Thameslink Services/Timetable from May 20th 2018

[jon0844]

Are they still doing training/route learning on a Saturday? Maybe that's causing issues with some drivers that cover both 313 and 700 work? It was mostly, if not exclusively, the inners suffering this afternoon I think.

A lot of people on Twitter don't get rosters and the fact drivers don't work a fixed set of days/hours each week. As such they'll think they didn't turn up or booked the day off, as against being rest day and not having any obligation to do overtime (especially if Hidden is a factor).

 

[387star]

Perenially stuck in 1990s decor City Thameslink

They have recently replaced the network south east signage with much clearer signs however the running in signs are untouched

Platform numbers at entrances have been changed but are still NSE blue on the platforms as well as original signage directing to lifts etc

 

[387star]

Will the rainham services eventually go to Luton on weekends like weekdays?

We still have an extra two littlehampton services to add the orpington on weekends (Will that happen?) The sevenoaks to welwyn peak extras and finally Maidstone and ashford to Cambridge

Eventually I assume Brighton to Cambridge will be half hourly on Saturdays at least

On weekdays brighton to Cambridge doubling and on weekends Bedford to Gatwick starting and Kentish town to rainham doubling are the most notable improvements in May

As a result the Horsham to london bridge weekend service will mostly omit earlswood and salfords like a weekday

 

[jon0844]

They have recently replaced the network south east signage with much clearer signs however the running in signs are untouched

Platform numbers at entrances have been changed but are still NSE blue on the platforms as well as original signage directing to lifts etc

The station name signs are now white on black (pretty sure they weren't before) but I'm not sure that makes them stand out when everything is black and white.

It's a very odd designed station. Feels out of place in any decade.

 

[ijmad]

Impossible within the planning restrictions, I’d have thought.

There might be some way to create a passenger subway underslung in one of the bridge's arches but it would likely need to close to river traffic.

Never gonna happen of course, no ROI for that. But possible? Maybe.

 

[gingerheid]

At the moment the Cambridge - Brighton services are very empty too; for them I can only assume alarmingly so.

I think that's because the timing means that they serve a very limited purpose other than to core, because journey planners tell you to take the fast and walk to St P, because they have a reputation for horrific unreliability and nobody believes they actually exist, because being a little bit unreliable is a Problem with an hourly service, and because lack of Crossrail means you should probably still take the fast or a Liverpool Street train to certain places.

I can see this changing when there is a half hourly service that connects with Crossrail. By the same coin, however, I could also see them getting bored with running empty trains before this happens and deciding that a spare train and spare capacity are useful things to have...

I no longer use GA / GTR / Thameslink for regular commuting though. Only use them for one off work or leisure trips (though I'll admit Cambridge - Croydon today actually worked both directions (first time ever) and was really convenient. Shame about the evil seats )

 

[OwenB]

Are they still doing training/route learning on a Saturday? Maybe that's causing issues with some drivers that cover both 313 and 700 work? It was mostly, if not exclusively, the inners suffering this afternoon I think.

A lot of people on Twitter don't get rosters and the fact drivers don't work a fixed set of days/hours each week. As such they'll think they didn't turn up or booked the day off, as against being rest day and not having any obligation to do overtime (especially if Hidden is a factor).

I don't think GTR have any interest in correcting people. I imagine they're quite happy if people blame the drivers.

 

[gingerheid]

I don't think GTR have any interest in correcting people. I imagine they're quite happy if people blame the drivers.

I've heard groups of drivers talking on trains more than once, saying things that it would maybe be better if they didn't say in public. It's a shame that we've got to that position, but I understand how we got there and I'd probably do the same (but not talk about it in public).

 

[MikeWM]

I see that for the third day out of four there is a blanket low speed restriction on the Kings Lynn line due to the wind - but nowhere else north of London, it seems. Is this line really so much more delicate than all the others nearby to warrant this? (and if so, is anything going to be done about it?)

 

[jon0844]

I see that for the third day out of four there is a blanket low speed restriction on the Kings Lynn line due to the wind - but nowhere else north of London, it seems. Is this line really so much more delicate than all the others nearby to warrant this? (and if so, is anything going to be done about it?)

Yes, speed restrictions!

 

[Class315]

I see that for the third day out of four there is a blanket low speed restriction on the Kings Lynn line due to the wind - but nowhere else north of London, it seems. Is this line really so much more delicate than all the others nearby to warrant this? (and if so, is anything going to be done about it?)

An 80mph speed restriction was imposed between Welwyn South Tunnel & Arlesey from 16:25 hours until further notice, this restriction applies to Electric Traction only.

To be honest, With the line exposed to the elements over the single line perhaps that could be a reason for the single line, the reduced speeds cause late running for services to access the single line between Littleport and Downham Market.

 

[MikeWM]

Yes, speed restrictions!

Not exactly a fix, is it?

I’m genuinely curious - why only this line (in the Anglia area at least), when the wind has been as bad everywhere?

 

[bramling]

Not exactly a fix, is it?

I’m genuinely curious - why only this line (in the Anglia area at least), when the wind has been as bad everywhere?

1980s electrification pared down to a specification thus increasing the chance of a dewirement?

 

[whoosh]

I belìeve it's quite flat terrain wise, and therefore exposed. High winds can wobble the overhead wires, and a fast moving train with pantograph can cause more upset.

There have been speed restrictions on South Eastern today as well - where there are no overhead wires! The risk of trees etc. blowing onto the line being the reason there.
It certainly has been a blustery day.

The last time I was affected by speed restrictions being imposed, it was with good cause, as things from outside the railway came adrift and wrapped themselves around the overhead wires causing considerable delay - one of which was a large shed which ended up blocking the line at St Neots.
That wasn't the only instance either.

 

[jon0844]

Not exactly a fix, is it?

I’m genuinely curious - why only this line (in the Anglia area at least), when the wind has been as bad everywhere?

Cheap fix though.

Build bi-mode trains, delay or axe electrification.

Have SDO on the 717s? Stop trains further back rather than move signals.

Wiring a bit dodgy? Slow trains down.

What else can be fixed on the cheap?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

1980s electrification pared down to a specification thus increasing the chance of a dewirement?

The economic case for wiring to Kings Lynn was "challenging" - and this came from a then senior DfT official who was very supportive , and used every effort to get the case through.

Considering the (bleak) open landscape , perhaps an April 1st plan would be to do a reverse Dawlish and built a "wind wall" alongside the railway.

 

[MikeWM]

On the 2042 KGX to KLN. 20 minutes before we are due to depart KGX and every seat is already taken. Is there *any* reason, other than refusal to engage with reality, that these can’t at least be 12 coach trains while GN continue to refuse to run a proper Saturday timetable?

 

[GoatSarah]

On the 2042 KGX to KLN. 20 minutes before we are due to depart KGX and every seat is already taken. Is there *any* reason, other than refusal to engage with reality, that these can’t at least be 12 coach trains while GN continue to refuse to run a proper Saturday timetable?

They have the rolling stock. They just can't be arsed.

 

[Aictos]

They have the rolling stock. They just can't be arsed.

Like on the Peterborough route, they used to run a specific Sunday service with one 4 car which by the time it left Huntingdon was already full and standing from a Peterborough start!

Okay it was only calling at St Neots and Biggleswade then Kings Cross but 1st was often declassified as it was a struggle to get on at St Neots never mind Biggleswade.

So nothing new!

 

[Hadders]

I don't think 12 car trains can be run to Kings Lynn due to electrical power supply and platform length. They could drop some coaches off st Cambridge though.

There's also the issue of platform space as Kings Cross as 12 car trains cannot use 9-11.

I agree that provision of 12 car trains at weekends since the timetable farce has been nothing short of a disgrace.

 

[Failed Unit]

I don't think 12 car trains can be run to Kings Lynn due to electrical power supply and platform length. They could drop some coaches off st Cambridge though.

There's also the issue of platform space as Kings Cross as 12 car trains cannot use 9-11.

I agree that provision of 12 car trains at weekends since the timetable farce has been nothing short of a disgrace.

Do they not need a driver to drop coaches off at Cambridge? That is probably why. If they have a driver may as well run it in service. Saturday is a disgrace of a service. That 2 hour gap in the kx - Cambridge stopper extremely annoying.

 

[717001]

Do they not need a driver to drop coaches off at Cambridge? That is probably why. If they have a driver may as well run it in service. Saturday is a disgrace of a service. That 2 hour gap in the kx - Cambridge stopper extremely annoying.

The Kings Cross Cambridge stoppers will thankfully go back to being 2 per hour from the May timetable change - all the revised services are in showing planners from Sunday 19/5.

 

[westcoaster]

I see that for the third day out of four there is a blanket low speed restriction on the Kings Lynn line due to the wind - but nowhere else north of London, it seems. Is this line really so much more delicate than all the others nearby to warrant this? (and if so, is anything going to be done about it?)

I believe there was a RAIB report that showed how the wind affected the OHLE on this section off track. Found here https://assets.digital.cabinet-offi...b60244000165/R062013_130520_Littleport_V2.pdf

It illustrates how the wind causes dewirements.

 

[MikeWM]

I believe there was a RAIB report that showed how the wind affected the OHLE on this section off track. Found here https://assets.digital.cabinet-offi...b60244000165/R062013_130520_Littleport_V2.pdf

It illustrates how the wind causes dewirements.

That was a very informative and interesting read. Many thanks for pointing me to it.

 

[MikeWM]

Do they not need a driver to drop coaches off at Cambridge? That is probably why. If they have a driver may as well run it in service.

It was 8 carriages, dropping to 4 at Cambridge. It also left from platform 8 (as most seem to do on Saturday evenings) at KGX. So no reason at all, other than to irritate the passengers, that it couldn't be 12.

Wasn't helped by the fact that the 2035, which should have ran as far as Ely, was only going to Cambridge due to - yes, you guessed it - 'no driver'.

 

[KTrain82]

Signal failure this evening causing major issues...got on at At Pancras and northbound trains were backed up all the way to the Bermondsey dive-under!

 

[bionic]

Signal failure this evening causing major issues...got on at At Pancras and northbound trains were backed up all the way to the Bermondsey dive-under!

Most trains through the core were a good hour late or cancelled. I bet the St Neots folk were happy. If I lived on the GN side I'd be furious about what's happened to the service since it started providing me with exciting new direct links to Three Bridges.

 

[387star]

Still extra littlehampton services to add post may?

 

[700007]

Do 700s still do the London Kings Cross to Ely workings during peak time? I know during the off peak they interwork with Kings Lynn.

 

[MikeWM]

I see the complete inability to recover the service after a problem has hit GN once again today. 9 hours after the issue at Hornsey was fixed, they are still all over the place

Also, I note that - once again - they cancelled the last KGX to KLN last night. Their indifference to making sure last services run where possible is astounding