Ashford/Maidstone East-Cambridge dead?

[387star]

Surely Coronavirus is the nail in the coffin for the Thameslink Ashford to Cambridge direct service?

Given over the last few years Thameslink has had trainees waiting over two years to qualify and a complete mess of driver training in general it seems like this service never stood a chance. Perhaps the Ashford depot will become a Southeastern depot although the drivers at Thameslink earn a lot more! I believe currently they pass to Sevenoaks to work metro services

This would leave eight car 700s wasting away on Kings Cross to Cambridge workings. Perhaps Southeastern can have them to join the 707svwith 365s reintroduced

 

[4-SUB 4732]

I question if it was ever going to run.

Now to work out what to do with the expensive Ashford drivers doing nothing!

 

[bramling]

Surely Coronavirus is the nail in the coffin for the Thameslink Ashford to Cambridge direct service?

Given over the last few years Thameslink has had trainees waiting over two years to qualify and a complete mess of driver training in general it seems like this service never stood a chance. Perhaps the Ashford depot will become a Southeastern depot although the drivers at Thameslink earn a lot more! I believe currently they pass to Sevenoaks to work metro services

This would leave eight car 700s wasting away on Kings Cross to Cambridge workings. Perhaps Southeastern can have them to join the 707svwith 365s reintroduced

The only snag is that reintroducing the 365s will mean either 365s getting SDO, or four platforms having to be extended.

Having said that, it’s something I’d welcome.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

The only snag is that reintroducing the 365s will mean either 365s getting SDO, or four platforms having to be extended.

Having said that, it’s something I’d welcome.

Or you take advantage of the extended platforms and stick them back on the Lynn line where people actually want them; putting 387s with their inferior layout back onto stopping work. Now there’s a fine thought...

 

[Ianno87]

Or you take advantage of the extended platforms and stick them back on the Lynn line where people actually want them; putting 387s with their inferior layout back onto stopping work. Now there’s a fine thought...

387s are definitely preferred on the Fasts by most. Air conditioning, decent tables, etc.

 

[CBlue]

387s are definitely preferred on the Fasts by most. Air conditioning, decent tables, etc.

387's are fine apart from the seats!

I think it was mentioned on here before that the DC gear on the 365s ws binned not long after removal.

If Thameslink don't need all their rolling stock then Southeastern certainly won't need a microfleet of 8 700s, either. The two classes are different enough that multiple working might not be possible without modification?

 

[squizzler]

With an economy and therefore travel patterns likely to remain dispersed from London in future, and people unwilling to make cross-city tube transfers, I think single seat options are likely to flourish. Far from being a "nail in the coffin" of such ideas, I think we will see more of them.