Would it not be useful to choose a point where the weather is the same. Some of the delays might be due to that.
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Thameslink Railway performance
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andrewkeith5
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I noticed that to, was rather annoyed! In reality there weren't too many delays southbound but everything was going via Elephant & Castle (a route I personally really hate because its so slow!), apparently due to signalling problems at London Bridge.
I won't repeat my views on JourneyCheck here suffice to say that the fewer TOCs that use it the better IMHO
Why do you say that? I actually find it very useful. However I'm happy for the counter argument against it to be put.
Do you prefer announcements via Twitter where you have to search. London Midland use to put changes to trains on their Web Site in a random order. So a 17.00 train might appear before a 15.00 and after the 15.00 might be a 17.30 train.
Probably related to last night's disruption at London Bridge. Track circuit between Waterloo East and London Bridge was showing occupied when clear. Everything from Charing Cross was going via Cannon Street to London Bridge, with Thameslink services from Bedford to Brighton diverted via Elephant and Castle instead of London Bridge to avoid the area, which added significant delays.
I suspect GTR is saving money by not having to have a dynamic website that updates with real time information, and has hedged its bets that there will be major disruption on the Thameslink route more often than not.
You have to wonder whether this is now the most regular disruption in all London. For many years the most common one was the Bakerloo Line Not Running North Of Queens Park, this appeared to be reported countless times for equally countless reasons (I once saw graffiti chalked up that it was because of bush fires in Australia
), but I think that Thameslink Not Serving London Bridge now has it beat. Of course, before long it won't be doing so for around three years.
asylumxl
Established Member
I suspect GTR is saving money by not having to have a dynamic website that updates with real time information, and has hedged its bets that there will be major disruption on the Thameslink route more often than not.
We are all doomed.
asylumxl
Established Member
In their infinite wisdom they also cancelled the first offpeak service to Bedford. Good times were had by all.
I get the impression Govia doesn't know how to run a bath let alone trains. Let's not forget they run London Midland...
And southeastern, and it's former MD is now running the show at Thameslink.
While I deeply hate to admit it, you could argue that Thameslink is one of the harder franchises to run because of the core, the dual power, London bridge, a diverse set of routes, and sharing lines with several other operators. [Before you even add the passenger volumes and two airports]
Well, mostly the core
Well, mostly the core
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Nope, they have no idea... none whatsoever
While I deeply hate to admit it, you could argue that Thameslink is one of the harder franchises to run because of the core, the dual power, London bridge, a diverse set of routes, and sharing lines with several other operators. [Before you even add the passenger volumes and two airports]
Well, mostly the core
It's definitely one of the harder franchises and it clearly did quite a bit of harm to First's reputation. The performance figures are usually quite clear that TL = bad and GN = good. Seems that's still going to be the case for some time.
Perhaps come 2018 everything will be sweet and lovely, but I have real fears about running such a huge network that all have to use just two lines, with no diversionary route. And even with an emergency plan that could kick into action within seconds, the other problems won't be so easy - such as managing the huge numbers of passengers waiting for lots of different trains.
I know this is the case at some of the southern stations, like London Bridge, but there's generally more room - as well as kiosks and the like to spread people out. None of the stations in the core have that, and Farringdon is particularly tight.
Not that Govia will necessarily regret its decision to bid, if it is going to run it very low key. There's not really anything to say who is running it - just the TL or GN logos.
Quite a smart move really.
I'm still of the view that Govia probably regretted winning it after the awful first couple of weeks (am summoning up energy to file my *two* delay repay claims for that period tonight).
I agree that the thought of GN trains piling into the core fills me with dread too; it's really difficult to see how anything will recover if there is an repeat of something like the overhead wires coming down at City (again).
Less worried about the spread - Blackfriars is pretty spacious now; City Thameslink isn't the best - but as it's not connected to the Tube it doesn't matter quite so much; Farringdon is pretty good down the southern/new part of the platforms now (it's just people aren't trained into standing there!); and St. P is fine
I agree that the thought of GN trains piling into the core fills me with dread too; it's really difficult to see how anything will recover if there is an repeat of something like the overhead wires coming down at City (again).
Less worried about the spread - Blackfriars is pretty spacious now; City Thameslink isn't the best - but as it's not connected to the Tube it doesn't matter quite so much; Farringdon is pretty good down the southern/new part of the platforms now (it's just people aren't trained into standing there!); and St. P is fine
Do people at Farringdon want to get on at the back? If they're going to, say, St Albans?
I assume that people are much like the commuters on the GN side, or indeed Reading commuters, that don't actually seem to acknowledge that they have up to 12 carriages to board and alight from - and all get on either at the bottom of the steps, or wherever is most convenient for their destination.
Still, as long as they do that, I'll hopefully continue to be able to get a seat easily!
I assume that people are much like the commuters on the GN side, or indeed Reading commuters, that don't actually seem to acknowledge that they have up to 12 carriages to board and alight from - and all get on either at the bottom of the steps, or wherever is most convenient for their destination.
Still, as long as they do that, I'll hopefully continue to be able to get a seat easily!
asylumxl
Established Member
They rejected my first delay repay claim, on the basis that I would have been delayed by less than 30 minutes had I taken a train that didn't stop at the station my train terminated early at. Mind boggles.
It's quite clear to see that Farringdon's extension has been built with passengers heading south in mind. The majority of trains are 4/8 carriages as you know and thus a considerable amount of the train will be in the new part.
Not true for the northbound platform. The majority of trains will not even have a carriage in the new part. When 12 carriages run more regularly then yes. Now most services are relegated to the original part.
I actually missed the train the first time I used the new Farringdon. Coming from Liverpool Street by the Circle Line I stepped down onto the southbound TL platform, which is adjacent, in came a 4-car 319 which rolled right past me and stopped at the south end, by the time I had walked forward it had closed doors and started off.
swt_passenger
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The operation with 700s will be slightly different though, the 8 cars will stop with four cars either side of the platform mid point, as part of the accessibility plan.
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
My first encounter with the new operator - queues at the ticket office (when there usually aren't) and no information on the display screens or platform indicators. The train was on time though.
asylumxl
Established Member
Beats mine with one working ticker machine and one window on a Monday morning. Train was far from on time.
DelayRepay
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And to think people used to moan about First Capital Connect... In reality it seems they did a quite efficient job of running the railway compared to GoVia's efforts. But hard to understand how, when it's mostly the same people, the same customers, the same route and the same equipment, it's changed so much for the worse in the space of a few days!
Yet again last night I was late home, due to 10 - 15 minute delays on northbound services. Since Thameslink took over I have not had a single journey home from work on time - although only 1 was delayed enough to claim (which I can't do online because their shoddy website doesn't work!).
I also found it telling that the paper Delay Repay form has space for up to five claims on one form... obviously they don't have a great deal of confidence in their ability to run to time!!
Today I had a 15 minute delay on the way in (train cancelled due to fault with about 3 minutes notice) and 5 mins on the way out (no idea why, the train left Blackfriars 3 minutes early!!)
Website delay repay is very annoying. I found doing two claims in a row very difficult - it doesn't retain the departure and arrival stations properly on the second.
The route has obviously had some stuff outside of their control. The biggest difference to me so far is that the number of train faults seems to have increased. Secondary is a decrease in comms.
asylumxl - which date/journey?
Website delay repay is very annoying. I found doing two claims in a row very difficult - it doesn't retain the departure and arrival stations properly on the second.
The route has obviously had some stuff outside of their control. The biggest difference to me so far is that the number of train faults seems to have increased. Secondary is a decrease in comms.
asylumxl - which date/journey?
asylumxl
Established Member
It was Monday of last week. The delay on the train isn't really their fault (person hit by train).
Ticket machine and ticket window on the other hand... Was Luton station. I arrived 0705 and queued 25 mins for a ticket from the one working machine. Doesn't that violate their Passenger Charter?
Suspect passenger charter is aspirational
You may have been on the same train as me. My train left Leagrave at ?7.27 (after missing the 7.18 because I could get a ticket in time). Neither TVM were working and the credit card machine in the booking office wasn't either - I ended up paying cash. (He said Luton had just reported a problem with machines too)
We were delayed - like everyone else - by the person hit by train. But the train I was on had a train fault as well, so was taken out of service at Kentish Town - don't think it was due to call there (whereas I wanted Blackfriars). Other trains that morning probably were under 30 mins; because this one was had a fault as well it was definitely longer. Will try to remember to update you when my claim is processed! Perhaps mine is more likely because there is less choice from Leagrave than from Luton.
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This really does seem like the southeastern experience of the past 5 years!
Looks like Horton has taken his magic over.
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
The Labour parliamentary candidate (and former MP) for Hendon believes there was a '"missed opportunity" and that the franchise should have become part of the TfL London Overground network. Not quite sure how that would work as I think Bedford and Brighton would be a little beyond TfL's remit.
asylumxl
Established Member
Suspect passenger charter is aspirational
You may have been on the same train as me. My train left Leagrave at ?7.27 (after missing the 7.18 because I could get a ticket in time). Neither TVM were working and the credit card machine in the booking office wasn't either - I ended up paying cash. (He said Luton had just reported a problem with machines too)
We were delayed - like everyone else - by the person hit by train. But the train I was on had a train fault as well, so was taken out of service at Kentish Town - don't think it was due to call there (whereas I wanted Blackfriars). Other trains that morning probably were under 30 mins; because this one was had a fault as well it was definitely longer. Will try to remember to update you when my claim is processed! Perhaps mine is more likely because there is less choice from Leagrave than from Luton.
Yes, we must have been on the same train. I intended to get an earlier train but was unable to do so. The Kent House service seemed to be the only service running.
The ticket machines had issues the next few days too, with one being stuck in a boot cycle (showing its ancient BIOS screen) for several days. Seems it wasn't a priority for GTR to fix it.
I look forward to hearing how they deal with your delay claim, since they rejected mine claiming I could have got to London in x time had I got y train that never stopped at Kentish Town...
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And you have based that on a few weeks of them bedding in, trying to implement a new way of doing stuff with regards to info passing on.
Lets face it, it is a bedding in process, Govia obviously dont want it to be this bad but implementing new ideas and ways of doing things will fall down at times. And also whos to say that internally there may be a few rogues who want to trip them up?
Speak about it in a years time and if they are still being **** then get back to me and ill probably agree but until then just let it unfold.
I assume you've replied saying words to the effect of "no, I couldn't, it didn't stop at Kentish Town"
(I've had in the past FirstGroup TOCs misreading delay repay requests and assuming they're invalid when they're not, so this is hardly an issue unique to Govia. Not that I'm defending them, I'm remaining neutral until I have some statistics
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