Would a 7-day a week timetable be desirable/achievable?

[The Planner]

On Sussex we still do regularly. We recently had two weekends where we had SLW all day between Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges, and SLW regularly takes place on Sunday mornings between East Croydon and Earlswood, South Croydon and Redhill, Redhilll and Gatwick Airport, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges and Brighton and Lewes

Southern always like to be different, they don't use box time either!

 

[matacaster]

Absolutely agree. Services on Sunday are infrequent and often lack capacity. There should be a 7-day week service pattern with staff contracts to match. Obviously there is an issue with maintenance possessions, but improved working practices and exploration of improved techniques may make shorter posessions more viable. If it is not already done, Signalling should be fully checked out by computer before installation (although manually controlled signalling is obviously a problem). Points can be checked for interlocking with signals by using dummy responses which only need to be validated during commissioning in final possession.

 

[The Planner]

If it is not already done, Signalling should be fully checked out by computer before installation (although manually controlled signalling is obviously a problem). Points can be checked for interlocking with signals by using dummy responses which only need to be validated during commissioning in final possession.

Genuinely surprised you believe that isn't done.

 

[73128]

Sunday needs to have earlier services - in Reading the first fast train to London is not till 09:38 and then there is another hour gap after that - previously a semi-fast train at 08:20 had run and always was quite busy when I took it. Also, another example is the first Oxford to Reading train not being until 10:16 - that is crazily late. I think for the most part Sunday services don't necessarily need to change for the afternoon and evening but we need earlier trains in the morning.

Also, my other complaint would be Saturday evening trains - take London to Reading as an example again - Monday to Friday and Sunday there is an almost 24-hour service as there is a train at half 1, half 3 and then 5am all in the morning. On a Saturday evening - a popular evening to go out - the last Reading train is at 23:45 and the next train is not until 07:17 on Sunday morning. I have once been stranded in London due to tube delays on the circle and h&c meaning i missed that last train at Paddington - fortunately I have family in London but others may not be as lucky.

Used to be last at 0100 down (SuO), and then at 0643. All cut back by Covid and NR wanting longer for engineering work.