What’s going on with Thameslink?

[Nicholas Lewis]

In The Redhill Area today, Thameslink seems to be running okay today. They may have been some stuff earlier but I wasn't looking.

Yes theres a lot to be said for the post strike day timetable only 26mins from London Bridge!! calling E.Croydon only they should run this timetable everyday its runs far better.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Yes theres a lot to be said for the post strike day timetable only 26mins from London Bridge!! calling E.Croydon only they should run this timetable everyday its runs far better.

It's the Sunday timetable.

 

[Surreytraveller]

And of course , we do understand that things go wrong. But to lie about it and/or insinuate it's train crew is wrong on many levels.

CIS only has so many reasons in the drop-down menu. Rostering issues or somesuch isn't one of them

 

[Horizon22]

CIS only has so many reasons in the drop-down menu. Rostering issues or somesuch isn't one of them

There’s “shortage of train crew”, “train crew being delayed” and so on, so there somewhat is. But you’re right there’s no “planning / resourcing issue”. So you have to somewhat fudge it.

 

[baz962]

CIS only has so many reasons in the drop-down menu. Rostering issues or somesuch isn't one of them

A fault on the train would be better. Some train crew are getting worried that they may get aggro. Especially with the industrial action.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It's the Sunday timetable.

You dont get from London Bridge to Redhill in 26mins on a normal Sunday

 

[Surreytraveller]

You dont get from London Bridge to Redhill in 26mins on a normal Sunday

Sunday timetable without the engineering works?

 

[Dave91131]

Sunday timetable still with Mon-Fri time and ticket restrictions applied, thinking nobody wants to travel on a normal working day after a strike day, still cancelling tens of trains despite only running a Sunday timetable, basically a "we can't be asked" attitude would be my view.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Sunday timetable still with Mon-Fri time and ticket restrictions applied, thinking nobody wants to travel on a normal working day after a strike day, still cancelling tens of trains despite only running a Sunday timetable, basically a "we can't be asked" attitude would be my view.

This just seems extremely over the top. I would say more to give context but can't.

 

[Dave91131]

This just seems extremely over the top. I would say more to give context but can't.

I don't doubt that there's more to it, but I think the point is that given my view is one of an enthusiast for 30 years (never railway employed) the views of the millions of Joe Publics are likely to be even more negative.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Sunday timetable still with Mon-Fri time and ticket restrictions applied, thinking nobody wants to travel on a normal working day after a strike day, still cancelling tens of trains despite only running a Sunday timetable, basically a "we can't be asked" attitude would be my view.

100% of Thameslink has run on the Redhill lines today with very good PPM.

100% of Southern has run as well PPM slightly worse.

So we've had 6tph same as weekday but actually run a lot better with better options southbound with a 1Cxx being booked via Redhill.

GTR would be better off running this Sunday service everyday as its clearly more reliable than the weekday service and provides as much capacity.

 

[JonathanH]

GTR would be better off running this Sunday service everyday as its clearly more reliable than the weekday service and provides as much capacity.

While that may be the off-peak view of the Sunday schedule, the morning peak service is rather limited.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

While that may be the off-peak view of the Sunday schedule, the morning peak service is rather limited.

just needs same pattern from 0600 and jobs a good'n.

better to run a reliable service all day with reasonable capacity than fiddle with extras at the peak times and doing away with splitting and joining at Redhill will be beneficial.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

100% of Thameslink has run on the Redhill lines today with very good PPM.

100% of Southern has run as well PPM slightly worse.

So we've had 6tph same as weekday but actually run a lot better with better options southbound with a 1Cxx being booked via Redhill.

GTR would be better off running this Sunday service everyday as its clearly more reliable than the weekday service and provides as much capacity.

The Sunday might provide more capacity for Redhill passengers, but otherwise provides way less capacity everywhere else.

Also this is a ridiculous statement, GTR can't just run a Sunday timetable while everyone else runs an SX timetable. Its taken a lot of work to get the current non strike day timetables for GTR to an acceptable state, and that doesn't involve deconflicting the early morning services.

I do think a lot of people on this forum, sometimes misunderstand how the timetabling process actually works.

 

[Surreytraveller]

just needs same pattern from 0600 and jobs a good'n.

better to run a reliable service all day with reasonable capacity than fiddle with extras at the peak times and doing away with splitting and joining at Redhill will be beneficial.

The covid timetable was the best. Sunday service, but with an earlier start up. Perhaps chuck a few peak extras in

 

[WizCastro197]

100% of Thameslink has run on the Redhill lines today with very good PPM.

100% of Southern has run as well PPM slightly worse.

So we've had 6tph same as weekday but actually run a lot better with better options southbound with a 1Cxx being booked via Redhill.

GTR would be better off running this Sunday service everyday as its clearly more reliable than the weekday service and provides as much capacity.

Shame the 1CxxS aren't booked via Redhill this Sunday. Giving Passengers fairly limited service to London.

 

[Jturner98]

Is there any reason why they are running 8 carriage trains on strike days? Surely it would be better to run 12 carriage trains. Especially as they will be picking up some of Southern’s customers.

 

[JonathanH]

Shame the 1CxxS aren't booked via Redhill this Sunday. Giving Passengers fairly limited service to London.

Not really limited when there are two Hastings to Charing Cross services instead.

There are 5tph of trains from Redhill to London this Sunday and the bonus opportunity for a day out in Hastings.

The Sunday demand at Redhill could fit comfortably in two 12 car 700s an hour but there is a base timetable that has more trains so they can run whichever services fit in with the engineering work. (Well at least that is how it appears.)

 

[choochoochoo]

A fault on the train would be better. Some train crew are getting worried that they may get aggro. Especially with the industrial action.

Totally agree

A new less crew-accusatory reason needs to be put in the CIS system. Sadly we can’t have ‘ the TOC is too tight to recruit enough drivers' but can we not have 'a human resourcing error/inadequacy' ?

I'm surprised the union hasn’t pushed for this as the current reason is a threat to their members safety.

 

[WizCastro197]

Not really limited when there are two Hastings to Charing Cross services instead.

There are 5tph of trains from Redhill to London this Sunday and the bonus opportunity for a day out in Hastings.

The Sunday demand at Redhill could fit comfortably in two 12 car 700s an hour but there is a base timetable that has more trains so they can run whichever services fit in with the engineering work. (Well at least that is how it appears.)

Ah Yes I forgot about the Hastings trains but it’s not exactly as appealing as going
To Brighton by train even for a Redhill line passenger where you have to change.
I think most people would rather drive

 

[miklcct]

The poor service of Thameslink is now causing a knock-on effect. My LNER train (09:33 Kings Cross to Lincoln) has been delayed by the train manager arriving late and he announced that the train from Peterborough was cancelled causing him to arrive late.



I hope that the train can catch up time on the way such that no Delay Repay will need to be paid out by LNER.

 

[XAM2175]

A new less crew-accusatory reason needs to be put in the CIS system. Sadly we can’t have ‘ the TOC is too tight to recruit enough drivers' but can we not have 'a human resourcing error/inadequacy' ?

I'm surprised the union hasn’t pushed for this as the current reason is a threat to their members safety.

Transport for Wales were allegedly asked to do that by the unions some time ago, and so switched to describing it as "resource availability".

It was obviously very unpopular with much of the membership here.

 

[WizCastro197]

Went to Hove today. Thameslink service was delayed on the board but it turned out to just be 1 minute and I didn't have too much time so I decided to just get the 10:36 to Gatwick Airport which would got in at 10:45 but actual arrival was more like 10:50. If My Connecting train had been running on time I would missed it as it departed at 10:50 but was 10 late so I was relieved. When I got to Hove I forgot to ask to retain my ticket so I could claim Delay Repay but it ate it up so presumably I can't?

On The way back I decided to just go via Brighton instead of boarding a direct Hove-Victoria service as it was from Portsmouth AND Littlehampton. I got to Hove Just in time to get the 15:44 which arrived at around 15:50 so I could find the correct Southern Service. As a Fault had occurred on one of these units of th 8 car to VIC it split and only a 4 coach train was to complete the journey. If I had got the later Hove Train I wouldn't have been able to get a seat! Very Busy that train was even at Brighton. Thankfully I got off at GTW as the train went well past Standing Room only. One woman I saw was about to cry because her FlipFlop was just outside the coach and she was really pushing for a space. Seriously has station capacity and train capacity problems. I know 5 and 6 will open again soon but it isn't going to fix the train capacity problems as everyone is still going to run to Victoria Services.

There were plenty of trains at Lovers Walk to supplement the one of the units that had the fault but it didn't. I don't think its as simple I as think to just take a train out of a depot and stick into onto another service. Hopefully all trains that were stabled had services to complete later in the day. If they didn't its very disappointing that southern didn't take the initiative and just take one. But then again Im sure its not that simple.

I saw the 16:07 from Victoria to Brighton formed of 2x 377/3 and 1x 377/4. Strange formation as 377/3s normally only work RDH-TON and South London Metro services.

These 313s are now clearly getting tot he end of their lives, all decals of 313211 are practically gone and I don't even know If it was 313211 as the last number was half gone but I have assumed it so

Thameslink from GTW was delayed I dont know why and the driver didn't open the doors until about 3 minutes after arrival into Gatwick.

 

[louis97]

I saw the 16:07 from Victoria to Brighton formed of 2x 377/3 and 1x 377/4. Strange formation as 377/3s normally only work RDH-TON and South London Metro services.

This isn't uncommon, 3+3+4 377s have a booked diagram on Victoria to Brighton on Sundays.

 

[Parallel]

Transport for Wales were allegedly asked to do that by the unions some time ago, and so switched to describing it as "resource availability".

It was obviously very unpopular with much of the membership here.

"Resource availability" however is not a pre-recorded reason for the station CIS, which instead spits out "a problem currently under investigation".

 

[XAM2175]

"Resource availability" however is not a pre-recorded reason for the station CIS, which instead spits out "a problem currently under investigation".

1) It obviously is available to TfW;
2) In any case, I was responding to a post on the general topic of traincrew-friendly terms rather than a suggesting that GTR switch to using it immediately.

 

[Parallel]

1) It obviously is available to TfW;
2) In any case, I was responding to a post on the general topic of traincrew-friendly terms rather than a suggesting that GTR switch to using it immediately.

1) It is not available to TfW as a pre-recorded delay reason.
2) Unfortunately, changing the reason isn't going to stop passengers/station users giving the staff abuse. Most of the general public can't even tell the difference between a Network Rail specific delay and a TOC specific delay, but yes, something like "A shortage of rostered staff" or "limited staffing resources" may be better than just "a shortage of train crew".

 

[ComUtoR]

Its incredible that if this was an "operating incident" or "an incident currently under investigation" There are always cries of the TOC hiding behind a generic announcement and call for the exact reasons to be stated and yet an announcement that the TOC is absolutely hiding behind that blames staff is wholly accepted :/

 

[PGAT]

I saw the 16:07 from Victoria to Brighton formed of 2x 377/3 and 1x 377/4. Strange formation as 377/3s normally only work RDH-TON and South London Metro services.

The metros today are all running at 4/5 coaches today and the RDH-TON route only uses 2 units.

 

[WizCastro197]

The metros today are all running at 4/5 coaches today and the RDH-TON route only uses 2 units.

What do you mean 2 units. It’s one 3 coach 377/3

Unless I’ve got that wrong as I saw a 377/3 go to to TON from RDH. I’ll check southern to see what the next formation is