Thameslink Service to Orpington

[AFK_Trains]

Hi all,

I know that currently the Luton - Orpington via Catford is peak hours only, but it's supposed to be all day creating a 4tph service between Bickley and Elephant & Castle. I assume the off peak service was cut due to Covid, but does anyone know why it hasn't been reinstated yet, or if there are even plans to reinstate it?

Thanks

 

[JonathanH]

Rail services run based on what authorities specify. If there isn't perceived demand, or an appetite to pay for a service to run all day, it will remain peak only.

Unfortunately, the optimism of the initial timetable provision for Thameslink is long gone, and a more realistic timetable is deemed sufficient. Half hourly in South London is relatively common provision on many routes now.

 

[AFK_Trains]

Rail services run based on what authorities specify. If there isn't perceived demand, or an appetite to pay for a service to run all day, it will remain peak only.

Unfortunately, the optimism of the initial timetable provision for Thameslink is long gone, and a more realistic timetable is deemed sufficient. Half hourly in South London is relatively common provision on many routes now.

Yeah, its a shame really. The 2tph is fine in weekday off peak but I think the line could definitely do with 4tph on the weekends as it's usually busy all day then

 

[JonathanH]

Yeah, its a shame really. The 2tph is fine in weekday off peak but I think the line could definitely do with 4tph on the weekends as it's usually busy all day then

By busy, do you mean all seats taken, some standing or crush loaded? A service operated by 700s would be expected to see some people standing before it is considered crowded.

 

[AFK_Trains]

By busy, do you mean all seats taken, some standing or crush loaded? A service operated by 700s would be expected to see some people standing before it is considered crowded.

Most/all seats taken depending on the time of day. The real nightmares are the weekday morning and evening peaks, even with 4tph a lot of the trains are full and standing, especially in the evening peak where the trains have come down through the Thameslink core.

 

[Kilopylae]

Half hourly in South London is relatively common provision on many routes now.

It's really not great that most of south London is left without a turn up and go service (I don't know if 4 tph is TU&G officially but it's close enough)

 

[Failed Unit]

I suspect if the "full" 2018 core timetable was ever implemented, the stock just wouldn't cope. I know we have the debates about if the core can cope. But we see frequent cancellations due to both rolling stock failures and driver shortages. The rolling stock should be worked a lot more intensively, so maybe the 30 minute service is a good thing if the stock isn't upto more intensive working.

 

[MotCO]

Is the Orpington - Victoria service still every 15 minutes off peak? If so, would it make sense to drop two of those and introduce a half hourly service on Thameslink to give different travelling opportunities?

 

[JonathanH]

Is the Orpington - Victoria service still every 15 minutes off peak?

No, half hourly between 1034 and 1504, and all day at weekends.

 

[30907]

No, half hourly between 1034 and 1504, and all day at weekends.

And busier than the Catford Loop, IME.

 

[NSE]

It's really not great that most of south London is left without a turn up and go service (I don't know if 4 tph is TU&G officially but it's close enough)

Lots of it doubles up so it’s more than 4tph when combined. For example, Raynes Park has 2tph on the following:
- Shepperton
- Waterloo via Kingston (the loop)
- Hampton Court
- Chessington South

But then when heading north it gives Raynes Park a turn up and go northbound.

(Both Dorking and Guildford were 2tph, but I think both are now 1tph, giving Raynes Park 2tph Leatherhead then split).

 

[Sad Sprinter]

South London’s rail services are unique in that the east-west axis of the lines, as opposed to a straight north/south axis means the opportunity is ripe to encourage more orbital journeys. Further grade seperating and interchange building are necessary. Transfer routes to LO too. East and west has the Elizabeth line, north east has LO, it’s time South got some much needed treatment. Even Network SouthEast were beginning to see this before it got privatised.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Dec 2023 ==

Is the Orpington - Victoria service still every 15 minutes off peak? If so, would it make sense to drop two of those and introduce a half hourly service on Thameslink to give different travelling opportunities?

This service needs to be every 15 mins. It’s very popular and serves some quite remote places within and alongside the Norwood Ridge