SOUTHEND - 3 The new beginning
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I am not sure it is staffed overnight...only staff in the railway station
The station opens 15 minutes before departure of the first train and closes immediately after departure of the last train.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I guess the rail company will only run an additional service if there is evidence of demand, and the only way to get evidence of demand is to attract more services departing before 7.00 a.m. ........ It's a comparatively small issue but an important one nonetheless. I'm sure Stobart Air are working hard to overcome this, but it would be good to see some positive results soon....
Running a train service on track that is normally closed at 4:30 am involves getting quite a few different organisations to sign up - unlikely to be easy for the time being.
Could the train company however not at least run a coach very early morning and very late at night between Liverpool Street station and Southend airport, stopping at maybe Stratford and Romford on the way as intermediate points ?
Could the train company however not at least run a coach very early morning and very late at night between Liverpool Street station and Southend airport, stopping at maybe Stratford and Romford on the way as intermediate points ?
A lot of valid points have been raised in the last few posts, so let's clarify a few things to avoid misunderstandings:
The terminal does not open until 0400 and I can't see that it would be reasonable to expect overnight security to just open the doors to anyone standing outside earlier than that. The opening of the Holiday Inn in two weeks will certainly add another option for pax on early departures.
It isn't the train operator that refuses to operate an earlier train, it's Network Rail who do not want to lose any of their overnight track closure period. I understand that SEN are lobbying hard to get that attitude changed or overruled. I quite agree with those who say that no one can be expected to rely on the 0632 train arrival to catch a flight at 0715. Currently it's not just 'holiday flights' that are affected either; there are the 0645 DUB, 0700 BFS & 0730 AMS all of which will have a large business user element.
An early morning coach from Liverpool Street calling at Stratford and Romford is a good idea at first sight, but it would have to be well advertised. I hope SEN have looked seriously at that idea.
I'm surprised that OLT have scheduled the Sa departure to SCN for 0715 when a delay until 0745 would overcome the train situation (the first two train arrivals are then viable) and surely could be accomodated in the ongoing schedules for the aircraft, as I assume it's one of the additional Contact Air F100s that is forming the basis of the new routes from SCN. The rationale of the SCN-SEN timetable escapes me anyway with no provision for a weekend trip in either direction. The early Sa gets you there but you can't get back until Tu afternoon, so at whom is the Sa flight aimed?
The terminal does not open until 0400 and I can't see that it would be reasonable to expect overnight security to just open the doors to anyone standing outside earlier than that. The opening of the Holiday Inn in two weeks will certainly add another option for pax on early departures.
It isn't the train operator that refuses to operate an earlier train, it's Network Rail who do not want to lose any of their overnight track closure period. I understand that SEN are lobbying hard to get that attitude changed or overruled. I quite agree with those who say that no one can be expected to rely on the 0632 train arrival to catch a flight at 0715. Currently it's not just 'holiday flights' that are affected either; there are the 0645 DUB, 0700 BFS & 0730 AMS all of which will have a large business user element.
An early morning coach from Liverpool Street calling at Stratford and Romford is a good idea at first sight, but it would have to be well advertised. I hope SEN have looked seriously at that idea.
I'm surprised that OLT have scheduled the Sa departure to SCN for 0715 when a delay until 0745 would overcome the train situation (the first two train arrivals are then viable) and surely could be accomodated in the ongoing schedules for the aircraft, as I assume it's one of the additional Contact Air F100s that is forming the basis of the new routes from SCN. The rationale of the SCN-SEN timetable escapes me anyway with no provision for a weekend trip in either direction. The early Sa gets you there but you can't get back until Tu afternoon, so at whom is the Sa flight aimed?
Last edited by Expressflight; 31st Aug 2012 at 07:25.
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The terminal does not open until 0400 and I can't see that it would be reasonable to expect overnight security to just open the doors to anyone standing outside earlier than that.
I'm surprised that OLT have scheduled the Sa departure to SCN for 0715
LTNman
It would be disappointing if OLT have not been made aware of the train situation but it's certainly a possibility I suppose.
I don't really see why the SEN terminal should be open between midnight and 0400. I know you're not serious in saying that only one additional employee would be needed, but equally I don't see why anyone should feel the need to arrive three hours before the first scheduled departure. I honestly think you are making a mountain out of a molehill on this subject.
It would be disappointing if OLT have not been made aware of the train situation but it's certainly a possibility I suppose.
I don't really see why the SEN terminal should be open between midnight and 0400. I know you're not serious in saying that only one additional employee would be needed, but equally I don't see why anyone should feel the need to arrive three hours before the first scheduled departure. I honestly think you are making a mountain out of a molehill on this subject.
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I hope that Europort Express, JOIN and all the other supposed start-ups are aware of the train schedules - just in case they actually start flying into SEN. Any news on these outfits....?
Expressflight - admittedly a somewhat tenuous suggestion, but I'm wondering if the Saturday morning flight from SEN to Saarbrucken is aimed partly at those travelling to places near Luxembourg.
Easyjet have flight from Gatwick to Luxembourg at 1430 on Friday and Sunday afternoon arriving at about 1700. Flight then departs Luxembourg at 1730 back to Gatwick.
A 1430 from Gatwick is too early for anyone working in an office on Friday.
There is a bus taking 1h15 from Saarbrucken to Luxembourg.
Thus a SEN-SCN on Saturday early morning can be combined with a LUX-LGW on Sunday late afternoon.
Easyjet have flight from Gatwick to Luxembourg at 1430 on Friday and Sunday afternoon arriving at about 1700. Flight then departs Luxembourg at 1730 back to Gatwick.
A 1430 from Gatwick is too early for anyone working in an office on Friday.
There is a bus taking 1h15 from Saarbrucken to Luxembourg.
Thus a SEN-SCN on Saturday early morning can be combined with a LUX-LGW on Sunday late afternoon.
Barling Magna
I wouldn't put any credence to Europort Express coming to anything, although I would like to be proven wrong.
JOIN has been a very long time in gestation, but you never know ......
I wouldn't put any credence to Europort Express coming to anything, although I would like to be proven wrong.
JOIN has been a very long time in gestation, but you never know ......
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Join!
Last time I heard they were close to having all their funding in place so fingers crossed. At least they seem to take things slow and get it right as opposed to rushing around to get things organised - they look promising. 
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The local press is aware, but are not allowed to report it until Stobart's make a press release. The sooner the local people know about it the better, but i too don't know why it takes so long. Perhaps OLTexpress haven't even told SEN yet! Contracts have to be agreed and signed. etc.
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Fillyarse Frog
The Evening Echo have before leaked news about the start-up airlines when they allegedly started to sell tickets on thier websites, then nothing happened, but Stobarts has some sort of news control since then, and can only print their official press releases.