On Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 01:44:03 on Thu, 25 Nov
2004, Dave Arquati remarked:

Liverpool Street is very important

But won't most Essex folk headed for E* drive to Ebbsfleet through the
Dartford tunnel, rather than trek all the way via London?

I wouldn't.

I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

tom

--
24-Hour Monkey-Vision!

In message ,
at 14:43:10 on Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
But won't most Essex folk headed for E* drive to Ebbsfleet through the
Dartford tunnel, rather than trek all the way via London?

I wouldn't.

I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.
--
Roland Perry

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Roland Perry wrote:

In message ,
at 14:43:10 on Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
But won't most Essex folk headed for E* drive to Ebbsfleet through the
Dartford tunnel, rather than trek all the way via London?

I wouldn't.

I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.

Why not?

tom

--
All roads lead unto death row; who knows what's after?

In message , at
20:05:32 on Fri, 26 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.

Why not?

Because it's so much easier for most of them to drive 45mins to
Ebbsfleet and park there, than find a way of getting to their local
station, not being able to park, and getting a slow train all the way to
Stratford, just to get a fast one back to Ebbsfleet again.

On the way back, which will often be late in the evening, how much
better to have a nice warm comfortable drive home, than standing around
at Stratford waiting for another slow train to (eg) Southend, then
having to get a taxi the last part of the way.
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
.uk...
In message , at
20:05:32 on Fri, 26 Nov 2004, Tom Anderson
remarked:
I *would* go via Stratford rather than King's Cross, though!

That might suit you, but I doubt it would suit the majority.

Why not?

Because it's so much easier for most of them to drive 45mins to
Ebbsfleet and park there, than find a way of getting to their local
station, not being able to park, and getting a slow train all the way to
Stratford, just to get a fast one back to Ebbsfleet again.

Not all of Essex is 45min drive from Ebbsfleet at all times.
Not all trains in Essex are 'slow'

I do take the point you're going nearly 'all the way' into London to pick
the train up at Stratford if you're setting off from somewhere along the
north Thames bank. Perhaps some enterprising organisation might start
express coach services from this area to Ebbsfleet via the M25.

On the way back, which will often be late in the evening, how much
better to have a nice warm comfortable drive home, than standing around
at Stratford waiting for another slow train to (eg) Southend, then
having to get a taxi the last part of the way.

Presuming one won't be partaking of alcoholic refreshment on the eurostar!

I'm sure there will be some Essex residents who will drive to Ebbsfleet and
others who will interchange at Stratford according to where they live, their
preference and whether they have exclusive access to a car for the full
period of their trip away (unless being dropped off/picked up). I can't see
parking at Ebbsfleet being free either (what's the fee at Ashford?).

The opinion that everyone will drive anyway would mean that efforts to
improve public transport links at airports would be pointless too!

--
Mark

In message , at 08:53:18 on Sat, 27 Nov
2004, Mark Townend remarked:

Not all of Essex is 45min drive from Ebbsfleet at all times.
Not all trains in Essex are 'slow'

But you need to accept that those are the "normal" parameters. You can't
legitimately dismiss what "most people" would perceive, by isolated
counterexamples.

I do take the point you're going nearly 'all the way' into London to pick
the train up at Stratford if you're setting off from somewhere along the
north Thames bank.

I was thinking anywhere bounded (roughly) by the A12 and M25, out as far
as Witham.

Perhaps some enterprising organisation might start
express coach services from this area to Ebbsfleet via the M25.

That would be a good idea, yes.

I can't see
parking at Ebbsfleet being free either (what's the fee at Ashford?).

About a fiver a day. Very good value.

The opinion that everyone will drive anyway would mean that efforts to
improve public transport links at airports would be pointless too!

There's no harm in improving the link at Airports, but you also have to
improve the links at the end the punters live. To that extent, none of
the existing plans really help someone taking the E* who lives in
Southend.

--
Roland Perry

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 08:53:18 on Sat, 27 Nov
2004, Mark Townend remarked:

Not all of Essex is 45min drive from Ebbsfleet at all times.
Not all trains in Essex are 'slow'

But you need to accept that those are the "normal" parameters.

I most certainly do not. Where i grew up, Colchester, a large town in
Essex, is not 45 min drive from Ebbsfleet, not by a long chalk, and is
well served by fast trains to London.

I do take the point you're going nearly 'all the way' into London to
pick the train up at Stratford if you're setting off from somewhere
along the north Thames bank.

I was thinking anywhere bounded (roughly) by the A12 and M25, out as far
as Witham.

Ah, nothing that i'd count as actual Essex, then!

tom

--
resistance is fertile