News about the Southminster Branch Line / Crouch Valley Line and this website.

Added 2/2/05:Added a page on tips to save money

For some Tips to save ££'s on cheap fares and parking, read the new page.

Added 1/2/05:Added a letter from John Perry of the ESSCRP.

John Perry of the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership has emailed me asking if I would put a letter from him about the ESSCRP. I had done this as requested.

Added 18/12/04: One now more restrictive about bus replacements

Although I have no official confirmation, a number of people are reporting that 'one' have introduced new rules that restrict the number of bus replacement services. Now buses will only be used if delays are expected to exceed 1 hour.

Added 17/11/04: New Winter Timetable has even less trains!

A slightly later train now runs between Wickford and Southminster. Although "one's" posters show we are getting a new service at 0817, we have in fact lost 10 trains/week. Instead of 22 trains running each day from Wickford to Southminster, this has now been reduced to 21. The same applies in the other direction. This is a loss of 2 trains per day, or 10 per week! (I've not checked the weekend trains).

Day of the week	Current Last train to Southminster	Last train in Summer/Autumn 2004.	Difference minutes
Monday-Friday	2215	2200	15
Saturday	2145	2120	25
Sunday	2115	2052	23

Reply from Network Rail about late trains

Since 'one' cited one reason for not running a later train on our line as being the fact Network Rail would not allow it, I asked Network Rail to confirm or deny this. For 4 months no answer was received, despite phone calls too. I took this up with the Rail Passengers Council, and recently received a response from the RPC, copying a letter sent to the RPC by Network Rail. I am going to query what amount of maintenance is needed on the line.