Thameslink Services/Timetable from May 20th 2018

[Hadders]

Depends on how you define reasonable!

For Hitchin and Stevenage it's currently three trains per hour, at intervals of 15, 30, 15, with some of these missing at arbitrary times throughout the day. Then you have the issue that the timekeeping of the northbound service is erratic thanks to the Thameslink effect, which even with this level of frequency means you could well be in store for a quite lengthy wait on a core platform if something is amiss.

The alternative is to head to King's Cross, where at least there's more options for things to do if having to wait (e.g. cafes and restaurants), plus the chances are that the train will be waiting in the platform prior to departure so one can at least settle in to the train rather than having to stand on a platform or sit on a metal bench - not that an Undesiro is much better of course!

Add in the prospect of the 365 services at certain times and it's easy to see why people might prefer to opt for King's Cross. Any core station other than St Pancras is simply a gamble as if something goes wrong one hasn't got access to the stopping service.

Naturally the scales may tip slightly when (if!) the 700/0 services run through to Sevenoaks / Maidstone, and the second Cambridge/Brighton service would certainly even things up. That service will definitely take people off the up stopping service.

As to whether the above ThamesLink/ Lottery constitutes a reasonable service, I'll leave that to readers to decide for themselves...

Meanwhile, let's think back a couple of years. One would turn up at King's Cross, check the board, head to the platform, where a 365 would be waiting, comfortable seat and table whilst awaiting departure, then a fast and comfortable journey to destination. No fuss, no bother! (And certainly didn't run the risk of taking 50 minutes to get to Finsbury Park either...). The only thing which might have been nicer in those days was no 4-car working, which we could have had but for platform extensions at Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton and a few extra units in the fleet.

Totally agree with this. Waiting for an inevitably late running train downstairs at St Pancras isn't a pleasant experience, especially with the platform staff screaming over the tannoy for passengers to stand behind the yellow line.

Compare and contrast to Kings Cross where the whole set up described by @bramling is far more civilised.

 

[jon0844]

I've begun to use Finsbury Park a little more, if only because the fact it's outdoors makes me feel less 'confined' than down in the basement of St Pancras. I may well change my mind when the weather changes!

At least there you have many options, albeit losing the ability to board an empty train and get a seat wherever you want if you're early. But getting a train as soon as possible is preferable.

 

[bramling]

I've begun to use Finsbury Park a little more, if only because the fact it's outdoors makes me feel less 'confined' than down in the basement of St Pancras. I may well change my mind when the weather changes!

At least there you have many options, albeit losing the ability to board an empty train and get a seat wherever you want if you're early. But getting a train as soon as possible is preferable.

I can understand why people might do this. It's not for me though - Finsbury Park is one of the most unpleasant-to-use stations in London. There's something really depressing about the place, especially on a dull day! Plus going outside feels increasingly third-world.

 

[jon0844]

I can understand why people might do this. It's not for me though - Finsbury Park is one of the most unpleasant-to-use stations in London. There's something really depressing about the place, especially on a dull day! Plus going outside feels increasingly third-world.

It's not the greatest station, but it has benefits for me trying to get home and venturing outside isn't too scary.. you can get some nice fish and chips (usually just chips) or get a sandwich at the local Tesco Express. Sure, you'll be stuck standing outside and the toilets are a nightmare but hopefully you'll not be there too long!

The station is well staffed so if you don't wish to leave the station then you'll be perfectly fine.

 

[bramling]

It's not the greatest station, but it has benefits for me trying to get home and venturing outside isn't too scary.. you can get some nice fish and chips (usually just chips) or get a sandwich at the local Tesco Express. Sure, you'll be stuck standing outside and the toilets are a nightmare but hopefully you'll not be there too long!

The station is well staffed so if you don't wish to leave the station then you'll be perfectly fine.

To be fair I was probably exaggerating a bit! However the whole place is still something which Donald Trump would probably describe as a ****hole.

 

[jon0844]

To be fair I was probably exaggerating a bit! However the whole place is still something which Donald Trump would probably describe as a ****hole.

Yes I am sure he would, but I used to go out there quite a bit years ago (Bowling at Rowans for one) and it may seem pretty horrid and unsafe, but in reality it's okay if you don't venture too far. You certainly don't have to stay on the platform and fear for your life.

 

[bramling]

Yes I am sure he would, but I used to go out there quite a bit years ago (Bowling at Rowans for one) and it may seem pretty horrid and unsafe, but in reality it's okay if you don't venture too far. You certainly don't have to stay on the platform and fear for your life.

I never said one did, there’s the interchange subway for that!

Seen plenty of drug exchanges take place there over the years.

 

[jon0844]

Seen plenty of drug exchanges take place there over the years.

Me too, but the key is in pretending you didn't!

 

[bramling]

Me too, but the key is in pretending you didn't!

The latest GTR abomination is a recorded PA about the Brighton mainline improvement programme playing on the 700s, where on earth did they pick that excruciatingly annoying and smug-sounding voice from?! Just what I don’t want to hear at 0600 in the morning. Can this TOC make a decent job of *anything*?

 

[Class 466]

The latest GTR abomination is a recorded PA about the Brighton mainline improvement programme playing on the 700s, where on earth did they pick that excruciatingly annoying and smug-sounding voice from?! Just what I don’t want to hear at 0600 in the morning. Can this TOC make a decent job of *anything*?

That’s Geoff Marshall from All The Stations/Londonist!

 

[bramling]

That’s Geoff Marshall from All The Stations/Londonist!

Says it all really.

 

[Kanrakuq]

Whenever I've seen something he's done on YouTube I've always been amazed at how loudly he talks in public — I knew it would only be a matter of time before he started plugging himself into the PA system!

 

[bramling]

Whenever I've seen something he's done on YouTube I've always been amazed at how loudly he talks in public — I knew it would only be a matter of time before he started plugging himself into the PA system!

It’s called attention seeking. Can’t believe GTR have sunk that low though, it’s cringeworthy even for them! Could have been worse I suppose, they could have included his face on the screens.

I really hope this stunt didn’t involve money changing hands.

 

[MikeWM]

Agreed. As I haven't for a while, let's take another look at what used to be my regular morning commuting train - 0948 (0949 before May) Ely -> Cambridge.

On time today, for the first time in almost 2 weeks. Ironically that seems to be because it was cancelled from Kings Lynn and so started at Ely.

 

[Ianno87]

It’s called attention seeking. Can’t believe GTR have sunk that low though, it’s cringeworthy even for them! Could have been worse I suppose, they could have included his face on the screens.

I really hope this stunt didn’t involve money changing hands.

It's called him earning his living. (I genuinely don't know if he was paid for the announcements, but why would it be a problem if he was paid? Other announcers nust be. Even so, it's none of your business frankly.). You might not like him, but he is a good face of railway enthusiasm to many, and good PR for GTR.

If he wasn't paid, it's still raising his profile for his YouTube channel etc.

 

[jopsuk]

Geoff does post on here from time-to-time and I'm pretty sure reads the forums more often... though I think he's got a pretty thick skin for criticism by this point.

 

[samuelmorris]

Unless he's been doing it for a while his voiceover is unlikely to be as disturbingly energetic as the ones Govia have been using for a while. I still remember the Southeastern one about Christmas engineering works.
Mid November, half-asleep on a Southeastern service, <Electrostar PA chime>"CHRISTMAS IS COMING!" was rather excessive.

 

[nlogax]

It's great to hear his voice on Thameslink trains. He's just posted this.

 

[bramling]

It's called him earning his living. (I genuinely don't know if he was paid for the announcements, but why would it be a problem if he was paid? Other announcers nust be. Even so, it's none of your business frankly.). You might not like him, but he is a good face of railway enthusiasm to many, and good PR for GTR.

It is sort of my business if it’s farepayer/taxpayer money going towards it.

I don’t see it as good publicity. The voice just sounds like an over-excitable kid trying to put on a silly voice. To me it doesn’t come over professional at all, the opposite in fact.

I note you mention announcements in plural. I hope this doesn’t imply there’s more of them!

 

[jon0844]

Someone would get paid to record the announcement. GTR now has excellent publicity for the upcoming works, as Geoff has talked about it on his YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers.

So win win.

 

[bramling]

Someone would get paid to record the announcement. GTR now has excellent publicity for the upcoming works, as Geoff has talked about it on his YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers.

So win win.

Well yes, win if one derives pleasure from having one’s face (or in this case voice!) plastered everywhere in front of all and sundry. Excuse me while I throw up.

GTR should be devoting their efforts towards reliably delivering their timetable, not messing about indulging an ego.

 

[Fred26]

Well yes, win if one derives pleasure from having one’s face (or in this case voice!) plastered everywhere in front of all and sundry. Excuse me while I throw up.

GTR should be devoting their efforts towards reliably delivering their timetable, not messing about indulging an ego.

Except they asked him.

I like him and think he's done a good job. As Jon says, GTR would've paid someone to do it, so it might as well be an enthusiast who has posted plenty of GTR based videos.

 

[samuelmorris]

Yeah and I don't think it's a bad voiceover either. It's a little cheerful but it's not unprofessional and as I mentioned earlier, better than some of Govia's other efforts.

 

[bramling]

Yeah and I don't think it's a bad voiceover either. It's a little cheerful but it's not unprofessional and as I mentioned earlier, better than some of Govia's other efforts.

I think it sounds awful, like a silly excited kid. I’m not over keen on the “see it say it sorted” voice either.

 

[Ianno87]

It is sort of my business if it’s farepayer/taxpayer money going towards it.

Well, it's either they pay Geoff to do it, or just pay someone else.

Difference in cost to taxpayer = Zero

Heck - if Geoff did it for free, he's *saving* them money, so you owe him one!

 

[Agent_Squash]

I think it sounds awful, like a silly excited kid. I’m not over keen on the “see it say it sorted” voice either.

Realistically though, are you ever keen on anything GTR does?

I think using a person of significant interest in the railway community an opportunity to do this is great. Good PR for GTR, and engages the enthusiast community some what.

 

[bramling]

Realistically though, are you ever keen on anything GTR does?

I think using a person of significant interest in the railway community an opportunity to do this is great. Good PR for GTR, and engages the enthusiast community some what.

This is the problem. This isn’t some kind of preserved railway, so whether it engages enthusiasts or the “railway community” (whatever that may be) is at best irrelevant, bordering on stupid. To me it just sounds unprofessional, as I say like some excitable kid has been given a microphone as a laugh. Not professional when trying to communicate a supposedly important message - although how relevant it is to a KX to Peterborough service is a matter for debate in itself.

My feelings are pretty much confirmed now seeing the YouTube video. The fact that it starts with “I” tells me all I need to know.

As for being keen on anything GTR does, no not really. I don’t think most users are either. They’ve completely failed to get the basics right - as a typical snapshot in the last week I’ve made 13 journeys. Three outright cancellations, one trip overcrowded due to multiple preceding services cancelled, and of the remainder only one journey arrived right time. That’s not a record to be proud of by any means.

 

[ComUtoR]

Maybe he should tell Matt about the numerous PIS issues :/

 

[AverageTD]

It is sort of my business if it’s farepayer/taxpayer money going towards it.

I don’t see it as good publicity. The voice just sounds like an over-excitable kid trying to put on a silly voice. To me it doesn’t come over professional at all, the opposite in fact.

I note you mention announcements in plural. I hope this doesn’t imply there’s more of them!

What's wrong with it? He's doing it because he likes railways. I assume 95% of the people on this forum do too. He doesn't put ads on his videos or if he did the announcements for free so it's just a rail enthusiast who makes good quality, unmonitized videos doing what he loves and getting involved in the railway business. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I'd say this argument is a bit stupid.

 

[bramling]

What's wrong with it? He's doing it because he likes railways. I assume 95% of the people on this forum do too. He doesn't put ads on his videos or if he did the announcements for free so it's just a rail enthusiast who makes good quality, unmonitized videos doing what he loves and getting involved in the railway business. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I'd say this argument is a bit stupid.

If he gets a buzz over making announcements, he could always get himself a job as a train driver. He can do announcements to his heart’s content then - until the complaints start coming in which they tend to do when people start being over excitable.

It’s the sort of thing small kids might be allowed to do when taken on some kind of station visit, make an announcement. Not the sort of thing one expects a grown adult to be getting a buzz from!