FCC Thameslink

[David Sinnett]

Given the weather conditions over the past week and almost no snow between Bedford and London, should FCC TL be capable of running a full service on half their network? What are the sticky points?
Given only two platforms at StP could you turn a train round in only a couple of minutes? Rotate the drivers so as soon as the train pulls in its ready to go out the opposite way.
Keeps the signallers on their toes.

 

[hawkeye]

Friday they were running the trains into one platform, then out of the other, presumably turning them in the tunnel towards Farringdon. They were also using upstairs as well so that's an extra platform or two.

So why such a naff service today???? Even the driver on my train said 'Oh dear heres some more snow' as well went over Staples Corner. Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence.

 

[Aictos]

Given the weather conditions over the past week and almost no snow between Bedford and London, should FCC TL be capable of running a full service on half their network? What are the sticky points?
Given only two platforms at StP could you turn a train round in only a couple of minutes? Rotate the drivers so as soon as the train pulls in its ready to go out the opposite way.
Keeps the signallers on their toes.

One thing you do need to consider is the fact that trains on both parts of the TL route have been stranded by the weather which means FCC is limited to running what it can with the remaining resources.

 

[David Sinnett]

Yeh, the FCC website says the same though they blame the delay of unit repatriation on the engineering works over the weekend. Pretty amazing really considering trains were out and about all over the country throughout the weekend.

 

[Aictos]

Not really, FCC units like any other operator is diagrammed for maintenance regularly and unlike other operators who either terminate north of the Thames or south of the Thames, FCC is the main north - south operator via London (I do not count Southern's Milton Keynes services as they are not as regular as the Thameslink frequency), they can easily get their units home.

FCC was prevented by doing so thanks to two reasons, 1. The Thameslink Programme engineering and 2. The weather together this prevented the FCC units from being where they were supposed to be.

 

[Class377/5]

Yeh, the FCC website says the same though they blame the delay of unit repatriation on the engineering works over the weekend. Pretty amazing really considering trains were out and about all over the country throughout the weekend.

Some units got stranded all over the Brighton mainline and it has taken days to get the units back (not all were working and in a position to get back before the weekend plus the units SE had). It was a case of push back the opening of Blackfriars or have a really bad day today. They opted for the best opition in the long run.

 

[thelem]

If the problem was too many units south of the river, then why did they need to run a special timetable south of the river? Surely they could have cancelled/short formed some of the earlier Bedford departures and made sure all Brighton departures were 8 coaches. Then within two or three hours I'd have thought most trains would be where they needed to be.

 

[Class377/5]

If the problem was too many units south of the river, then why did they need to run a special timetable south of the river? Surely they could have cancelled/short formed some of the earlier Bedford departures and made sure all Brighton departures were 8 coaches. Then within two or three hours I'd have thought most trains would be where they needed to be.

Case of some of them couldn't be accessed till friday then trying to get them back before 2200 wasn't possible especially if they required short term fixes.

Also SE was using the 319's to cover for its own shortages, meaning futher strain on the fleet. Out of a fleet of 109 something like 20% was out of place with another 15-20% recieving repairs.

Stock which should of returned wednesday night didnt do so its not just your planned stock moves but large volumes of stock in the wrong place.

 

[David Sinnett]

What surprises, and in some way disappoints, is that FCC, and probably other TOCs, look at their lines singularly. What I'm getting at is that if FCCs units were out of the snow over the weekend they could have been returned north by other routes during the weekend ready for their own customers on Monday morning. Ok, theres more trouble and cost but any business needs to have the product ready for the customer. Luckily for FCC, many of its customers don't have a choice.

 

[Class377/5]

What surprises, and in some way disappoints, is that FCC, and probably other TOCs, look at their lines singularly. What I'm getting at is that if FCCs units were out of the snow over the weekend they could have been returned north by other routes during the weekend ready for their own customers on Monday morning. Ok, theres more trouble and cost but any business needs to have the product ready for the customer. Luckily for FCC, many of its customers don't have a choice.

Simply put as above they CAN'T travel back at the weekend. As already stated the Core was closed to FCC for engineering works so trains were trapped south of the river and these units need to go north for a proper check.

It exposes the one major weakness of the Thameslink route. One proper depot at Bedford and sidings elsewhere. Having the new depot at Three Bridges is designed to stop stuff like this from happening.

 

[Tomnick]

Simply put as above they CAN'T travel back at the weekend. As already stated the Core was closed to FCC for engineering works so trains were trapped south of the river and these units need to go north for a proper check.

It exposes the one major weakness of the Thameslink route. One proper depot at Bedford and sidings elsewhere. Having the new depot at Three Bridges is designed to stop stuff like this from happening.

Added to that (particularly in reference to the other routes part of the previous post!), there isn't an electrified alternative to the route through the City - hence the convoluted route required to transfer units from Cricklewood to Hornsey under their own power. Dragging a meaningful number of units back from the Southern would require a fair few diesel locos and Drivers, which I'm guessing would have been better employed on recovering stranded units even if they were available!