Thameslink late night stop at City Thameslink

[ctom_s]

Hi,

I'm currently on a late night service from Gatwick, the train unexpectedly stopped at Selhurst which I suggested was a staff stop since the depot was there and RTT seems to back that up.

However I also see that it's due to stop at City Thameslink, does anyone know why that might be especially given it's a Sunday? Maybe to switch the panto? But then would that be marked on RTT as a calling point surely not right?

I'm due to leave the train at Blackfriars so won't see what happens. It was the 2351 from Gatwick to West Hampstead TL on 4/12 (today, or technically yesterday now).

Thanks in advance.

 

[BJames]

I have certainly been on a Thameslink train calling at City Thameslink out of hours to change pantograph before. Doors do not open and the station is closed. Doesn't always happen - a quick look at Real Time Trains for yesterday (4th) suggests this happens in the Northbound direction only? - someone else will no doubt be able to confirm or correct this. Looking at the advanced view on RTT it is shown on WTT but not GBTT.

 

[Fred26]

The traction current changes there.

 

[357]

Northbound traction changeover. Southbound is done at Farringdon I believe.

@Twotwo might be able to confirm

 

[ctom_s]

I thought the Thameslink trains could do the traction changeover on the fly these days and didn't need to stop anywhere which is why I'd dismissed this idea...

But yes it is correct that in normal stopping patterns northbound trains swap at CT and southbound at Farringdon.

 

[Twotwo]

Unfortunately not as I'm on the GN side!

 

[LA50041]

Hi,

I'm currently on a late night service from Gatwick, the train unexpectedly stopped at Selhurst which I suggested was a staff stop since the depot was there and RTT seems to back that up.

However I also see that it's due to stop at City Thameslink, does anyone know why that might be especially given it's a Sunday? Maybe to switch the panto? But then would that be marked on RTT as a calling point surely not right?

I'm due to leave the train at Blackfriars so won't see what happens. It was the 2351 from Gatwick to West Hampstead TL on 4/12 (today, or technically yesterday now).

Thanks in advance.

Looks like someone didn’t suppress the stops. They should have been unadvertised “stops for operational reasons”

Northbound traction changeover. Southbound is done at Farringdon I believe.

@Twotwo might be able to confirm

I’m not Twotwo but yes those are the traction changeover points in the core

 

[ctom_s]

To confirm neither Selhurst or CT were listed as calling points by the train itself or on the platforms, just they both were on RTT. Selhurst was listed as "staffing" (or similar) on RTT but CT said nothing.

My mistake was to assume that a traction change would not be listed on RTT as a calling point so there must be another reason, but it seems that is indeed the case from the replies.