Class 465/466 return to the Victoria - Ashford services

[Class 466]

Doing some recon on RailChecker, there are definitely still 465/466s on this route, it seems to be same regular ones as before, but now also a couple of morning peak services into Charing X are formed of these (although the 06:44 MDE-CHX appeared to be a last minute change), and the 16:59 CHX-AFK is also. Many of them also appeared to be 4 car rather than 6, so I wonder if any overcrowding problems arose?

I also discovered there is now a CST-AFK diagram that is a 6-car set that runs via Tonbridge, which must be the first time since pre-covid that a Networker set has done this route in full (there was a Saturday morning SEV-AFK diagram that was 2x465 until May 2022).

That Cannon Street to Ashford service should be an 8 car 377 - you know how reliable they are at this point!

There’s a number of Monday & Friday only destrengthenings in this timetable - most of the 4 cars are because of that.

 

[brad465]

That Cannon Street to Ashford service should be an 8 car 377 - you know how reliable they are at this point!

Do you know how often that particular diagram swaps formation? There are a few dates this month I could give it a ride were it to be Networker formed.

On another note, I notice engineering works cutting off access to Ramsgate depot led to an abundance of Networker diagrams on Chatham mainline services today between Victoria and Margate (plus the two usual Dover allocations).

 

[Timmyd]

One interesting development and possibly related is that one of the Beckenham Junction to Blackfriars morning circuits has switched to a 376 with the new timetable. Almost certain they have never been diagrammed on the line through Penge and Herne Hill, or indeed into Blackfriars (or Blk Friars as the destination screen showed this morning!)

 

[brad465]

Have 465 diagrams to/from Dover Priory on Sundays now ceased? I didn't see any when I was heading to/from Margate and on Rail Checker it looks like 375/377s did them all.

 

[CFRAIL]

Have 465 diagrams to/from Dover Priory on Sundays now ceased? I didn't see any when I was heading to/from Margate and on Rail Checker it looks like 375/377s did them all.

I worked Sunday 18th Aug and again Sunday 1st Sept and I didn't notice any 465 workings to DVP. Potentially it'll change now that the seaside specials have finished... Or maybe they're just preparing us for the December change...

 

[brad465]

With the 377s coming over this will once again become a route no Networkers normally use, presumably by May 2025, but is it known if they will remain on the route from the December change?

 

[Class 466]

With the 377s coming over this will once again become a route no Networkers normally use, presumably by May 2025, but is it known if they will remain on the route from the December change?

Yes, only 2 377s will be at SE by December so most 465 diagrams remain.

 

[brad465]

Yes, only 2 377s will be at SE by December so most 465 diagrams remain.

Thank you for confirming, will it mostly be the same diagrams as now? There is a section in the Frequently Requested Diagrams' thread about this route which would need updating.