Do southern run ghost trains at late night?

[KneeOn]

Right, i've got friends who come down from parts of the county like Seaford, or London, all fairly local.

When they train down, they often say they can stay as late as they like because they'd catch a "ghost" train or a "drug" train - an empty train that isn't announced and just runs at night.

I've never seen reference to these (duh, they're ghost trains) but nor have I ever seen or heard one - I live right next to a train line just near Aldrington station, and have had my bedroom literally feet away from the rails. I've never heard nor seen these trains...

So whats the deal? Am I just not seeing these existing ghost trains or are my friends on speed?

 

[bhaexpress]

Right, i've got friends who come down from parts of the county like Seaford, or London, all fairly local.

When they train down, they often say they can stay as late as they like because they'd catch a "ghost" train or a "drug" train - an empty train that isn't announced and just runs at night.

I've never seen reference to these (duh, they're ghost trains) but nor have I ever seen or heard one - I live right next to a train line just near Aldrington station, and have had my bedroom literally feet away from the rails. I've never heard nor seen these trains...

So whats the deal? Am I just not seeing these existing ghost trains or are my friends on speed?

'Srooms maybe. Can't see our money grabbing train companies doing anything for the fun of it.

 

[KneeOn]

'Srooms maybe. Can't see our money grabbing train companies doing anything for the fun of it.

Thats what I thought. Why run normal trains at 2,3,4 am? The last trains I know of run by southern are at 1am at an absolute push. They then start at around 5.

But they're adamant that these trains run?

 

[Ernest]

No, they run 'ghost trains' only when freezing temperatures are predicted , empty coaching stock runs as scheduled at all times of the day and night but no punters are carried at any times. Only trains for passengers are what are in the published timetables.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Not sure on a ghost train but maybe what they are doing is catching the first train out of Brighton

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Thats what I thought. Why run normal trains at 2,3,4 am? The last trains I know of run by southern are at 1am at an absolute push. They then start at around 5.

But they're adamant that these trains run?

We're lucky enough if they run during the day !

 

[KneeOn]

Thanks NSC, cleared that one up! I'm going to tell them to get off whatever they've eaten next time i'm told that "its fine, we'll live we can just sleep on the trains that run late at night" before breaking down in London or Portsmouth or some other city I can't walk home from!

 

[sam86]

 

[sam86]

There's even a ghost standing at the platform I didn't see him at first!

 

[wehatepalace]

I think there's one on the pier though

 

[severnside gull]

love that photo

 

[The Ringleader Returns!]

"Ghost" trains do exsist.

Saw one of the way back from Orient last week. It stopped at Hove, empty, lights off and the doors didn't open. Even if a very, very drunk man did try on numerous occasions.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

There's a train from Brighton that goes to Lewes & Eastbourne about 2am on Friday/Saturday nights but isn't advertised. Technically its stopping there only as its the last train from London, but they will usually let you get on if you ask nicely. Not sure what the technicalities are - cos you could quite easily see it on a timetable and assume you can get on there.

 

[8ace]

I've heard of people boarding these ECS trains back in the days of the slam door trains.

 

[PFJ]

Back in the days before electronic doors and train strikes , it was possible to come back to Brighton on the milk train and the paper train . I don't know where the milk train originated from , but the paper train would always leave London Bridge at about 3 ish. Because of signals and the like , it would slow down or stop at provincial stations and was possible to board it ala Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stylee........How do I know ? I used to work on one.

 

[Lord Bamber]

Back in the days before electronic doors and train strikes , it was possible to come back to Brighton on the milk train and the paper train . I don't know where the milk train originated from , but the paper train would always leave London Bridge at about 3 ish. Because of signals and the like , it would slow down or stop at provincial stations and was possible to board it ala Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stylee........How do I know ? I used to work on one.

The milk train used to come from Victoria, or it did when I used to get it back to Three Bridges following a night out in the smoke.

 

[tube train]

Ghost trains do run

i didnt believe so but my mates brother is a train driver and my mate always told me they ran.. so one night out for drinks he said ill prove it... of course i was like fine.. southern dont do that.... and infact they did.. i got proved wrong.. but got home quickly i can live with that!

this train was running west from brighton station, i got off at hove not sure where it finished

i was told its cause they need the train in X location for the morning, so run it cause they need to move the train anyway.. thats according to my mate also.. and i have no reason to doubt him considering he was right about the ghost trains

 

[tedebear]

I'm sure they have to move trains in the night to get them into the right place for the morning. Some trains go out of service for a fault and then need moving when they are fixed.....

 

[PFJ]

There is also one that tends to pull in at Hove when I'm waiting for the last train to Portslade . It sort sidles in , waits there for a bit then pulls off into the mist .

 

[Ernest]

Ghost trains do run

i didnt believe so but my mates brother is a train driver and my mate always told me they ran.. so one night out for drinks he said ill prove it... of course i was like fine.. southern dont do that.... and infact they did.. i got proved wrong.. but got home quickly i can live with that!

this train was running west from brighton station, i got off at hove not sure where it finished

i was told its cause they need the train in X location for the morning, so run it cause they need to move the train anyway.. thats according to my mate also.. and i have no reason to doubt him considering he was right about the ghost trains

Absolute bollocks