Govia get Thameslink Franchise

[hassaanhc]

May depend on what tie you were there. They Had FCC delay repay forms at 14.00 but not a 20.50 when the new stock of delay repay forms came in

I was there about 1545

 

[infobleep]

02:00 as currently the TSGN franchise doesn't exist until that time.

Well then shouldn't the FCC site close then too, as it currently existed as a franchise.

Out of interest, what happens to all existing queries and complaints, do the new franchise simply pick them up and current on. It's the same customer services staff. If so I guess they will need to insert a paragraph stating why replies are from the new franchise and not FCC otherwise passengers could be rather confused.

 

[infobleep]

[/B]

You contradicting yourself?

Sorry that should have read wouldn't. Predictive text typo.

 

[387star]

The Thameslink branding is more prominent than the great northern branding ( longer pink section underneath) however on the homepage it says welcome to great northern and thameslink in that order

 

[DelayRepay]

There's a reduced service running between towards Brighton today due to engineering works. But on their Live Running page it says everything is ok. This could cause some angry passengers!

 

[infobleep]

There's a reduced service running between towards Brighton today due to engineering works. But on their Live Running page it says everything is ok. This could cause some angry passengers!

Well technically every is OK if the buses are running as planned.

 

[swt_passenger]

Well then shouldn't the FCC site close then too, as it currently existed as a franchise.

Out of interest, what happens to all existing queries and complaints, do the new franchise simply pick them up and current on. It's the same customer services staff. If so I guess they will need to insert a paragraph stating why replies are from the new franchise and not FCC otherwise passengers could be rather confused.

FCC answer all this quite clearly on their website (homepage now amended). It reads that FCC will carry on dealing with queries and delay repay for tickets they have already sold.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk

 

[DelayRepay]

Well technically every is OK if the buses are running as planned.

On the Engineering Works page it says:

You can use the calendar to check for planned work and you’ll also find service changes highlighted in our live running section for Great Northern and Thameslink routes.

(The route names link to the Live Running pages)

So it's not really OK; buses will take longer and don't carry bikes so people need to know.

Hopefully this is just a first day teething problem and they'll start showing accurate information soon.
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FCC answer all this quite clearly on their website (homepage now amended). It reads that FCC will carry on dealing with queries and delay repay for tickets they have already sold.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk

Out of interest does this include pending prosecutions?

 

[FOH]

Well technically every is OK if the buses are running as planned.

I think it's a fault, if you look at Southern's website homepage they're showing a number of routes as "Part closure"

 

[swt_passenger]

Out of interest does this include pending prosecutions?

Probably just the same staff, using the previous letterhead for a while. Isn't First group centralised at Plymouth for this sort of thing anyway?

It happens every time a franchise changes hands though, I'm sure there'll be a fairly normal procedure for carrying on with extant cases, and I bet it won't be a reason for many (if any) cases to be dropped.

 

[21C101]

Rejoice, Rejoice. Thameslink has been liberated and is called Thameslink again.

 

[Manchester77]

Is there a train in full thameslink livery specially for the launch or has that not happened yet?

 

[user15681]

Is there a train in full thameslink livery specially for the launch or has that not happened yet?

Tomorrow.

 

[Alfie1014]

What goes around, comes around!

'nuff said!

 

[Manchester77]

Tomorrow.

So is today the unofficial launch with Thameslink and Great Northern being properly unveiled tomorrow? Would you be able to comment on whether we'll be seeing a 319 in the new livery or will they surprise us and use a 377/5 perhaps?

 

[Saint66]

So is today the unofficial launch with Thameslink and Great Northern being properly unveiled tomorrow? Would you be able to comment on whether we'll be seeing a 319 in the new livery or will they surprise us and use a 377/5 perhaps?

It was mentioned a few pages back (can't remember which page exactly, sorry) that it will not be a 319 taking part in the full launch.

 

[physics34]

It was mentioned a few pages back (can't remember which page exactly, sorry) that it will not be a 319 taking part in the full launch.

maybe a 365

 

[infobleep]

FCC answer all this quite clearly on their website (homepage now amended). It reads that FCC will carry on dealing with queries and delay repay for tickets they have already sold.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk

Were people with season tickets contacted to let them know a new company would be taking over their season tickets?

 

[infobleep]

Tomorrow.

I guess they want maximum press and 24 hour news coverage and they might not get that on a Sunday.

 

[Manchester77]

maybe a 365

Would make sense to use a 319 for Thameslink and a 365 for great northern

 

[Class377/5]

Well then shouldn't the FCC site close then too, as it currently existed as a franchise.

Out of interest, what happens to all existing queries and complaints, do the new franchise simply pick them up and current on. It's the same customer services staff. If so I guess they will need to insert a paragraph stating why replies are from the new franchise and not FCC otherwise passengers could be rather confused.

FCC as a franchise doesn't stop existing as it still has legal responsibility to sort out delay repay and issues that happened on the franchise prior to change over but its a small group who deal with it (and I think they are apart of GTR anyway with First paying).

So is today the unofficial launch with Thameslink and Great Northern being properly unveiled tomorrow? Would you be able to comment on whether we'll be seeing a 319 in the new livery or will they surprise us and use a 377/5 perhaps?

maybe a 365

319 for TL, 365 I *think* for GN. Big show is Monday morning.

 

[Saint66]

Where is the 'big show' taking place? Any specific stations?

 

[physics34]

I guess they want maximum press and 24 hour news coverage and they might not get that on a Sunday.

Got mentioned on Magic FMs news this morning which made me smile!

 

[Bishopstone]

Was that cut and pasted from Southern where there's likely to be a guard to check first class? Otherwise I can see this being a very abused feature!

No, there is no seat guarantee in first class on Southern. Ironically, the one TOC who I know provide such a guarantee (or the difference in fares refunded) is First Great Western.

I sometimes use a shoulder peak Thameslink service from East Croydon to City Thameslink, formed of 3x377, which is wedged throughout and often full in first class, too. The first class compartments might be in coaches 1, 8 and 12, and it would be a tall order to verify there were no seats in ANY of these, during a 60 second station stop!

 

[greatkingrat]

The Thameslink version implies that you get the full cost of the ticket refunded if first class is full, not just the difference.

 

[Bishopstone]

The Thameslink version implies that you get the full cost of the ticket refunded if first class is full, not just the difference.

I noticed that too, but I can't believe they'll be that generous. You might get Standard passengers buying First Class tickets, only to claim all of their travel costs back on a routine basis. I suspect it will be amended to 'difference in fares' pretty sharpish!

 

[londonboi]

So is today the unofficial launch with Thameslink and Great Northern being properly unveiled tomorrow? Would you be able to comment on whether we'll be seeing a 319 in the new livery or will they surprise us and use a 377/5 perhaps?

I was at wimbledon during the week and saw one of the 319's in the new livery was the offwhite with the blue doors etc. I must admit i do quite like the new livery looks more fresh

 

[Manchester77]

I was at wimbledon during the week and saw one of the 319's in the new livery was the offwhite with the blue doors etc. I must admit i do quite like the new livery looks more fresh

That's the livery the 319s have been getting when they've come back from Wolverton it's the DfT specified neutral livery

 

[jon0844]

With people already upgrading themselves to first class, and there being first class compartments in different sections of the train (and on 319s no way to walk through) how would people claim? I bet they'd have such a claim refused if they couldn't prove they checked each and every one. In fact, on DOO stock this offer simply cannot work. GTR will either weasel out of claims, or will end up paying out refunds to people trying it on.

 

[Abpj17]

I noticed that too, but I can't believe they'll be that generous. You might get Standard passengers buying First Class tickets, only to claim all of their travel costs back on a routine basis. I suspect it will be amended to 'difference in fares' pretty sharpish!

A longer version of the text in the charter makes clear it is just the difference that is refunded

Sometimes we may be unable to provide First Class accommodation as advertised in our timetable. If you hold a First Class ticket and the train you travel on does not have First Class accommodation as indicated in our current timetable, we will refund the difference between the Standard and First Class fares for the journey affected.