Strike-hit commuters to hire own train?

[D1009]

I wonder whether this has anything to do with the Belmond British Pullman being used for a "commuter" service from Ashford recently?

 

[tsr]

I wonder whether this has anything to do with the Belmond British Pullman being used for a "commuter" service from Ashford recently?

I wouldn't be surprised, though the local users' association is already well aware of the existence of charter trains in general - they are a regular enough sight at Redhill and Reigate in particular. In a roundabout sort of way, I must confess that I tried my best to highlight this aspect of the local railway scene to some of their "commuter" members a few years ago, who had previously not really paid any attention to it - this may now have had "interesting" results...

 

[J-2739]

Given the compensation they must be due from southern....and if it's a choice between that and losing your job?

I think it would be great

I assume if you book a charter every day...there would be a discount for extended use / certainty in advance.

Lack of pathways isn't a credible reason if it's when there is a strike -_- and as others have said, there are significant cancellations in any case.

of my 8 or so rush hour trains on Thameslink over a month:
- 3 had no cancellations
- 2 had 5% cancellations
- 1 had 10% cancellation
- 1 had 20% cancellation
- 1 had 25% cancellation
The 3 most prone to cancellation are most subject to delays too with only 35%, 50% and 55% of train arriving within 5 mins of timetable.

That makes sense, on the cost part.

It could still be difficult. What if the charter trains don't keep up with the current paths because of lower acceleration? Will there be sufficient capacity to hold all the peak commuters?

But as long there is a train for them, then ok...

Now wouldn't that be a swell marketing gimmick that was had recently....

But what if these oh so gullible commuters start seeing this as a regular thing, and later expect "them new trains in the future to have this high quality service with a Cherry and all that?" They'll be disappointed!!

Perhaps not...