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Taken from the class 700 thread - as people are correct it has drifted and adding doesn't help it get on topic
I don't dispute the fact the St Albans has a large demand, that is why the service is so frequent. Interested to know why when you compare the census information with Welwyn / Hatfield they are both bigger in terms of population but less demand from rail. It could very easily be that St Albans get more passengers because of its superior services.
But you are summing up exactly why Great Northern are unhappy. St Alban's have seen an improvement as a result of the new timetables and trains!
Is you believe the spin Great Northern will see an improvement, this is true off peak but as we have gone through many times in the peak we are only seeing things get worse. You explcitly mention you will get a quicker service. Of course we look at Envy as our journey time is slowed down.
WGC service peak now.
4x 8 coach trains to Kings Cross per hour - formed of either 365 / 387 trains (already reduced capacity from the 317 / 321)
4x 6 coach trains to Moorgate per hour - formed of 313s
Fastest journey 20 minutes.
WGC service May
4x 8 coach trains to Kings Cross per hour - formed of class 700 trains (another reduction in capacity)
4x 6 coach trains to Moorgate per hour - formed of 313s
Fastest journey time 31 minutes.
So what exactly is WGC getting out of the introduction of the 700s? Granted Thameslink has suffered the disruption of the core building work. But at least thier trains are going through the core. WGC is having reduced capacity and slower journeys with no commitment to a single train ever going through the core or any provision of extra capacity in the peak. 2020 for runnning through the core maybe? This is a station in the top 10 passenger useage on Great Northern.
Off Peak today
Direct trains to Cambridge and Peterborough (1 per hour)
3 Trains to Moorgate
2 Trians to Kings Cross
Off Peak from May
Direct trains to Cambridge (2 per hour)
4 trains to Moorgate
2 Trains to Kings Cross
Extremely poor connection at Stevenage to Peterborough which will infact be quicker to travel via Finsbury park.
So I am mystified - what exactly should I have to look forward to about the introduction of the Thameslink timetable and the class 700s? The 365s would do the job fine are have more seats.
With over 3m* season tickets at St Albans, (most of them leaving St Albans for London every workday morning), it's necessary for many frequent 8 & 12-car trains to provide the service. None of the EM services provide any capacity there.
*That's more than Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth added together.
They had even less chance of seats when they were graced with four-car class319s in the peak. At least the 700s give them plenty of safe standing room and the trains will be quicker when the new full timetable starts.
I don't dispute the fact the St Albans has a large demand, that is why the service is so frequent. Interested to know why when you compare the census information with Welwyn / Hatfield they are both bigger in terms of population but less demand from rail. It could very easily be that St Albans get more passengers because of its superior services.
But you are summing up exactly why Great Northern are unhappy. St Alban's have seen an improvement as a result of the new timetables and trains!
Is you believe the spin Great Northern will see an improvement, this is true off peak but as we have gone through many times in the peak we are only seeing things get worse. You explcitly mention you will get a quicker service. Of course we look at Envy as our journey time is slowed down.
WGC service peak now.
4x 8 coach trains to Kings Cross per hour - formed of either 365 / 387 trains (already reduced capacity from the 317 / 321)
4x 6 coach trains to Moorgate per hour - formed of 313s
Fastest journey 20 minutes.
WGC service May
4x 8 coach trains to Kings Cross per hour - formed of class 700 trains (another reduction in capacity)
4x 6 coach trains to Moorgate per hour - formed of 313s
Fastest journey time 31 minutes.
So what exactly is WGC getting out of the introduction of the 700s? Granted Thameslink has suffered the disruption of the core building work. But at least thier trains are going through the core. WGC is having reduced capacity and slower journeys with no commitment to a single train ever going through the core or any provision of extra capacity in the peak. 2020 for runnning through the core maybe? This is a station in the top 10 passenger useage on Great Northern.
Off Peak today
Direct trains to Cambridge and Peterborough (1 per hour)
3 Trains to Moorgate
2 Trians to Kings Cross
Off Peak from May
Direct trains to Cambridge (2 per hour)
4 trains to Moorgate
2 Trains to Kings Cross
Extremely poor connection at Stevenage to Peterborough which will infact be quicker to travel via Finsbury park.
So I am mystified - what exactly should I have to look forward to about the introduction of the Thameslink timetable and the class 700s? The 365s would do the job fine are have more seats.