf F110 tugs, tow bars, bog carts, ambulifts, airport ops vehicles.
The issue of terminal size did strike me but purely from a persepctive of the depth of the building as 8 desks is sufficient for current volumes. We were on a mid afternoon departure and check in was no problem with 70 pax but at peak times it would be different. Similarly when they called our flight in departures and everone stood up we were qued back to WH Smiths. They then loaded us into the covered walkway outside to wait in there. I couldn't help feeling that there should be more depth to the terminal and the whole holding walkway effort should be inside.
I think the extensions in progress will give a roomier feel, although terminal depth will eventually need to be addressed sooner or later
On our return we really could have flown through the terminal and onto the London bound platform if that had been our method of travel The walk from stand 5 to the station is probably the quickest I have come accross and even closer than Southamptons platform. Having two handlers load onto the belt instead of one poor soul on his own would have made things just a little speedier. Only one arrival going on at that time so they need to throw in adequate staff resource at off peak as well as peak times
So for me a good experience.
TT
I can't help feeling that this issue of congestion at SEN is somewhat overblown. Whilst accepting that there may be an issue with the early morning peak (and I don't know to what extent the newly released space will alleviate it) it should be clear enough from the arrivals/departures listing that for most of the day activity levels are still low. The perspective surely is that for many if not most passengers SEN will be a very uncrowded experience for some time to come.
Toxic Thrust's comments are worth noting. I tend to agree about the narrowness of the building. I was at Southampton recently, though on the landside only as at SEN. The greater depth of the landside area made for a much more roomy feel at SOU. I am not sure what SEN can do about this situation, if indeed they feel it needs to be addressed for the future. On the airside perhaps they could convert the start of the walkways to a gate lounge area, though I have to admit I can't assess the feasibility of such a change.
Toxic Thrust's comments are worth noting. I tend to agree about the narrowness of the building. I was at Southampton recently, though on the landside only as at SEN. The greater depth of the landside area made for a much more roomy feel at SOU. I am not sure what SEN can do about this situation, if indeed they feel it needs to be addressed for the future. On the airside perhaps they could convert the start of the walkways to a gate lounge area, though I have to admit I can't assess the feasibility of such a change.
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It is all work in progress Tagron and I am sure the current early observations of travellers will be fixed.
Those comparing it to LTN etc are making pointless comparissons as SEN has never purported to be an airport that will handle anywhere near 10m pax per annum. They are ultimately pitching at 1 - 2m pax per annum and even that some years down the road and after much more work.
Another mistake people make is thinking that everyone is going to central London. Most of the people on my flight were from Southend and its environs. Just as many peops will come from Basildon, Billericay, Canvey, Brentwood, Romford etc. There is something very quaint and friendly about parking the car outside or getting off the train and taking a few steps to the aeroplane. Places like STN and LTN have lost all that long ago as you walk through a maze of tunnels and walkways. It reminded me of how air travel used to be
TT
Those comparing it to LTN etc are making pointless comparissons as SEN has never purported to be an airport that will handle anywhere near 10m pax per annum. They are ultimately pitching at 1 - 2m pax per annum and even that some years down the road and after much more work.
Another mistake people make is thinking that everyone is going to central London. Most of the people on my flight were from Southend and its environs. Just as many peops will come from Basildon, Billericay, Canvey, Brentwood, Romford etc. There is something very quaint and friendly about parking the car outside or getting off the train and taking a few steps to the aeroplane. Places like STN and LTN have lost all that long ago as you walk through a maze of tunnels and walkways. It reminded me of how air travel used to be
TT
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Quote: "There is something very quaint and friendly about parking the car outside or getting off the train and taking a few steps to the aeroplane. Places like STN and LTN have lost all that long ago as you walk through a maze of tunnels and walkways. It reminded me of how air travel used to be"
That is SEN's unique selling point, so would expect it to be a success.
That is SEN's unique selling point, so would expect it to be a success.
Join Date: Nov 2011
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EIR new service to Dublin commences tomorrow! Anyone any idea which aircraft is being based and what the crewing arrangements are, i.e. are Dublin based crew being over nighted?
Join Date: Sep 2007
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The Airport website shows an Aer Lingus Regional flight arriving at 1840 from Dublin this evening. Flight Number RE330P, which is presumably a positioning flight, so presumably the aircrew are going to enjoy the delights of the Essex Riviera tonight.....
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Aer Arann rotate aircraft around different bases quite regularly, one aircraft will probably operate for a few weeks before being moved. It looks like an ATR 72 will operate the first few flights before switching to the ATR 42.
Aer Lingus have regular advertising campaigns in the UK, radio and newspaper adverts are almost constant and SEN has been included. There was a flashmob promoting the new route, the SEN YouTube account put a video up.
Aer Lingus have regular advertising campaigns in the UK, radio and newspaper adverts are almost constant and SEN has been included. There was a flashmob promoting the new route, the SEN YouTube account put a video up.
In answer to the questions about EI Regional crewing arrangements, the following is now included in the statement on the SEN website about the DUB route inauguration::
10 May is also the official opening of a new Aer Lingus Regional base at London Southend Airport. A total of fifteen Aer Lingus Regional staff - including pilots and cabin crew – are now permanently located at London Southend.
10 May is also the official opening of a new Aer Lingus Regional base at London Southend Airport. A total of fifteen Aer Lingus Regional staff - including pilots and cabin crew – are now permanently located at London Southend.
Last edited by Tagron; 11th May 2012 at 16:52.
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It has always surprised me that Easyjet kept its Luton–Paris route after the Eurostar terminus was moved to St Pancras International, which is as little as 20minutes away from Luton by train if passengers catch the non stop service.
Southend–Paris could well work as the travel time from Southend to St Pancras is 1 hour 20 minutes away by train and tube. I would have thought that a Southend service would attract its passengers from the local catchment area rather than London based passengers but I could be completely wrong.
Southend–Paris could well work as the travel time from Southend to St Pancras is 1 hour 20 minutes away by train and tube. I would have thought that a Southend service would attract its passengers from the local catchment area rather than London based passengers but I could be completely wrong.
Last edited by LTNman; 12th May 2012 at 05:40.
I feel there may be a few routes like CDG which easyJet might feel inclined to try from SEN. It's one of those for which it is really difficult to predict the results - obviously there is considerable demand for travel from SEN's core catchment area to Paris, but how much of that easyJet could attract is open to debate.
The April CAA provisional stats should become public on Monday and the debate here on what they show for SEN will be interesting. I'm not really sure myself.
The April CAA provisional stats should become public on Monday and the debate here on what they show for SEN will be interesting. I'm not really sure myself.