C2c - Services

Services

c2c operates services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from London Fenchurch Street to East London and along the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex, including Basildon, Chafford Hundred (for Lakeside Shopping Centre), Tilbury and Southend-on-Sea. The main route from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Basildon is 39.5 miles (63.57 km), with a fastest timetabled journey time from of 58 minutes giving an average speed of 40.7 mph, although the route can be done in 47 minutes, an average speed of 50 mph. The line has a speed limit of 75 mph (121 km/h), although the Class 357 Electrostar trains are capable of 100 mph (160 km/h).

The typical off-peak service per hour consists of 8 trains arriving and departing Fenchurch Street:

• 4 to Shoeburyness via Basildon
  • of which 2 do not stop at Limehouse, West Horndon or Pitsea
• 2 to Grays via Rainham
• 2 to Southend Central via Ockendon

On Sundays, the non-stopping service does not run and the Grays via Rainham service is reduced to an hourly shuttle from Barking.

As c2c is mainly a London commuter railway and the average c2c journey is between 40 and 70 minutes, c2c does not offer first-class seating. Its Class 357s have standard high-density 3+2 seating to meet high demand at peak times.

London Underground's District line connects with c2c at Tower Hill (for Fenchurch Street), West Ham, Barking and Upminster. Tickets are fully interchangeable between the two operators.

The number of peak services calling at West Ham is restricted by signalling constraints. A peak timetable introduced on 11 December 2006, with the aim of improving services for the Thurrock and London Riverside sections of the Thames Gateway, was withdrawn on 8 January 2007 after a campaign by passengers as a result of delays and cancellations that affected other lines on the network.

In January 2005 it was announced that an on-train television service would be tried out, and one unit had television installed. In June 2006 the 360 On-Board Television service ran into financial difficulties when c2c's partner in the project, TNCI (UK), ceased trading, and the service was withdrawn. c2c indicated it would restart the roll-out should a suitable partner be found.

In June 2006 it was announced that portable X-ray machines and metal detectors would be randomly placed at stations and carried by officers on trains during summer 2006 to catch people carrying weapons, in a joint operation with Essex Police and British Transport Police, following trials at London Underground stations.

In October 2007 c2c announced that the first coach of each unit would be made a Quiet Zone, where loud talking and the use of mobile phones and personal audio players is prohibited. The Quiet Zone was introduced in early 2008 and is indicated by magenta vinyl stickers on the doors of the coach.