Commuters travelling from Rye to Ashford last week were surprised when the 07:06 was rescheduled to 07:14 for the rest of the week without warning. The delay meant that it was no longer possible to connect with the 07:36 fast train (HS2) to London St Pancras.
According to Southern Rail, the delay to the 07:06 was caused by problems at London Bridge, which is being redeveloped. However, according to rail staff, the real problem was a failure by Southern Rail to reorganise train movements at Ore. The 07:06 from Rye routinely suffers delays (and frequent cancellations). Staff say that this problem is due to the refusal by some signal signalmen to allow the train arriving at Rye from Ashford – which becomes the 07:06 back to Ashford – to change tracks and start its return journey to Ashford while another train is on the line at Ore. Other signalmen seem to have no problem with this, given the distance to Ore.
Southern Rail has recently been voted the third-worst rail company in the UK. Plans to extend the Fast Train to Hastings will require co-ordination between Southern Rail and Southeastern Rail – which was voted the very worst rail company in the UK!