Can I get a seat on the train in Headcorn or West Malling or Sevenoaks?

[hg1970]

Hi there

I want to move out of London and commute in, but I want to live near a train station where I can get a seat in the morning, between 7 and 8.

I've heard Headcorn and West Malling I might have a good chance. Does anyone know if there are seats to be had there reliably?

And is Sevenoaks just too busy to get a seat?

Thanks for any tips you can give

[Amathaunta]

I dont do the journey regularly but the last few times I've gone from Tonbridge (the stop before sevenoaks) to London at that sort of time it has been packed and not enough seats for every one who got on at Sevenoaks. I've never gone from West Malling or Headcorn.

[Florin]

You would be lucky to get a seat at Sevenoaks in rush hour it would be a very unusual occurrence.

[cogitosum]

Headcorn and west malling pretty much guaranteed. Sevenoaks probably once a week if you're pushy! If you like Sevenoaks, otford is on the west malling line so goes to Victoria but further in. It takes 35 mins to Victoria and you get a seat every day (unless there are massive problems)

[7OaksDad]

Depends on train at Sevenoaks. Not usually much chance on Sevenoaks trains or the non-stop LB, Waterloo and Charing Cross trains. You can usually get a seat on the trains with 1 more stop at Chelsfield and the stoppers to Cannon Street or Blackfriars are fine. Exception is Friday's when you will normally get a seat on anything. And if you do stand to say London Bridge it's under half an hour.

Depending on where you live in Sevenoaks you can also get Cannon Street or Charing Cross stopper from Dunton Green and Blackfriars stopper from Bat and Ball or Otford.

As poster above mentions if Victoria is Ok you can also get a fast train from Otford with seats. I believe from 2018 Otford will also have more fast trains to London Bridge and Blackfriars, once Thameslink is done, at the moment there's only a few at rush hour. Can generally get a seat on those.

[7OaksDad]

Apologies second sentence should read 'not much chance on Cannon Street or the non-stop...'

[hg1970]

Thanks for all your suggestions, very helpful