140mph Olympics bullet train to cut South East commuter times

kevallsop@holdthefrontpage.co.uk wrote:
> cut South East commuter times

Cut times for those living in (possibly Medway), Ashford and points
East (assuming good connections), going to North London. Those between
Tonbridge and Ashford will be advised to go to Ashford, no time saving
at all, but a ticket will be about 70% more.

Those wanting to go to London Bridge, Cannon Street or Charing Cross
will have to pay additionally for a tube ticket (extra £500 a year),
and spend time commuting there.

Others in the South East won't be helped at all, commuters from
Brighton for example, or Maidstone -> Gillingham commuters.

Paul Weaver wrote:

> Cut times for those living in (possibly Medway), Ashford and points
> East (assuming good connections), going to North London. Those between
> Tonbridge and Ashford will be advised to go to Ashford, no time saving
> at all, but a ticket will be about 70% more.
>
> Those wanting to go to London Bridge, Cannon Street or Charing Cross
> will have to pay additionally for a tube ticket (extra £500 a year),
> and spend time commuting there.
>
> Others in the South East won't be helped at all, commuters from
> Brighton for example, or Maidstone -> Gillingham commuters.

Or Maidstone -> London commuters, for that matter! (although it may
indirectly result in some extra 375s being sent in this direction.)
Though I'm still wondering if we will be encouraged to drive to
Ebbsfleet then park and ride. Does anyone know whether the 7,000
parking spaces at Ebbsfleet are going to be priced cheaply (to
encourage P&R to London) or at airport long-term rates like those at
Ashford? If (as I suspect) it's the latter, it will hardly encourage
people to imitate French and German travel patterns (railheading to
parkway stations on high speed lines), which I rather thought was the
point.