Mizter T wrote:

The other factor is what changes are being made to "Mainline" services
to/from Ashford under the new timetable, i.e. whether they'll be
slower and less frequent.

Yup...The services via Maidstone will all be diverted to/from Victoria
(one stopper and one semi-fast an hour), the off-peak Cannon Street
services will be withdrawn, and the two services via Tonbridge to
Charing Cross will become stoppers.

Current Timetable:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Victoria - Ashford: 1 hour 24 to 1 hour 42 (1tph off-peak)
Cannon Street - Ashford: 1 hour 9 to 1 hour 24 (1tph off-peak)
Charing Cross - Ashford: 1 hour to 1 hour 29 (2 to 4tph off-peak)
London Bridge - Ashford: 1 hour 3 to 1 hour 21 (3tph off-peak)

Draft Timetable:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Victoria - Ashford: 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 37 (2tph off-peak)
Cannon Street - Ashford: 1 hour 3 to 1 hour 17 (evening peak only)
Charing Cross - Ashford: 1 hour 12 to 1 hour 26 (2tph off-peak)
London Bridge - Ashford: 1 hour 7 to 1 hour 17 (2tph off-peak)

So the big losers are anyone wanting to go to Cannon Street off-peak,
who'll now have to change trains and platforms at London Bridge, and
anyone travelling to Charing Cross, who'll have journey times on the
"classic" route extended by 27% for much of the day.

Draft Mainline timetables are linked from
http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/cms/pages/view/262

Cheers,

Barry