the Increasingly Frustrating Thameslink

[jon0844]

Me too. Many, many times. I've also had to take a good look myself if I ever want to get off at somewhere like New Southgate, Oakleigh Park etc and have been 'heads down' on my phone and not paying attention.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Certainly wasn't that. Having switched from fast to slow at Harpenden, guess what, it went back to the fast at Radlett.

It certainly was, but the EMT service got on the move under its own power.
Even the service that was trapped at Elstree and set back then ran via the Up Fast.

 

[The Box Photter]

I'd rather a driver keeps his eye on people entering and exiting the train so doesn't miss any incident like someone falling between the train and platform that happens quite often.

Well said. Don't forget what happened to the Merseyrail Guard when a (drunk) person fell beneath his train.

The driver needs full concentration on the job in hand and doesn't want to end up facing a manslaughter charge.

 

[Skimble19]

Well, before the new Atos system came in, there were announcements on the platform.

Some bright spark at FCC decided to configure the new system so you get an 'on approach' announcement and nothing else. Not even announcements in advance, for the benefit of the partially sighted, unless there's a delay. FCC (and/or Network Rail) also decided that Hatfield should no longer be zoned as it once was, so you can be told to stand clear of platform edges while in the station building.

Before that, when a 313 arrived at New Southgate you'd hear (more so if the doors were opened) 'New Southgate. This is New Southgate. The train ....'

Perhaps GTR could consider reinstating this? Could be a temporary fix until the new rolling stock arrives?

Do GTR have those online forums like FCC did?

Ahh how I miss Phils dulcet tones.. The announcements used to be so much better.. As for zoning at Hatfield, hopefully that will be back one day as the echo alone from having speakers all along the platforms is getting a little too much now!

 

[21C101]

It certainly was, but the EMT service got on the move under its own power.
Even the service that was trapped at Elstree and set back then ran via the Up Fast.

Think your mixing it up with something that happened later on.

0634 from Bedford went over to slow at Harpenden trolled along to Radlett and went straight back over to the Fast at Radlett arriving at St Pancras only a fe minutes late. Obviously there were no Broken down EMT trains in the way or reversing 319s.

Or are you saying that by the time the 0634 got to Radlett the incident had already cleared?

 

[Class377/5]

Think your mixing it up with something that happened later on.

0634 from Bedford went over to slow at Harpenden trolled along to Radlett and went straight back over to the Fast at Radlett arriving at St Pancras only a fe minutes late. Obviously there were no Broken down EMT trains in the way or reversing 319s.

Or are you saying that by the time the 0634 got to Radlett the incident had already cleared?

Nope he's not. Can't remember the train now but one did set back due to an EMT in trouble. The EMT got moving while the Thameslink was setting back.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Think your mixing it up with something that happened later on.

0634 from Bedford went over to slow at Harpenden trolled along to Radlett and went straight back over to the Fast at Radlett arriving at St Pancras only a fe minutes late. Obviously there were no Broken down EMT trains in the way or reversing 319s.

Or are you saying that by the time the 0634 got to Radlett the incident had already cleared?

Hmmmmm,
05.58 Bedford to Brighton set back.
06.13 Bedford to Sutton delayed.
06.18 Bedford to Brighton went in front of the 05.58 ex Bedford.

The EMT 1C05 was delayed 35 minutes.

But I was only watching the signalling panel at the time.

 

[21C101]

Hmmmmm,
05.58 Bedford to Brighton set back.
06.13 Bedford to Sutton delayed.
06.18 Bedford to Brighton went in front of the 05.58 ex Bedford.

The EMT 1C05 was delayed 35 minutes.

But I was only watching the signalling panel at the time.

So it had sorted by the time the 6.34 ex Bedford reached Radlett, hence it got put back on the fast?

 

[themeone]

The service is pathetic, I could jog faster than the southbound train I'm on is crawling. No apparent delays it's just this scenic tour around se london is ludicrously slow by design.

I agree, the Thameslink service between Croydon and central London is agonisingly slow - I use it 3 days a week, and the journey can regularly take in the region of 45 minutes.

I know there's nothing that can be done and we just have to put up with it, but that doesn't make it a better experience.

 

[Bald Rick]

The service is pathetic, I could jog faster than the southbound train I'm on is crawling. No apparent delays it's just this scenic tour around se london is ludicrously slow by design.

If you can jog 10-11 miles in under 30 mins, then fair play, I doff my cap.

 

[dewsnapsliding]

I agree, the Thameslink service between Croydon and central London is agonisingly slow - I use it 3 days a week, and the journey can regularly take in the region of 45 minutes.

I know there's nothing that can be done and we just have to put up with it, but that doesn't make it a better experience.

I use it once a week and it's dreadful - yesterday caught this train.

Checked NR before leaving, no indicated delays, crawled all the way.

A few months ago again no reported delays before catching the service, capped at E&C around 18.45 on that occasion

As I mentioned on the previous rant about it, when the service is evidently running poorly, it's the refusal to let pax off at intermediate stations where they could make alternative journey plans which is really irritating - in this case Norwood Jct, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Herne Hill (all length permitting) offer alternatives for onward travel.

 

[AM9]

Back from my Daysaver jaunt today. No problems except that 16:06 BTN to BED was only 8-cars so it was pretty packed before it pulled into City TL. The driver said that he didn't know why and there were no announcements. Both 377s, (the rear one that I was in still had SE maps)!

 

[Busaholic]

As I mentioned on the previous rant about it, when the service is evidently running poorly, it's the refusal to let pax off at intermediate stations where they could make alternative journey plans which is really irritating - in this case Norwood Jct, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Herne Hill (all length permitting) offer alternatives for onward travel.

But that could only happen with an integrated railway: even after London Bridge is up and running again that panacea will be as far away as ever.

 

[asylumxl]

I use it once a week and it's dreadful - yesterday caught this train.

Checked NR before leaving, no indicated delays, crawled all the way.

A few months ago again no reported delays before catching the service, capped at E&C around 18.45 on that occasion

As I mentioned on the previous rant about it, when the service is evidently running poorly, it's the refusal to let pax off at intermediate stations where they could make alternative journey plans which is really irritating - in this case Norwood Jct, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Herne Hill (all length permitting) offer alternatives for onward travel.

I swear various trains from East Croydon to Victoria offer alternatives for onward travel.

 

[hassaanhc]

As part of a (very) early morning bash, I got to St Pancras at 0710 hoping to get a fast St Albans 319. What greeted me was the sight of several delayed trains, with no information as to why. Got to the platform at 0725 to wait for the delayed 0704 service (1W02), which was then cancelled. Shortly afterwards, 387106 rolled through empty still displaying "Bedford". Then the following service, the 0718 to Luton (2V98) departed at 0736 and was changed to terminate at St Albans. So 387106 decided to sit down

1W02 0530 Brighton to London Blackfriars {This service was cancelled between London Blackfriars and Bedford due to a problem with the train (M6).} http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L02420/2015/02/07/advanced
2V98 0639 Selhurst to St Albans {This service was cancelled between St Albans and Luton due to a problem with the train (M6).} Even though we know it wasn't that train that failed. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L03489/2015/02/07/advanced

 

[Class377/5]

Back from my Daysaver jaunt today. No problems except that 16:06 BTN to BED was only 8-cars so it was pretty packed before it pulled into City TL. The driver said that he didn't know why and there were no announcements. Both 377s, (the rear one that I was in still had SE maps)!

The 377s are still borrowed by Southeastern, hence the maps.

 

[Abpj17]

Back from my Daysaver jaunt today. No problems except that 16:06 BTN to BED was only 8-cars so it was pretty packed before it pulled into City TL. The driver said that he didn't know why and there were no announcements. Both 377s, (the rear one that I was in still had SE maps)!

And short forms have been running all week - apparently still water damaged units getting fixed

 

[Class377/5]

And short forms have been running all week - apparently still water damaged units getting fixed

No apparently about it. With limited fleet maintenance (along side the planned stuff) along with the fact that the whole fleet needed checking had slowed things down. Massive efforts to get units back on track made.

 

[dewsnapsliding]

I swear various trains from East Croydon to Victoria offer alternatives for onward travel.

Not if that's where your journey starts

They didn't even have the "too long" excuse this time as from my view when I departed at Blackfriars I was 2/3 along the platform in the last carriage.

 

[user15681]

No apparently about it. With limited fleet maintenance (along side the planned stuff) along with the fact that the whole fleet needed checking had slowed things down. Massive efforts to get units back on track made.

Quite.

To add to your post, for the benefit of others, something like 25-30 units been found damaged so far I hear, I know it's been ever increasing. Plenty of test runs day and night to get units back. And two taken OOS because of incident at Hackbridge.

 

[Abpj17]

Quite.

To add to your post, for the benefit of others, something like 25-30 units been found damaged so far I hear, I know it's been ever increasing. Plenty of test runs day and night to get units back. And two taken OOS because of incident at Hackbridge.

The long term TL passenger cynic in me knows that short formations happened before the flooding too - it's hard to tell what of the current proportion are flood-related or not.

That number is pretty high though. I know they were valiantly running a service through flood water until it got too deep, in hindsight, shutting the core earlier might have been better (subject to getting the right number of trains north/south)

 

[DelayRepay]

Quite.

To add to your post, for the benefit of others, something like 25-30 units been found damaged so far I hear, I know it's been ever increasing. Plenty of test runs day and night to get units back. And two taken OOS because of incident at Hackbridge.

I do hope they haven't damaged any of the new trains that they're so proud of.

As for the old trains, I hope they don't waste too much money fixing them since they'll all be going up north soon.

 

[Class377/5]

I do hope they haven't damaged any of the new trains that they're so proud of.

As for the old trains, I hope they don't waste too much money fixing them since they'll all be going up north soon.

All the fleets have been affected. Something like half the 387 fleet needed checks. Repairs to units still ongoing.

The 'old' trains as you put it still run most of the service with something like a 40/60 spilt. As for going up north soon, 20 units from a fleet of 86 are going north so hardly reason to not bother with them, especially as they are still around for another 18 months yet at best. That is unless you want short forms for that time.

 

[SimonS]

Well, before the new Atos system came in, there were announcements on the platform.

Some bright spark at FCC decided to configure the new system so you get an 'on approach' announcement and nothing else. Not even announcements in advance, for the benefit of the partially sighted, unless there's a delay. FCC (and/or Network Rail) also decided that Hatfield should no longer be zoned as it once was, so you can be told to stand clear of platform edges while in the station building.

Before that, when a 313 arrived at New Southgate you'd hear (more so if the doors were opened) 'New Southgate. This is New Southgate. The train ....'

Perhaps GTR could consider reinstating this? Could be a temporary fix until the new rolling stock arrives?

Do GTR have those online forums like FCC did?

We used to get those announcements down south as well. These days if you are stood on the platform the "this is Burgess Hill" bit has gone and when they say "the train now at platform 2 is for Brighton" the train is usually halfway to Hassocks.

 

[21C101]

From the Thameslink Website This Evening.........

Thames Water have identified two leaks coming through the roof of the railway tunnels near Farringdon. We, Network Rail and Thames Water are closely monitoring the situation. The current flooding isn't worsening and the drains continue to work well. Contingency plans remain in place and there is currently no disruption to services. We will update customers should there be any changes.

 

[user15681]

From the Thameslink Website This Evening.........

Been that way since early Monday morning at least, though.

 

[hassaanhc]

First posts for two weeks as well was Thameslink was running well for all that time?

 

[Bald Rick]

First posts for two weeks as well was Thameslink was running well for all that time?

I've had 18 successive right time trips....

 

[DelayRepay]

First posts for two weeks as well was Thameslink was running well for all that time?

It's actually been OK - no major disruption and my longest delay was about 10 minutes. This is based on travelling into London every day. Their performance feels to have improved significantly since before Christmas. I hope I haven't jinxed anything but for my journies at least it feels like we're back where we were when FCC shut up shop.

 

[samuelmorris]

I must admit, I'm giving Thameslink some of my business lately for a short hop from Blackfriars to Farringdon, it splits up my journey and saves me using deep tube lines at peak time or timing my journies around the Hammersmith & City line. Crowd levels are totally fine as the train empties out at Blackfriars but I'm struggling with punctuality - it's not affecting me much as I can take whichever service first arrives but of the 5 trips I've done so far, none have been RT and only 2 of them have been delayed less than 5 minutes. While it's doing me no harm, it's a pretty poor showing so far. But then perhaps I'm just jaded as I still haven't managed to get a ride on a 387 yet