12 car train milestone for FCC TL passengers

[Aictos]

**** Public 12 car train – Sunday 9th October ****

This Sunday will see FCC running the first 12 car train on the Thameslink route in public service. *

1T55 17:50 Bedford to Brighton calling at;

Luton (18:14)
Luton Airport Parkway (18:16)
Harpenden (18:22)
St Albans (18:28)
St Pancras International (18:55)
London Bridge (19:12)
East Croydon (19:28)
Gatwick Airport (19:50)
Three Bridges (19:54)
Haywards Heath (20:03)
Burgess Hill (20:08)
Hassocks (20:12)
Preston Park (20:18)
Brighton (20:22)

1T62 20:44 Brighton to Bedford calling at;

Preston Park (20:47)
Hassocks (20:52)
Burgess Hill (20:56)
Haywards Heath (21:01)
Three Bridges (21:10)
Gatwick Airport (21:15)
East Croydon (21:32)
London Bridge (21:46)
St Pancras International (22:02)
St Albans (22:26),
Harpenden (22:32)
Luton Airport Parkway (22:38)
Luton (22:41) B
Bedford (23:09)

The service will be formed of 377 units.

Note this train will not call at Farringdon, City Thameslink or Blackfriars in the Core in either direction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Such a milestone and no comments, very disappointed

 

[AlterEgo]

I was under the impression that this had already happened months ago!

 

[brad465]

Feel inclined to go see that now

 

[Firestarter]

Any reason why it's not calling at Flitwick, Harlington and Leagrave stations?

 

[DavidBusDriver]

If it isn't calling at a station, it means that the station is not 12-car ready yet Flitwick and Harlington are still receiving platform extension works, and Leagrave is awaiting commissioning of the 12-car platforms there.

Hope that helps some

 

[Aictos]

I was under the impression that this had already happened months ago!

Yes but not in public service, as my post states above this is the first time such a formation has ran in public service.

The reason it does not stop at certain stations is because these stations are not yet ready for 12 car trains.

Thought it might interest some as it's the first working before the regular workings in December.

 

[merlodlliw]

**** Public 12 car train – Sunday 9th October ****

This Sunday will see FCC running the first 12 car train on the Thameslink route in public service. *

1T55 17:50 Bedford to Brighton calling at;

Luton (18:14)
Luton Airport Parkway (18:16)
Harpenden (18:22)
St Albans (18:28)
St Pancras International (18:55)
London Bridge (19:12)
East Croydon (19:28)
Gatwick Airport (19:50)
Three Bridges (19:54)
Haywards Heath (20:03)
Burgess Hill (20:08)
Hassocks (20:12)
Preston Park (20:18)
Brighton (20:22)

1T62 20:44 Brighton to Bedford calling at;

Preston Park (20:47)
Hassocks (20:52)
Burgess Hill (20:56)
Haywards Heath (21:01)
Three Bridges (21:10)
Gatwick Airport (21:15)
East Croydon (21:32)
London Bridge (21:46)
St Pancras International (22:02)
St Albans (22:26),
Harpenden (22:32)
Luton Airport Parkway (22:38)
Luton (22:41) B
Bedford (23:09)

The service will be formed of 377 units.

Note this train will not call at Farringdon, City Thameslink or Blackfriars in the Core in either direction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Such a milestone and no comments, very disappointed

Ah Farringdon,(all downstairs) used to use this station to get to meetings in Hatton Garden area a few years ago,underground to/from Kingsx/St Pancras,never used the Thameslink at at KingsX in those days. Presume the platforms at Farringdonare too short. Strange 3 letter prefix for Farringdon ZFD

 

[Blindtraveler]

Ah Farringdon,(all downstairs) used to use this station to get to meetings in Hatton Garden area a few years ago,underground to/from Kingsx/St Pancras,never used the Thameslink at at KingsX in those days. Presume the platforms at Farringdonare too short. Strange 3 letter prefix for Farringdon ZFD

i thought that too!

Back O/T, anybody intend bashing it in iether direction? If so keep us updated as to how it goes. Is the 377 stock of that build gangwayed?

 

[MCR247]

Yes. Tbh thought I expect them to fail

 

[Aictos]

Ah Farringdon,(all downstairs) used to use this station to get to meetings in Hatton Garden area a few years ago,underground to/from Kingsx/St Pancras,never used the Thameslink at at KingsX in those days. Presume the platforms at Farringdonare too short. Strange 3 letter prefix for Farringdon ZFD

Farringdon, Moorgate and Barbian are managed by London Underground hence the Z in the station code - Farringdon is currently having platforms extended to take 12 car trains that is why it won't be stopping there, it's not stopping at City Thameslink as even though I believe the platforms are 12 car ready, there is still some work to be done before 12 car trains can stop there.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Ah Farringdon,(all downstairs) used to use this station to get to meetings in Hatton Garden area a few years ago,underground to/from Kingsx/St Pancras,never used the Thameslink at at KingsX in those days. Presume the platforms at Farringdonare too short. Strange 3 letter prefix for Farringdon ZFD

The platforms at Farringdon will be 12-cars; I thought they already were. They had to close the Moorgate TL branch in order to be able to, the line is too steep at the northern end to build that way.

ZFD is down to the fact that 'Z' indicates that it is managed by LUL (see ZCW - Canada Water on the ELL).

 

[Aictos]

The platforms at Farringdon will be 12-cars; I thought they already were. They had to close the Moorgate TL branch in order to be able to, the line is too steep at the northern end to build that way.

ZFD is down to the fact that 'Z' indicates that it is managed by LUL (see ZCW - Canada Water on the ELL).

The existing platforms at Farringdon were only able to take 8 car trains especially with the Moorgate Junction at one end of the station and the steep gradient at the other end which is why the Junction has been lifted for the platforms to be extended.

I still would have liked the Wimbledon services to terminate at Moorgate instead of Blackfriars using the old curve at Smithfield heading towards Moorgate but that's never to happen.

 

[Bedpan]

Yes, it would have provided a direct route into the city for Wimbledon loop passengers, and a direct route from Moorgate to Blackfriars without having to go round the east side of the Circle Line. Would possibly have taken some pressure off Farringdon too, in terms of passengers interchanging.

City Thameslink is closed on Sundays, always was before the weekend closures of the cross London section came into force.

 

[Firestarter]

Farringdon, Moorgate and Barbian are managed by London Underground hence the Z in the station code - Farringdon is currently having platforms extended to take 12 car trains that is why it won't be stopping there, it's not stopping at City Thameslink as even though I believe the platforms are 12 car ready, there is still some work to be done before 12 car trains can stop there.

ZFD is down to the fact that 'Z' indicates that it is managed by LUL (see ZCW - Canada Water on the ELL).

How come Kentish Town (KTN) doesn't have Z in the station code?

 

[brad465]

I'm going up to see and ride on the train between St Pancras and London Bridge . Is anyone else going up???

 

[jopsuk]

How come Kentish Town (KTN) doesn't have Z in the station code?

It seems to have two codes- KTN and ZKT.

 

[Firestarter]

I guess the rumors about one of St Pancras's platforms not being long enough will finally be answered either way.

 

[MCR247]

Looks like it left Bedford 12 down and is running 4 down ATM

 

[MikeWh]

I'm going up to see and ride on the train between St Pancras and London Bridge . Is anyone else going up???

Brad is en-route to STP. I'll let him know if anyone else is around if you post here.

 

[swt_passenger]

How come Kentish Town (KTN) doesn't have Z in the station code?

Historically there seems to have been differences in designation depending on whether NR used platforms alongside LU ones - ie to all intents the three examples above were and still are the same station.

Kentish Town possibly wasn't considered 'one physical station' even though they now presumably have a common gateline?

There are also stations where LU essentially share an NR station, eg Wimbledon and Richmond, and there is no Z code involved.

 

[Aictos]

Looks like it left Bedford 12 down and is running 4 down ATM

Yes due to a train fault but has arrived at Gatwick 5 minutes early

 

[MikeWh]

Yes due to a train fault but has arrived at Gatwick 5 minutes early

Looking at Live Departures it looked like it left St Pancras early, but brad assures me it was actually nearly a minute late because of trouble with the rear doors. This makes me wonder whether the front of the train triggered the departure report because it was so long.

 

[causton]

Looking at Live Departures it looked like it left St Pancras early, but brad assures me it was actually nearly a minute late because of trouble with the rear doors. This makes me wonder whether the front of the train triggered the departure report because it was so long.

Hopefully not - if the station starter was on, it would be a SPAD as presumably the departure report is just sent by the signalling blocks!

Interesting FCC 'cancelled' stops 'due to a train fault' -- wouldn't that affect performance figures? Perhaps it was just to keep people away from the train

 

[Firestarter]

Hopefully not - if the station starter was on, it would be a SPAD as presumably the departure report is just sent by the signalling blocks!

Interesting FCC 'cancelled' stops 'due to a train fault' -- wouldn't that affect performance figures? Perhaps it was just to keep people away from the train

Apart from farringdon, which it was never due to stop at which other stations was it cancelled from?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

 

[brad465]

Apart from farringdon, which it was never due to stop at which other stations was it cancelled from?

The train stopped at Farringdon, but didn't alight any passengers (presumably so the pantograph/3rd rail switch could occur more easily, and/or a red signal was in the way.

City Thameslink is closed on Sundays, always was before the weekend closures of the cross London section came into force.

As I went through the station for some reason the lights were on and the exit open, even though nothing was stopping. Does anyone know why? :-?

There were also a couple of people talking about the train as I got on at St Pancras, and some photo takers on the platforms at Farringdon, but none of them looked familiar, so I've no idea if anyone around the area at the time was from RailUK.

I hope to put a couple of photos taken of the train at London Bridge after getting off ASAP.

 

[Firestarter]

LOL looks like the train planners were more concerned with their 12 car train that they forget that people live in places like Radlett, Mill Hill etc. Stop orders have been put on the trains that start from Streatham to call all stations between St Pancras and St Albans.

 

[Blindtraveler]

how is it doing on its way home?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Shown as cancelled from London Bridge...

 

[causton]

Shown as cancelled from London Bridge...

No it's not - it's just the exact same stations that were cancelled on the out leg are cancelled on the return leg as well... but it's still going to Bedford! I thought it as well as it looks a lot of them are marked 'cancelled' but some aren't...

Cancelled stations are:
Blackfriars
Farringdon
West Hampstead
Hendon
Leagrave
Harlington
Flitwick

But after London Bridge it still calls at:
St Pancras
St Albans
Harpenden
Luton Airport Pkwy
Luton
Bedford

 

[Bedpan]

I wonder when the last time was that you could travel from Bedford to Brighton on a Sunday without changing. Normally, on the occasionsl Sundays that they run through London, they terminate at Haywards Heath or Three Bridges due to engineering woirks on the Brighton line.