GTR sent
Their website says this:
gtrailway.com
When GTR first took over the franchise, their staff on on the Gatwick Express route used to deny that the trains were "Thameslink services", deny that the trains were "operated by Govia Thameslink Railway" and deny that the company was "Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd"; they went to great efforts to lie to passengers in order to justify the charging of premium fares.
Some GTR staff used to go to all sorts of elaborate efforts to deny this, for example by claiming that GTR was an "umbrella company" and that each of the brands was a separate company in it's own right; other staff claimed that each of the brands was a "company for the purpose of ticketing" (whatever that means).
But now, there is no such denial, and I believe that such arguments appear to have been discontinued, and staff now freely admit that it's all one company, as confirmed on the GTR website.
Any passenger using a "Thameslink Only" ticket can use the GX service with more confidence that staff won't make up all sorts of bogus claims how GX is a "company" or "operator" any more.
If anyone is incorrectly charged a new fare, excess fare or penalty fare when using such a ticket, they are absolutely entitled to argue that the ticket is valid, as it's restricted to the company that is indeed operating the service and - if wrongly charged - is absolutely entitled to a full refund and should lodge a formal complaint.
I am aware of forum members who have used Thameslink Only tickets on GX branded services many times without charge, though I understand a very small number of staff do continue to argue such tickets are not valid. Any evidence of wrongdoing should be properly logged, and documented, and formal complaints lodged as appropriate, as this could prove useful in the ongoing legal case against GTR.
Their website says this:
Home - GTR
GTR is the UK’s largest railway franchise, operating Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express
gtrailway.com
When GTR first took over the franchise, their staff on on the Gatwick Express route used to deny that the trains were "Thameslink services", deny that the trains were "operated by Govia Thameslink Railway" and deny that the company was "Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd"; they went to great efforts to lie to passengers in order to justify the charging of premium fares.
Some GTR staff used to go to all sorts of elaborate efforts to deny this, for example by claiming that GTR was an "umbrella company" and that each of the brands was a separate company in it's own right; other staff claimed that each of the brands was a "company for the purpose of ticketing" (whatever that means).
But now, there is no such denial, and I believe that such arguments appear to have been discontinued, and staff now freely admit that it's all one company, as confirmed on the GTR website.
Any passenger using a "Thameslink Only" ticket can use the GX service with more confidence that staff won't make up all sorts of bogus claims how GX is a "company" or "operator" any more.
If anyone is incorrectly charged a new fare, excess fare or penalty fare when using such a ticket, they are absolutely entitled to argue that the ticket is valid, as it's restricted to the company that is indeed operating the service and - if wrongly charged - is absolutely entitled to a full refund and should lodge a formal complaint.
I am aware of forum members who have used Thameslink Only tickets on GX branded services many times without charge, though I understand a very small number of staff do continue to argue such tickets are not valid. Any evidence of wrongdoing should be properly logged, and documented, and formal complaints lodged as appropriate, as this could prove useful in the ongoing legal case against GTR.
