Brighton line this week during overtime ban

[ar10642]

Has anyone been on the Brighton main line this week? My usual Cambridge direct services are not running from Haywards Heath and it looks like I'll have to get onto a Southern service and change at East Croydon to get there at peak time. Are these really busy or are people staying at home?

 

[ThameslinkUser]

They're all rammed.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

GTR, in their infinite wisdom, have decided the best time to short form every single service is when they're operating a 30% of their timetable with no compensatory schemes to discourage unnecessary travel.

 

[ar10642]

GTR, in their infinite wisdom, have decided the best time to short form every single service is when they're operating a 30% of their timetable with no compensatory schemes to discourage unnecessary travel.

They are short-forming Thameslinks?

 

[Sussex Ben]

The Victoria to Brighton services look like a mixture of 12 and 8 cars (including some 8s in the peak), when really they should be 12s all day.

I've been able to avoid the morning crowds by heading in early on my commute to London Bridge, but not looking forward to the journey home later. In all likelihood, I'll probably head over to Victoria (at my own cost) as at least with trains starting there I should be able to board early enough for a seat...

 

[ThameslinkUser]

They are short-forming Thameslinks?

8 cars on the Southern 1A services which are taking the brunt of 2 1Hs, 1 1F and the usual Brighton - Victoria services for each hour, leading to severe overcrowding and people being forced onto the 9T services which are already rammed because of the lack of 9S services.

 

[ar10642]

8 cars on the Southern 1A services which are taking the brunt of 2 1Hs, 1 1F and the usual Brighton - Victoria services for each hour, leading to severe overcrowding and people being forced onto the 9T services which are already rammed because of the lack of 9S services.

Lovely stuff. Looks like I'm standing until London at least then. From the local FB group it does look like it's at least possible to board the TLs at Haywards Heath, but apparently people being left behind at East Croydon.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

If you physically cannot board a train, just think of it as God telling you to pay a visit to the Waitrose Wine Bar

 

[ar10642]

If you physically cannot board a train, just think of it as God telling you to pay a visit to the Waitrose Wine Bar

I like a drink but 07:19 is a bit early for me

 

[Jan Mayen]

Yesterday, with a later start than usual, I choose to stand on the 0901 Thameslink until Gatwick, when I got a pair of seats to myself as far as East Croydon.
Let a couple of Victoria trains go, then got the 0948 from East Grinstead. Only four people in the rear coach

 

[ar10642]

I managed to get on the 07:19 and even got a seat, but by East Croydon every carriage was showing as orange and "full" on the train loading indicator for all 12 carriages. Safe to say people are heading back to the office.