Govia get Thameslink Franchise

[physics34]

A lot are being painted white I've noticed. Took a quick trip out today (well, yesterday now) and the vast majority of 319s I saw were now white or partially white. Bare in mind I only saw around 7 units, of which 5 or 6 where white.

SouthWest Trains (Stagecoach) don't seem to be as bothered about branding as Govia are, although they are still pretty similar. The 456s are due for refurb though so I imagine they are waiting till then to repaint them.

Are u thinking of the off white/grey with blue doors TSGN livery? 319426 is actually in pure white. It seems that it'll be the first to wear a new 'Thameslink/GTR 'livery, probably fully ready for the launch date.

The grey/blue now looks like an interim livery which maybe vinyled over in the same way in the future, who knows!

 

[jon0844]

If all the 365s are getting done with the grey/blue livery and then almost immediately covered in white, that would be incredibly stupid. Plus, all white is going to look horrible in comparison.

I have to hope it's just a cheap and temporary way of getting rid of the obvious First Group colours and pattern.

 

[Class377/5]

319426 will not be the launch unit for GTR.

 

[physics34]

319426 will not be the launch unit for GTR.

Spill the beans then!
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If all the 365s are getting done with the grey/blue livery and then almost immediately covered in white, that would be incredibly stupid. Plus, all white is going to look horrible in comparison.

I have to hope it's just a cheap and temporary way of getting rid of the obvious First Group colours and pattern.

Maybe they were due a repaint and had to be put into an interim livery because GTR livery wasn't decided yet and they were still operated by fcc. If the white colours are in fact GTRs New livery then sticking vinyl over the grey isn't totally unlikely.

 

[ModernRailways]

SWT are usually considered one of the most image-conscious TOCs when it comes to liveries/branding. The cascaded 456s entering service before refurbishment and reprinting are the exception rather than the rule.

Oh definitely, but I would say Govia are a more brand focused company than Stagecoach, although Stagecoach do like to have their colours everywhere.

There's only 8 white 319s out of a fleet of 83.

Really!? I must have timed my journeys well then

 

[shinkansen1966]

The Brighton Mainline timetable will be re-cast in December 2015.
http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/...heet 5 - Brighton Main Line and Coastways.pdf

Seems that London Victoria to Brighton will increase from 2 trains per hour, to 4 trains per hour. This will be acheived by extending 2 x London Victoria to Gatwick trains per hour onto Brighton.

Will Brighton bound passengers then be faced with a 2 x Gatwick Express trains per hour with the accompanying premium fare and no Network Card reductions ?

 

[infobleep]

The Brighton Mainline timetable will be re-cast in December 2015.
http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/...heet 5 - Brighton Main Line and Coastways.pdf

Seems that London Victoria to Brighton will increase from 2 trains per hour, to 4 trains per hour. This will be acheived by extending 2 x London Victoria to Gatwick trains per hour onto Brighton.

Will Brighton bound passengers then be faced with a 2 x Gatwick Express trains per hour with the accompanying premium fare and no Network Card reductions ?

The following is wrong but I won't remove it, seeing as it's been quoted. I'm grateful for being corrected by SarahJ

If so I hope they improve the announcements. I believe they do not currently announce which trains are not valid for off peak fares during the evening when Gatwick Expresses go to Brighton. I imagine many passengers would be aware that 6 trains out of all those that run require peak tickets.

Wonder how many people have been caught out by this. It's not obvious when travelling from say Burgess Hill to Brighton.

 

[sarahj]

If so I hope they improve the announcements. I believe they do not currently announce which trains are not valid for off peak fares during the evening when Gatwick Expresses go to Brighton. I imagine many passengers would be aware that 6 trains out of all those that run require peak tickets.

Wonder how many people have been caught out by this. It's not obvious when travelling from say Burgess Hill to Brighton.

Well, news to me as well. I know super off peak tickets are not valid, but never knew off peak tickets were not valid. and I work the things between Gatwick and Brighton in the peak. Looks like more training needed.:roll:
So THBOMK , none.

 

[MLR]

Just seen this at Thameslink advertising poster at STP, don't know how to post a photo from my phone though.
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Sorry, truly awful post, but you get my drift!

 

[swt_passenger]

Will Brighton bound passengers then be faced with a 2 x Gatwick Express trains per hour with the accompanying premium fare and no Network Card reductions ?

... I imagine many passengers would be aware that 6 trains out of all those that run require peak tickets.

No reason why they should, it isn't how it works now. If you get a Victoria to Brighton train operated by Gatwick Express the Network Card discount on an Offpeak fare is available. To all intents the extended trains are normal Southern services, unless you are going between Victoria and Gatwick.

(Someone please correct if wrong, but that's what NREs just showed me...)

 

[bussnapperwm]

Does anyone know what is actually going to be the first Thameslink service as I had thought 2G03 was as that was showing on RTT as thameslink but now it's showing as FC...

 

[westcoaster]

Does anyone know what is actually going to be the first Thameslink service as I had thought 2G03 was as that was showing on RTT as thameslink but now it's showing as FC...

0129 doesn't count as that's before the deadline last FCC
0542 Bedford to st pancras maybe 2A11

Scrub that 0518 gatwick airport to London blackfriars 2W02

 

[Class377/5]

Spill the beans then!

I can't sorry.

Maybe they were due a repaint and had to be put into an interim livery because GTR livery wasn't decided yet and they were still operated by fcc. If the white colours are in fact GTRs New livery then sticking vinyl over the grey isn't totally unlikely.

Its actually a case of just using white livery rather than FCC livery.

Really!? I must have timed my journeys well then

Yes.

Does anyone know what is actually going to be the first Thameslink service as I had thought 2G03 was as that was showing on RTT as thameslink but now it's showing as FC...

Not everything is fully working yet. New two digit code for Thameslink is curious.

 

[infobleep]

Well, news to me as well. I know super off peak tickets are not valid, but never knew off peak tickets were not valid. and I work the things between Gatwick and Brighton in the peak. Looks like more training needed.:roll:
So THBOMK , none.

I'm sure when I put in a journey from Redhill to Brighton is wouldn't offer an off peak ticket which allowed me to travel on the Gatwick Express. Perhaps I've got that wrong.

Just checked it now and it looks like I was mistaken or miss remembering something.

 

[FlippyFF]

I went through St Pancras this evening, the timetable panels in the FCC ticket hall were Thameslink branded.

Simon

 

[Deerfold]

Just seen this at Thameslink advertising poster at STP, don't know how to post a photo from my phone though.
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Sorry, truly awful post, but you get my drift!

No, I haven't the faintest idea what you saw - perhaps you could elaborate?

 

[causton]

Hatfield is now fully GTR branded, with Connections leaflets (basically the same as the GTR website contents at the moment) in stock, stacks of FCC ticket wallets for anyone who still wants them, GN posters replacing the FCC ones I saw this morning, FCC just about removed from existence! The only trace of the operators is on CCTV signage...!

 

[user15681]

Hatfield is now fully GTR branded, with Connections leaflets (basically the same as the GTR website contents at the moment) in stock, stacks of FCC ticket wallets for anyone who still wants them, GN posters replacing the FCC ones I saw this morning, FCC just about removed from existence! The only trace of the operators is on CCTV signage...!

There's some interesting bits in Connections (the bi-annual newsletter to passengers).

 

[Skimble19]

Hatfield is now fully GTR branded, with Connections leaflets (basically the same as the GTR website contents at the moment) in stock, stacks of FCC ticket wallets for anyone who still wants them, GN posters replacing the FCC ones I saw this morning, FCC just about removed from existence! The only trace of the operators is on CCTV signage...!

Hope you like it! As for the CCTV signs.. Whoops! Which one has slipped through? I'll make sure it gets covered up

 

[Manchester77]

Any photos of the newly applied branding for us northerners who won't get to see it from day one

 

[causton]

Hope you like it! As for the CCTV signs.. Whoops! Which one has slipped through? I'll make sure it gets covered up

To be honest, it might have been from this morning I saw it rather than this evening! I looked around for a good few minutes but you must have not missed anything
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There's some interesting bits in Connections (the bi-annual newsletter to passengers).

Indeed, the fold out timeline at the back is nice

 

[jon0844]

Are there now signs to show people where the lifts are (or even that there are lifts)? They were meant to be coming for some time.

I'll have to pop by the station this weekend and have a look (at the station in general, not just for signs for the lifts!).

 

[causton]

Any photos of the newly applied branding for us northerners who won't get to see it from day one

Very rushed photos below:



Edit: So rushed that uploading them, downloading them and re-uploading them has meant that the rotation got lost somewhere... sorry!

 

[jon0844]

Good to see the three digit codes are still used on maps and timetables. What a shame the TVMs still don't recognise them.

 

[Skimble19]

To be honest, it might have been from this morning I saw it rather than this evening! I looked around for a good few minutes but you must have not missed anything

Well do please feel free to have a good look next time you're down and let me know if you spot anything.. non-compliance with the branding is not an option :P

Are there now signs to show people where the lifts are (or even that there are lifts)? They were meant to be coming for some time.

I'll have to pop by the station this weekend and have a look (at the station in general, not just for signs for the lifts!).

The signage went up yesterday too although there are a few extras and minor alterations that still need to be done. Things like the TVMs will be re-branded shortly.

 

[Manchester77]

Very rushed photos below:

View attachment 19667 View attachment 19669 View attachment 19670 View attachment 19671

Edit: So rushed that uploading them, downloading them and re-uploading them has meant that the rotation got lost somewhere... sorry!

Thank you for the photos! Branding looks good, look forward to see a full train now

 

[thelem]

View attachment 19667

So Great Northern customers are meant to use the Thameslink On Track app? That's a bit weird.

Either way the app currently isn't on Google Play, so it's a bit early for that poster.

 

[Deerfold]

So Great Northern customers are meant to use the Thameslink On Track app? That's a bit weird.

Either way the app currently isn't on Google Play, so it's a bit early for that poster.

Yes, that does seem rather bizarre!

 

[talldave]

Apps are pointless unless they're actually making use of dedicated phone resources such as GPS (which I don't believe they do). If every website you visit insists on installing an app which then needs regular updating, it defies the whole point of the internet always presenting you with the latest information when you need it.

It's not just rail companies with useless apps, I had the misfortune to install the Monarch Airlines app which does use GPS, except that when you're at an airport it fails to list that airport and you can't see anything to do with your flight.

It's just a "fad" that transport companies think they need an app to be trendy without thinking about what it can actually offer their customers. It's then obvious they rush out the first attempt without ever testing it. The only certainty is that all Govia's apps will be similarly crap.

 

[tsr]

The silly thing is that Southern have a pretty good mobile website - if this was extended properly to all the Govia rail franchises, that would probably offer a sizeable chunk of the functionality of their apps. In fact, it even seems that some of the Southern On Track app's buttons just direct you to content on parts of said website!