2325 Horsham Via Dorking 5 Carriage Upgrade

[Capvermell]

Just to report that after months of often overcrowded conditions since the September 5th timetable changes
on the 2325 from Victoria to Horsham via Dorking on especially Thursday and Friday due to only a 4 car train unit tonight we miraculously had a 5 carriage train restored to us. Also this five car unit was the only train in Platform 11 at Victoria rather than having to walk past an out of service five car train (that then a few minutes later becomes the 2335 to Horsham via Gatwick) to reach our train on Platform 13 as is usually the case.

Now I expect this will turn out to be a one off due to the strikes tomorrow and on Saturday but it would be nice to think that Southern train planners have spotted that the 2325 service is often excessively overcrowded and so decided to permanently swap the 4 car unit on this service for a 5 car one.

It really would be nice to see a lot more effort being made by Southern train planners to match train capacity to actual customer use noting the large number of 8 and 10 carriage trains from Victoria to Horsham vis Dorking and vica versa during the off peak on a weekday with almost no passengers on board compared to the frequently busy and popular but now usually only 4 carriage 2325 service from Victoria to Dorking via Horsham.......

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes, booked train lengths change all the time. There are planned to be many more formation changes following the May 2023 timetable change. There’s a thread on that with plenty of information.

 

[Capvermell]

Yes, booked train lengths change all the time. There are planned to be many more formation changes following the May 2023 timetable change. There’s a thread on that with plenty of information.

My point was that the booked train length of the 2325 victoria to horsham has been 4 carriages since sept 5th 2023 rather than 5 carriages, 8 carriages or 10 carriages purely in order to suit a night time platform stabling arrangement ready for the first services the following day. But the train length hasn't been adequate to meet passenger demand.

So my qestion was what process exists to force Southern to consider using a longer train on a service where its length appears inadequate to properly meet customer demand?

 

[Minstral25]

My point was that the booked train length of the 2325 victoria to horsham has been 4 carriages since sept 5th 2023 rather than 5 carriages, 8 carriages or 10 carriages purely in order to suit a night time platform stabling arrangement ready for the first services the following day. But the train length hasn't been adequate to meet passenger demand.

So my qestion was what process exists to force Southern to consider using a longer train on a service where its length appears inadequate to properly meet customer demand?

No-one can "force" them to change. However you should check in with your local Rail Users (or Transport Focus if you can't find one) and help them start a campaign on the subject. GTR have a very active stakeholder group and from my experience are happy to discuss issues like this to see what can be done to improve. Like all big organisations it takes a bit of persistence to get to those that can make changes, being polite and patient helps. (When I say patient it can take years)