Thameslink Sunday Train Lengths

[Hadders]

On Sundays GTR do not run the Peterborough to Horsham direct service. Instead, from Peterborough it runs to Kings Cross only.

Historically this was always a 12-car train but I’ve noticed that since the recent timetable change it’s now an 8-car.

Does anyone know why? Is this a permanent or temporary change?

My observations are that it is causing excessive crowding on certain services.

If, as I suspect, platform capacity at Kings Cross is the reason (as the trains now tend to use platform 9 rather than the main shed), could the service not operate through the core, as I believe this was the original plan.

 

[Minstral25]

On Sundays GTR do not run the Peterborough to Horsham direct service. Instead, from Peterborough it runs to Kings Cross only.

Historically this was always a 12-car train but I’ve noticed that since the recent timetable change it’s now an 8-car.

Does anyone know why? Is this a permanent or temporary change?

My observations are that it is causing excessive crowding on certain services.

If, as I suspect, platform capacity at Kings Cross is the reason (as the trains now tend to use platform 9 rather than the main shed), could the service not operate through the core, as I believe this was the original plan.

Noticed something similar on the 9R/9J services, Bedford to Three Bridges/Horsham on a Sunday. Early and late trains are 12 car but through the day it is mostly 8-car.

Not aware of any loading issues because it is an 8-car rather than 12 car but just interesting.

 

[Hadders]

Not aware of any loading issues because it is an 8-car rather than 12 car but just interesting.

I caught the 12:35 from Stevenage yesterday and it was standing room only throughout the train.

Not good, and will be much worse when football is happening on a Sunday at the Emirates.

 

[JonathanH]

I caught the 12:35 from Stevenage yesterday and it was standing room only throughout the train.

Not good, and will be much worse when football is happening on a Sunday at the Emirates.

To be fair, 700s are designed to be standing room only, given the general move away from a policy of 'seats for all' over the years.

What does seem interesting is that the use of 8-cars on Sunday, when 12-cars are used through the week does require some additional moves to get them in the right place, and certainly seems intentional in the overall plan, given the use of 8-car 700s on the weekday peak extras also. Maybe mileage balancing.

Spital sidings has 6 12-car 700s berthed from Saturday night to Monday morning by the looks of things, but with 8-car units from Nene Carriage Sidings used instead.

I imagine that over time users may look to travel on the Brighton services on a Sunday if those remain 12-car.

 

[DPQ]

No space in mainshed at Kings Cross

 

[D365]

I caught the 12:35 from Stevenage yesterday and it was standing room only throughout the train.

Not good, and will be much worse when football is happening on a Sunday at the Emirates.

I've had similar full-and-standing experiences on a Sunday afternoon or evening. 8 car 700s on KGX-PBO

 

[Hadders]

No space in mainshed at Kings Cross

Then they should run to Horsham as they do on Mondays to Saturdays.

 

[bramling]

Then they should run to Horsham as they do on Mondays to Saturdays.

Cannot help but smile here, given they seem to have enough trouble resourcing the existing service at weekends. However I fully agree the situation is unsatisfactory and unacceptable. Once again, users at the London end are being shafted in favour of longer-distance.

 

[GN Boy]

No space in mainshed at Kings Cross

Yep. 717s are now pretty much forbidden to enter Kings Cross when Moorgate is up the creek.

 

[Hadders]

Yep. 717s are now pretty much forbidden to enter Kings Cross when Moorgate is up the creek.

I hear on the grapevine that during disruption the Moorgate services will be turned at Finsbury Park, rather than divert to Kings Cross.