Could third rail electrification avoid the requirement for GWR 769s?

[Nick Ashwell]

Adding to this, In the event the route is actually electrified, would it be worthwhile to split the service at Guilford, passing the western section to South Western railway for a Guilford to Reading service and the east section to Southern for a London bridge to Guilford service?

I don’t see how that benefits anyone.

From the West, the Reading to Gatwick service is a godsend and removing it is going to just annoy people who rely on it for work or leisure flights

 

[MarkyT]

I don’t see how that benefits anyone.

From the West, the Reading to Gatwick service is a godsend and removing it is going to just annoy people who rely on it for work or leisure flights

Along with the inconvenience, splitting the service at Guildford, with a sensible layover for each train reversing, would also occupy platforms at this capacity-constrained station for more time in total than the trains running through.

 

[73128]

Adding to this, In the event the route is actually electrified, would it be worthwhile to split the service at Guilford, passing the western section to South Western railway for a Guilford to Reading service and the east section to Southern for a London bridge to Guilford service?

For the stopping services possibly, but not for the Reading to Gatwick semi-fasts.