Both Shoreburyness and Southend are connected to London Fenchurch Street via the National Express Franchise 'C2C' (City 2 Coast). The network is almost self contained, having to interact with hardly any other operators over its route. As such it's always had a very high punctuality figure. National Express run a fleet of Class 357 Electrostars which were built by Bombarider Transportation based in Derby between 1999 and 2002.
My visit to the route network was tagged onto the back of a two day trip where I visited the Epping and Ongar Railway on Saturday 18th September before staying in London, which gave the chance to visit the Thames Estuary coastline on the Sunday, where we visited Shoeburyness and Southend Pier before returning to London.
At the time of this image just 11 London Underground District Line 'D' stock sets were left in service. No.7012 arrives into West Ham on Sunday 17th September.
Sunday 17th September 2016, A Class 395 'Javalin' unit calls at Stratford International from St Pancras.
National Express Class 357 No.357203 pepares to depart witht he 2F09 10:40 Shoreburyness to Fenchurch Street service.
Electrostar No.357023 arrived into Shoreburyness with the 2B14 09:25 London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness service.
National Express Class 357 No.357006 arrives into Southend Central with the 2F02 10:25 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness service.
National Express Class 357 No.357016 arrives into Southend Central with the 9B21 13:40 Shoeburyness to London Fenchurch Street.
National Express Class 357 No.357020 stands at Southend Central ready to depart with the 2D29 14:05 to London Fenchurch Street via Ockendon.
The Southend Pier has the claim as the longest pier in the United Kingdom, extending 1.5 miles out to sea. The Pier also boasts its own railway system which transports people from one end to the other. Unfortunately at the time of our visit the railway had been closed, as the pier is now undergoing some localised repair to allow it to support the weight of the trains passing over. Sadly years of Auterity in the UK have left piers around the county unable to secure any long term funding for their ongoing preservation needs. The constant harsh salt environment means the pier needs constant work and money to keep it open.