Thameslink schedule question

[axlrosen]

Apologies for a very specific question. I'm trying to figure out the frequency of trains from West Hampstead to central London (for example, King's Cross). How many TPH now, and how many when the Thameslink Programme is all done? I tried figuring it out myself from the schedule but I couldn't...

Alex

 

[700007]

Hey, don't worry.

If I am right, at the moment it is:
2 trains an hour to Three Bridges
4 trains an hour to Sutton of which;
2 are via Wimbledon
2 are via Mitcham Junction
2 trains an hour to Sevenoaks

That creates an 8tph service at present.

In the new timetable it should be:
2 trains an hour to Gatwick Airport
4 trains an hour to Sutton;
2 are via Wimbledon
2 are via Mitcham Junction
2 trains an hour to Orpington via Crofton Park (does this service start here or Kentish Town?)
2 trains an hour to Rainham Kent via Greenwich

If the service is from West Hampstead, then that boosts to 10tph, if not then it stays at 8tph.

The current Sevenoaks via Crofton Park service will terminate at London Blackfriars from 20th May with the intention of extending it to Welwyn Garden City at selected times from 2019.

 

[telstarbox]

2 tph Orpington <> Kentish Town:

https://traintimes.org.uk/ktn/orp/1000/2july

 

[cle]

I think Orpington is Kentish Town, except for the peaks when it is Luton/St Albans. Was not aware about the Sevenoaks service - I thought it would continue through the core the whole time...a shame.

I wonder if services like that or indeed the Kentish Town terminators will be extended to Brent Cross once opened, which I had understood to be a bit of a mid-point terminus? But the plans I saw didn't have an extra platform - perhaps instead a turnback? That would really help metro frequencies along that inner stretch.

 

[700007]

I think Orpington is Kentish Town, except for the peaks when it is Luton/St Albans. Was not aware about the Sevenoaks service - I thought it would continue through the core the whole time...a shame.

I wonder if services like that or indeed the Kentish Town terminators will be extended to Brent Cross once opened, which I had understood to be a bit of a mid-point terminus? But the plans I saw didn't have an extra platform - perhaps instead a turnback? That would really help metro frequencies along that inner stretch.

Yeah I agree, I think there is a lot of potential to get more people onto ThamesLink if they created a way for trains to turn around at Hendon or Brent Cross. Particularly when Brent Cross South opens.

 

[axlrosen]

So it seems like Thameslink Programme will not increase the frequency of trains at this station, except for an additional 2 tph at peak, is that right? Isn't that surprising?

 

[700007]

So it seems like Thameslink Programme will not increase the frequency of trains at this station, except for an additional 2 tph at peak, is that right? Isn't that surprising?

Well in fair honesty you do get a more frequent service north of the station and you get much more destinations from this station from 20/05.

 

[swt_passenger]

So it seems like Thameslink Programme will not increase the frequency of trains at this station, except for an additional 2 tph at peak, is that right? Isn't that surprising?

It ought to be 12 tph at West Hampstead after the full ramp up to 16 tph on the MML. That isn’t due until Dec 2019. The above posts seem to be concentrating on next month, which I think isn’t what you originally asked when you wrote “when the Thameslink Programme is all done”?

 

[jopsuk]

also if the query is about Kentish Town to central London there's 24tph peak/20tph off peak to central London... from downstairs.

Plus, what was the frequency before the Thameslink Programme? Ie the old 319 services, calling at King's Cross Thameslink?

 

[swt_passenger]

also if the query is about Kentish Town...

It wasn’t initially. I think that station came up in the context of some trains terminating there in the new timetable rather than running through.

 

[AM9]

The current service between the peaks is 02,20,32,50

So it seems like Thameslink Programme will not increase the frequency of trains at this station, except for an additional 2 tph at peak, is that right? Isn't that surprising?

I'm not sure what you are suggesting that is surprising. 8+ trains per hour off-peak is turn up and go frequency, even by TfL standards, so just how much of the Thameslink Programme should be spent on increasing that.
What the programme has brought though is a significant increase in capacity by replacing the class 319 stock, which at best ran as 8-car trains, (often running as a single 4-car unit even in the peak), with all trains comprising at least 8-cars with many of the fasts having 12-cars.

 

[Bald Rick]

Service now is 7/8 tph in the up peak, 6/7 tph Down peak, 6tph off peak.

When the MML goes to full TL timetable it will be 8tph all day.

Trains on the fast lines won’t be stopping in the peak.