London Liverpool Street to Southend Central with C2C Rail.

[@stephensimpkins]

When I were but a lad who lived in Barking (then in Essex) a couple of us used to buy a platform ticket and travel to Southend !!! Added bonus….it was all steam and corridors in the carriages in those days…1955 !!!

[@martinholland3938]

What I like in London and the Midlands is the trains are long Where as in the North we seem to be shoved into 2 carriage trains.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes it’s like London’s he only place with commuters! 😂

[@ianjames9166]

Great video, Mark. You know what? I'd take a C2C train with its basic facilities, any day over a CrossCountry Voyager, even on a long trip from Brum to Edinburgh. Nice to see some regions in the country have a decent rail service.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Ian, yep I’d tend to agree on that (but I’ll let you know after I’ve done the Aberdeen - Penzance run next month!!). Their prices are definitely better too 👍

[@ianjames9166]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Blimey, Mark! I feel for you mate, hope that's not going to be the ordeal that it sounds. Last year, after a particularly difficult Voyager (four coaches, one of which was 1st class) journey from Brum New Street to Manchester I complained to CC and, to be fair, they replied quite quickly although I'm sure you will agree that most of it could only be politely described as "company piffle"! (Firstly, I am sorry that you are unhappy with the cost of tickets. We take a number of factors into consideration when deciding how much a journey should cost and we have to explain all our decisions to the Office of Rail and Road, this is to make sure we are being fair. We look at levels of service, distance to be travelled and the amount of passengers we know will travel. We are inline with other train operators in the issue of fare increases and I hope I have been able to explain our position satisfactorily for you. I am sorry if you are disappointed. Your feedback regarding the condition of the train you travelled on has been logged and forwarded to the relevant department for future improvements. Whilst we cannot guarantee any immediate improvements to the interior of the train, we do value all feedback and this is certainly something we will look at in the future. As a Train Operating Company, we have to have a full working plan for the fleet so it is difficult for us to take a train out of service because it is showing signs of wear and tear and still fulfil our obligations to run a full service as per our timetable. Finally, I am sorry that you have found the services to be so busy. To clarify trains can carry a large number of standing passengers, there is no legal limit. That said I do appreciate how uncomfortable and claustrophobic a busy train can be. We do only have a set fleet, which is allocated across our vast network. However, we are aware that services have become increasingly busy, and we use this information to form a bid to the Department for Transport of the desperate need for more coaches to strengthen our existing fleet.)

[@kyorin6526]

London and the South East is where most of the wealth is concentrated, and so yes, the train service is pretty good, but we still pay the highest prices in Europe for it. The trains and service is generally much better in most of the EU, and it's cheaper too.

[@pontecarlo4354]

That looked like a nice station and train. Thank you for the video

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It was and thanks for the comment 😊👍

[@junethomson5176]

Nice video, I love the magenta colour

[@MichaelCampin]

COYI. It never used to go that way. It used to go to Stratford,Ilford, Romford. The Shoeburyness trains left from Fenchurch Street

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I believe the Fenchurch Street service is weekdays, Liverpool St at weekends.

[@lloydstrips7586]

C2c trains normally leave from Fenchurch Street, they leave from Liverpool Street just at weekends .

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes I believe so.

[@kyorin6526]

Without mentioning Greater Anglia, it sounds like the trains only run at the weekend to Southend. That's not the case at all, C2C generally runs on the Fenchurch Street line to Southend-Central, whereas Greater Anglia generally runs from Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria. Both services run 7 days per week. The two stations (Southend Central and Southend Victoria) are about 10 minutes apart on foot. Victoria is at the top end of the High Street, whereas Central is towards the sea-front end of the High Street.

[@ThamesShips]

Excellent video as always. The good thing about living in Southend is that you have two train services to / from London (to Southend Central and also to Southend Victoria) so if one line has problems, there is still the other line to take you home! During the week, the c2c services usually operate to / from Fenchurch Street which only has 4 platforms and is the only London rail terminal that doesn't have a dedicated tube station (you have to make the short walk up to Tower Hill!) C2C have recently started using a small number of class 720 trains but there aren't many of these in use at the moment. I don't know if you saw it coming out of Liverpool Street or not but on the right hand side of the tracks, there is a wall with all the flags of the world on it. This was put there just before the 2012 Olympics as there were a large number of people expected to use the trains from Liverpool Street for the short journey down to Stratford (for the Olympic Stadium).

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I didn’t see the flags tbh. I think next time I’m in London I’ll check out Fenchurch Street. Yes if I’d have done this in the week it would’ve gone from there anyway. An enjoyable trip overall 👍

[@ThamesShips]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Don't know if it helps or not but if you are doing a number of train trips in the South East area during the next year then it may be worth buying a network card. It costs 30 pounds for the year but then you can have 1/3 of rail travel in the South East.

[@stephencostin2616]

C2C is one of my favourite train journeys along with the Cumbrian Coast + Furness Line

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I’ve done the other two (vids on channel) and I agree, all great routes 👍

[@Timstravels01]

Great video. I enjoyed seeing the railways of a part of the world I’m rarely in.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Tim. It’s a bit flatter than Scotland mate!

[@yesnomads]

Great trip and train report.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks mate 😊👍

[@robertalan3214]

Hi Mark, lovely quiet journey for you bud, I like that and a route map showing all stations, all trains should have that, thanks again, great content 👍

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate, yes I think a lot do at differing points on the train. Many have them in the vestibules on the side walls.

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

thanks never failed to be impressed with London Stations.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Same here. Apart from Euston!

[@paulmark63]

Hi it’s Paul great video your lucky normally this would go from fenchurch street there is a piece of track I think it pastor near Forest Gate which goes to shoebyness

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Paul, yep I just happened to be doing this at the weekend, I would like to try Frnchurch Street next time though. Maybe I can get a bus there 🤔

[@kingkarrotyt5277]

My local line with my local station featured in the video! The LTSR's main purpose as you rightly said is a commuter line for London but can be popular during weekends and school holidays for visitors, I grew up with Mangeta overload of c2c so I've grown somewhat attached and I can confirm you largely pronounced "Shoeburyness" correctly.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks mate. It’s good to have some positive feedback on the pronunciation (I usually just get pedantic comments when I’m wrong 😂). A lovely area, I’ll definitely be back 👍

[@TravelSignal]

Nice one mate 👍 I haven't been that way since we scattered my gran's ashes on the beach/mudflats at Leigh on Sea. Both my parents are from that area, the East End and Essex. I almost booked a flight from Southend airport (to Paris) in a couple of months but ended up abandoning the trip 😂

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers, Leigh-on-Sea looked really nice actually. This was one of those trips where I wished I had more time to stop a couple of times on the way out. PS I’ve never been to SEN and I doubt I ever will tbh 😊

[@chocksaway100]

Why gloss over stinking toilets as if acceptable ..it is not.

[@shanewaterman4125]

Hope you sampled a Rossi's ice cream in Southend? It's got near-mythical status in Essex and even finds its way across the Thames to my neck of the woods ... 'occasionally'.... 😉🤣

[@johnmullin1188]

Nice 1 Mark girly 🚆 with those colours lol 🤔 table seat looks good thanks for info and 🎥 all the best John 😊

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers John mate 😊👍

[@iank-dz6gg]

Yes I miss the Boleyn too! So many people thought it was called Upton Park. COYI⚒⚒

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Ikr, I have the Simon Inglis book of football grounds to help me - a true classic! 😊👍

[@calebmumby5803]

Hi Mark Thank you for a nice Journey

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks for watching Caleb 😊👍

[@aaronsmith9209]

One of my favourite trips in the East of England, great scenary especially from Upminster onwards. I have seen so many beautiful sunsets over the years on this line. Decent service in the week with a train every 15 to 20 minutes, First Bus also provide some very useful and frequent connections to towns further away from the railway in the area. Good you went when it was quiet, it gets so packed in rush hour from all the commuters. Essex is a funny county though, the towns mostly ain't much to an outsider but some really nice natural spots about and the people are friendly. Also amuses me that C2C is good as the people who run it also run Avanti West Coast which isn't so great. Also since December, it is possible to go all the way to Shoeburyness with contactless, although little use to me with a railcard but still good to have the choice.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

A part of the world I’ve never really been to but yes, would definitely visit again. As usual for me with these kind of trips, I went through places I would’ve liked to have stopped off at! Cheers Aaron 😊👍

[@timbounds7190]

I was so confused at the beginning of the vid - I grew up on this line, and it always went to Fenchurch St when I was a kid, except for some late night journeys. You missed the scenic highlight of Hadleigh Castle! As painted by Constable..... Southend is amazing as the tide always seem to be out whenever you go - I don't think I ever saw high tide there. And when it goes out, it really goes out. I remember once that the tide was so low, the pier head was the only bit of the pier in the water! btw there is the alternative line via Grays and Tilbury - longer, uglier, but possibly with more interesting things to see - HS1, the Dartford Crossings, Tilbury Docks and towns so miserable that you feel better just because you don't have to live in them!

[@DavidLee-jq9lf]

It still runs to Fenchurch Street most of the time but weekends use the Liverpool street roue for the main services.

[@stevenreynolds3627]

HMS Wilton was built at the Vospers yard in Southampton, my Dad worked on her

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Interesting, cheers Steve. I’d love to have a look around 👍

[@paulparry1197]

Yet another great trip. Pity about the sun being so low in the sky. Nice to see some sunshine anyway. 😝

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes it was pretty cold on the pier afterwards but certainly less crowded!

[@tonys1636]

Common practice at London Termini to prevent entry to platforms before the train arrives and passengers disembark to prevent overcrowding and people walking in opposite directions. Has been since the days of sliding metal gates and ticket collectors.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Didn’t know that Tony. Makes sense though, cheers.

[@CrystalGTUK]

Doesn't happen at Euston from what I've seen.

[@tonys1636]

@@CrystalGTUK One definitely doesn't want to be on a platform when an overcrowded 12 car train dumps a few thousand people all rushing to work, or was that just my commuting experience at Victoria and Waterloo years ago. Slam door days.

[@geoff1201]

For those who think nationalised railways are a good idea, the c2c trains were the first new ones we had since the line was electrified in the early 1960s. In between times British Rail constantly gave us clapped out hand-me-downs from other lines.

[@doveronefoxtrot4417]

They are nothing special. Give me the horse hair seats, and slam doors any day.

[@Electrostarboi207]

about the magenta if you go on the train back in 2009, the colours even consumed the outside because before 2012, the trains were blue personally i prefer the blue over our current livery

[@paulobrien6919]

As a West Ham supporter, I preferred the Boleyn ground as well.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Had some good times there (always in the away end though I must say!)

[@Andrewjg_89]

Very nice. I have been on c2c to London Liverpool Street from Benfleet. Have you seen the new c2c Class 720/6 Aventra that are now in service.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I don’t believe so. Benfleet looked quite nice though 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

Yeah indeed

[@The-Anxious-Traveller]

Hey, HMS Wilton is closed to the public but you can have a private function there… it replaced the Bembridge back in 2008 I think… the bembridge was also home to Essex yacht club, and was bright blue in colour… I hope you visited old Leigh for a pint and some cockles which we are famous for!

[@timbounds7190]

Thanks - I was about to comment that the Yacht Club used to have a different ship (I haven't been to the area for decades!). Do you know why they changed? Did the old one just rot away or was there some sort of accident or fire? The Bembridge looked a bit classier, and presumably bigger, than a Minesweeper!

[@The-Anxious-Traveller]

@@timbounds7190 I think it was just age and tired being docked hear for decades with no real maintenance to hull etc, I think it just took its toll… the bembridge was more striking and was much nicer to look at, it was also bigger…

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers for the info guys 👍

[@enricomonti156]

I have once taken the Greater Anglia service from Southend Airport and Liverpool Street in 2018, when Air Malta was flying to London Southend. It was a route with a pretty bland scenery, unlike the coastal views you had. Never travelled with C2C either, but might have to try it out. Seemed a good price. Can't wait to visit Shrewsbury in late April

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Air Malta to Southend! Seems a bit random that (though I bet it was advertised to London!).

[@enricomonti156]

@@LetsMakeaTrip yeah, indeed it was advertised to London. It was a flight which Air Malta operated from Malta to Southend and picked up passengers in Catania Airport on the way. Not surprising it didn't last long and was often canceled. Anyway, Air Malta will close on 31st March 2024

[@sheilam4525]

Magenta is my favourite colour so I would be quite happy😂😂

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Oh you’d love it then Sheila! 😂

[@adlam97531]

On the war memorial is Captain Fryatt , who was a British merchant seaman and was court martialled by the Imperial German Navy for attempting to ram a German U-boat in 1915 while in charge of a Great Eastern Railway Company Ship. At the time, it caused much outrage.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Fascinating! I'll look that up for next time I go, cheers.

[@simonboulton4490]

C2C virtually have a 100% punctuality as they do not use any other companies tracks so they never get held up by other trains.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Didn't know that Simon and both my trains were on time tbf.

[@TravelSignal]

Except the leg from Liverpool Street..

[@EdgyNumber1]

​​@@LetsMakeaTrip Its a big contrast to the past. The other line Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness was dubbed 'The Misery Line' back in the 80's/90's because of the complete lack of investment, very, very old rolling stock and hopelessly out of date, often broken signalling. Fenchurch was used to always be shut at the weekends too. These days it runs more clockwork like a metro, high frequency suburban, with trains running every 15 minutes into London, some passing through Grays and Tilbury. Uses the latest rolling stock and it wouldn't surprise me if the line switches over to ERTMS in the future.

[@AdamHiley-ds5gc]

Greater Anglia definitely have the nicer Trains than c2c nowadays which the latter need refurbishment i live in Upminster Essex

[@ianM449]

i lived there many years ago Southend on Sea or Sarfend as we call it

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I liked it. Had a good trip along the pier after this.

[@ianM449]

your a ,o long way from up shrewsbury way mate @@LetsMakeaTrip

[@johnridpeath1728]

Nice vid did not no you could get to southend central from Liverpool st normally fenchurch st line

[@IceReef]

Shame you didn't get to travel from the usual terminus of Fenchurch Street - one of the lesser known gems

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It was a weekend thing I believe. But there’s always another time 😊

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

Don't C2C normally go from Fenchurch Street? Spending three days in London in April, and on one of them, we've decided to get the train to Southend.

[@CptnPhasma]

C2C run from Liverpool Street on weekends

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Enjoy but yes, Liverpool St is the place to be at weekends (as it was for me).

[@Vanmanyo]

Great video Mark - I would say C2C has some of the ugliest interiors for trains around! Also, compared to their sister trains the class 168s with Chiltern, they are far worse in terms of comfort and amenities too!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate, yes I would agree with that. Always get a decent ride with Chiltern in my experience and their interiors are nicer 👍

[@firestarter1888]

Whenever it says seek assistance just push the barriers open and make them seek you.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Do they open if you push them? Never knew that.

[@firestarter1888]

They do along with loud beeps, i think if they locked them its dangerous in case of an evacuation or something.... the disabled gates are easier to push open.

[@Electrostarboi207]

13:13 HOW DID SOMEONE DO GRAFITTI IN THE STATION WINDOWS WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING

[@LisaSargent03]

I live in Stanford.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I know :-)

[@LisaSargent03]

@@LetsMakeaTrip The branch line is so much better.

[@marcd6897]

I will never ever understand the concept or benefit behind announcing the departure track just a few minutes prior to departure.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Keeps everyone off the platform I guess - especially if people are alighting from a train that’s just arrived.

[@haddockman30]

Surely this should be from Fenchurch Street? Weekends only from Liverpool Street.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I travelled at the weekend.