TSGN could be split up, in 2021.

[jon0844]

It’s a tad ironic really considering more and more systems, processes, departments and locations etc. are being integrated between all four brands as time goes on. It will now be a great mess to untangle it all in 2021....

The success of that, or not as the case may be, might possibly influence any DfT decisions.

 

[Sunset route]

I doubt I do personally although if you are a resident of Coulsdon or Purley you can have my fury because of the loss of our Victoria fast services in May 18 caused because we have to now weirdly stop at your stations.

No, not a resident, wrong part of the South East for me, I’m more a controller of the lights on sticks

 

[cjmillsnun]

To break the Unions..

Bingo. Which sadly they have done.

 

[physics34]

the talk of the West London line services has reared is ugly head again......transferring to TfL. It ultimately makes sense for them to run Clapham to Watford for example but i can't seem them running them from East Croydon to Milton Keynes. Talk of other Southern services too, but not sure how this will work now considering the huge changes happening from May 2018 timetable change.

 

[Class 170101]

Why not East Croydon? TfL run to West Croydon already.

 

[MCR247]

...but Milton Keynes?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

How many extra 700s would be required for Southern's Milton Keynes to Croydon route to go over to TL?

 

[tsr]

How many extra 700s would be required for Southern's Milton Keynes to Croydon route to go over to TL?

I believe you'd need at least 5 or 6 units (probably RLUs - the 8 coach units) just for the hourly off-peak service, including spares and maintenance. You'd be looking at something of an increase for the full peak service, too - there are many shuttles up and down the WLL, starting and terminating at Clapham Junction.

 

[Hadders]

I believe you'd need at least 5 or 6 units (probably RLUs - the 8 coach units) just for the hourly off-peak service, including spares and maintenance. You'd be looking at something of an increase for the full peak service, too - there are many shuttles up and down the WLL, starting and terminating at Clapham Junction.

Keep all the 365s on Great Northern and send a few 700s across. Simples

 

[otomous]

How many extra 700s would be required for Southern's Milton Keynes to Croydon route to go over to TL?

It wouldn’t be Thameslink, since it doesn’t go through the core.

 

[OxtedSignaller]

From what I gather cogs are in motion for the Thameslink brand to fully take over BML South as principal operator

 

[Hadders]

It wouldn’t be Thameslink, since it doesn’t go through the core.

Exactly. Send fewer trains from The GN side through the core, send them to Kings Cross using 365s instead releasing 700s for the WLL...

 

[HH]

As I understand it the intention was always to split the franchise once the Thameslink works were complete.

The Thameslink Great Northern franchise was created in 2006 in preparation for the Thameslink programme (which was subsequently delayed). The franchise was branded 'First Capital Connect' and common branding was used across both Thameslink and Great Northern routes.

In 2014 Govia won the franchise and decided to brand the two routes as 'Thameslink' and 'Great Northern'. Southern (and Gatwick Express branded services) were added in 2015.

My guess is that the franchise will be split into 'Thameslink' which will be all services that run through the core plus the Great Northern branded services out Kings Cross and Moorgate. A new Southern franchise will operate the rest south of the river.

In other words back to how it was in 2006...

Maybe. In the last franchise specification bidders were told that they had to provide plans for how it could be split again, but not necessarily back how it had been. And as Thameslink services (i.e. services that use the core) now cover more routes than they did in 2006, it seems unlikely that we will entirely revert.

 

[TUC]

To break the Unions..

I don't think so, because it would have been easier to do that if there had been competing companies over sections of route, potentially one with a strike and one withput.

 

[SPADTrap]

I don't think so, because it would have been easier to do that if there had been competing companies over sections of route, potentially one with a strike and one withput.

I'm not so sure, remember the 'OBS guaranteed until the next franchise' promise? That could be very soon.