Problems on Brighton Main line (11/06)

[Railcar]

This morning (Tuesday 11th June), a Thameslink 12-car was hurtling through stations on the West Croydon to Sutton line, presumably heading for Horsham via Epsom/Leatherhead. Was there a problem on the Thameslink route to Horsham via the Brighton Main Line that caused this divertioary route to be used?

 

[JonathanH]

This morning (Tuesday 11th June), a Thameslink 12-car was hurtling through stations on the West Croydon to Sutton line, presumably heading for Horsham via Epsom/Leatherhead. Was there a problem on the Thameslink route to Horsham via the Brighton Main Line that caused this divertioary route to be used?

Booked empty working from Cricklewood to Sutton, if this matches your times.

Realtime Trains | 5V90 0905 Cricklewood South Sidings to Sutton (Surrey) | 11/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5V90 0905 departure from Cricklewood South Sidings to Sutton (Surrey) on 11/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5V91 1033 Sutton (Surrey) to London Blackfriars | 11/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5V91 1033 departure from Sutton (Surrey) to London Blackfriars on 11/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[MrJeeves]

Booked empty working from Cricklewood to Sutton, if this matches your times.

One can only wonder why a train booked to run from Cricklewood, through London and down to Sutton to then immediately work back up to London, all as ECS...

I can only assume it's the lack of a path straight into London, surely?

 

[JonathanH]

One can only wonder why a train booked to run from Cricklewood, through London and down to Sutton to then immediately work back up to London, all as ECS...

I can only assume it's the lack of a path straight into London, surely?

Isn't it driver knowledge retention for the West Croydon route? There is a second trip from Blackfriars to Wimbledon and then back to Cricklewood.

 

[MrJeeves]

Isn't it driver knowledge retention for the West Croydon route? There is a second trip from Blackfriars to Wimbledon and then back to Cricklewood.

Ah yes, sorry.

There are actually 6 ECS runs per day via West Croydon, too. The more you learn!

 

[JonathanH]

5V90 0905 Cricklewood South Sidings to Sutton (Surrey) 1022
5V91 1033 Sutton (Surrey) to London Blackfriars 1114
5V92 1214 London Blackfriars to Wimbledon 1313
5V93 1321 Wimbledon to Cricklewood South Sidings 1455

First pair via Norbury and West Croydon, second pair via Crystal Palace and West Croydon.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

When I read the thread title, I thought of the phrase ‘predictive text’.
Trains at a stand currently at Burgess Hill. Power off.

⚠️Following reports of trespassers in the Burgess Hill area, no services are able to run between Haywards Heath and Brighton/Hove/Lewes until further notice

Thread on X/Twitter includes a passenger threatening to de-train themselves…

x.com

x.com

 

[MrJeeves]

Following reports of trespassers in the Burgess Hill area, no services are able to run

I promise it's not me!

 

[AlbertBeale]

Ah yes, sorry.

There are actually 6 ECS runs per day via West Croydon, too. The more you learn!

Any good reason why no part of these journeys could be run in passenger service?

 

[MrJeeves]

Any good reason why no part of these journeys could be run in passenger service?

Four of those six (I think only running this week as STP?) are all "runs as required" services rather than normal planned trains. I don't really see any reason to take passengers on an excursion through a diversionary route just for the sake of it, especially when they aren't in any way guaranteed to run.

5O10 (morning ECS) is also running as a variation this week only to take the route via West Croydon (WCY).
5V82 (night ECS) is booked to run via WCY regularly.

You could similarly ask "why does train X runs fast through station Y late at night?". I find myself asking that whenever I hear the last Thameslink of the night run fast from Haywards Heath to Brighton, or see a Thameslink run ECS from Brighton to Three Bridges when it could be helping out nightlife enjoyers who are residents near Brighton.

The answer is probably time, money and that ECS movements are less "guaranteed" than a passenger movement, and adding an additional late night service (especially last service of the day) could prove problematic for the operator and for passengers when it's suddenly removed for a possession or another reason.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Four of those six (I think only running this week as STP?) are all "runs as required" services rather than normal planned trains. I don't really see any reason to take passengers on an excursion through a diversionary route just for the sake of it, especially when they aren't in any way guaranteed to run.

5O10 (morning ECS) is also running as a variation this week only to take the route via West Croydon (WCY).
5V82 (night ECS) is booked to run via WCY regularly.

You could similarly ask "why does train X runs fast through station Y late at night?". I find myself asking that whenever I hear the last Thameslink of the night run fast from Haywards Heath to Brighton, or see a Thameslink run ECS from Brighton to Three Bridges when it could be helping out nightlife enjoyers who are residents near Brighton.

The answer is probably time, money and that ECS movements are less "guaranteed" than a passenger movement, and adding an additional late night service (especially last service of the day) could prove problematic for the operator and for passengers when it's suddenly removed for a possession or another reason.

Fair enough - though they needn't be in the public timetable, but just (when they do run) added to the system on the day to give passengers extra services for free if the extra stops don't cause a timing problem.

 

[MrJeeves]

Quite honestly they'd be rather useless for most people if you can only formulate your plans on the day of service!

 

[Surreytraveller]

It'll be an 8 car, not a 12