They might be run by 377s but most (if not all) of these don't look to increase the unit requirement.
A few other changes on Southeastern from December 2025 include:
Looks like the new service from Swanley runs empty from Gillingham to start there, like the current one does. I'm guessing it has to start there as this is the beginning of DOO. Having a further look on RTT, unless there's some stuff in there already, it merges with the 05:34 from Orpington and both run together on the 06:33 to Gravesend.
That could be an interesting enthusiast experience.
I could swear in a previous timetable there used to be some non-stop Hayes - London Bridge (then onwards to either Charing Cross or Cannon Street) services in the evening peaks which were glorified ECS services (basically one or two peak time extras to Hayes running in passenger service back towards London where the units could form another service)
There are still some unadvertised fast runs between Hayes and Lewisham at the end of service, so the trains in question can be shut down before running to a depot (Hayes has issues with staffing and late night safety). In a similar neck of the woods, the Beckenham Jct-Blackfriars' services run fast between the two in the contra-peak flow direction, given the units involved do 2-3 complete circuits each peak, which would make repeated train shut downs ahead of ECS moves an unnecessary hassle.
It does always strike me as odd that thameslink and the peak Charing Cross - Gillingham via Dartford services can run DOO through the medway towns to Gillingham & Rainham but Southeastern require a guard on the mainline Victoria services through the medway towns.
Indeed there absolutely were.
Is the benefit of running these trains non stop and with pathing time that in the event of disruption they can recover delay so as not to transmit that delay between earlier and later trains?
Are these the ones that are due to be worked by 170s?
I havent heard that one, I don't think this is true just on the basis of it would be very limited for drivers from the Leeds with only approx 1/3 of drivers who sign Sheffield also signing 170s
Not checked the whole thread but Duddeston is moving off the Four Oaks and onto the Lichfield services (although I guess start and end of service might be different)
That is the plan for later in 2026 apparently.
I don't see how they'd operate it with 170s. It often seems like they don't have enough to operate the services they do already. Also, what would cascade them down, and from where? They are based at Hull, so the Sheffield-Scarborough services wouldn't change. And the Harrogate loop is certainly too busy for sprinters all day, especially at the Leeds end.
Having had my ear to the ground today it turns out the plan is for 170s and now panic has set in because of the reasons above so a rethink is possibly on the cards for traction or carefully written driver diagrams
I'm wondering where they will find two DMUs of any description, especially if the number of class 150 diagrams is being reduced, as mentioned in another thread.
