Thameslink Services/Timetable from May 20th 2018

[AverageTD]

But you are being unreasonable, Why should passengers at Plumstead have to wait an extra few minutes just because Abbey Wood and Woolwich Arsenal passengers want to save a few small minutes, the Woolwich line nearly a proper metro service with 8tph at most of the stations! This is a good thing!

Well Crossrail shall come soon and save Abbey Wood and Woolwich commuters so they might as well just skip those stations!

 

[blakey1152]

Looks like the new timetable has totally gone to pieces

Doesn’t seem to be any Thameslink trains as advertised from Plumstead to Kentish Town at all. They appear all cancelled for the next few hours at least.
And a broken rail on the Bexleyheath line to add to the chaos.

Hopefully not a sign of things to come

 

[FOH]

The core was closed this morning for planned engineering works, maybe that is why

 

[AverageTD]

The core was closed this morning for planned engineering works, maybe that is why

With Sunday engineering works a lot of the new 20th May changes will probably be delayed until tommorow

 

[gingerheid]

Gatwick - Cambridge doesn't seem to be going well; lots of "Cancelled throughout due to planning error"

 

[theironroad]

Oh dear.....the end of the world is nigh or maybe postponed until tomorrow morning's rush hour......

 

[Class465fan]

Will the ticket price change?

 

[LowLevel]

Looks to be a shambles - a fine omen!

 

[BluePenguin]

Will the ticket price change?

No it looks like the ticket prices are still the same. All "Not Valid On HS1" tickets from Medway which were valid on Southeastern are the same now they have been replaced by Thameslink

 

[Class465fan]

Unbelievable. Why should they make us pay for the same price for a slower service that will end up in shambles??

 

[NorthKent1989]

Unbelievable. Why should they make us pay for the same price for a slower service that will end up in shambles??

Especially since Gillingham via Woolwich trains is now an "all stops suburban metro" service we should pay cheaper fairs in an ideal world.

The shambles that is happening today is probably a sign of things to come, just wait until the complications that plagued London Bridge before return because of the Rainham service, oh the joy!

 

[Class465fan]

Slightly off topic but what stops will the new semi fast sidcup service call at?

 

[NorthKent1989]

Slightly off topic but what stops will the new semi fast sidcup service call at?

From Gravesend, all stations to Dartford then Crayford, Bexley, Sidcup, New Eltham then fast to London Bridge.

 

[Domh245]

You are paying to go between stations, not to go on a train for a length of time. You are still being taken the same distance between the stations that you want to go to, so there isn't any reason for the fare to decrease.

 

[Antman]

From Gravesend, all stations to Dartford then Crayford, Bexley, Sidcup, New Eltham then fast to London Bridge.

And surely it would be better to extend these trains to Rainham and terminate the Thameslink service at Gravesend?

 

[Class465fan]

From Gravesend, all stations to Dartford then Crayford, Bexley, Sidcup, New Eltham then fast to London Bridge.

This may be an unpopular idea but wouldn't it be better for the semi fast via sidcup service to only call at greenhite then dartford like the semi fast Gillingham service did as the new thameslink service from dartford will be calling at all stations to gravesend??

 

[BluePenguin]

Unbelievable. Why should they make us pay for the same price for a slower service that will end up in shambles??

To "encourage" those of us who want/need a fast journey to cough up more to travel on HS1.

See my post #26, I wrote a little more about this and how they did the same where I live a few years ago.

 

[Class465fan]

To "encourage" those of us who want/need a fast journey to cough up more to travel on HS1.

See my post #26, I wrote a little more about this and how they did the same where I live a few years ago.

But the HS1 doesn't even go to abbey wood so that'll do me no good.

 

[Antman]

This may be an unpopular idea but wouldn't it be better for the semi fast via sidcup service to only call at greenhite then dartford like the semi fast Gillingham service did as the new thameslink service from dartford will be calling at all stations to gravesend??

Stone Crossing, Swanscombe and Northfleet have been deemed worthy of 4tph.

 

[BluePenguin]

You are paying to go between stations, not to go on a train for a length of time. You are still being taken the same distance between the stations that you want to go to, so there isn't any reason for the fare to decrease.

Then why are there cheaper TOC restricted tickets for slower journys between stations elsewhere in the country? In fairness such examples on WCML to Birmingham and Liverpool are both long distance and a lot slower.

However even between London and Gatwick Airport, there are "Thamelink Only" fares which are a little cheaper. It would make sense for Thamelink to introduce similar fares to reflect the increased times.

Govia love to milk pretending how they are separate companies so it is only fair that their brands providing the slower services has a cheaper fare accordingly.

Yes, you are paying to go between stations but between stations on most routes in the country there is a cheaper fare for the slower routes, whether opting for London Midland over Virgin, Southern over Southeastern, Thameslink over Southern or Northern over Transpenine Express, there is usually always a lower fare available. That is the reason why the fares should decrease, or at least a more restricted TOC only fare introduced.

Plus, don't the poor people of Medway and North Kent deserve any compensation for the increased times?

 

[Timrud]

Maybe you could argue the fares should go up?

Access to more stations, train makes more stop which is greater wear on the mechanicals, uses more electric having the accelerate

 

[BluePenguin]

But the HS1 doesn't even go to abbey wood so that'll do me no good.

Sadly it doesn't, however the quickest times to Abbey Wood are not as awful as further afield.

 

[NorthKent1989]

And surely it would be better to extend these trains to Rainham and terminate the Thameslink service at Gravesend?

In theory yes, but the problem is is that Medway commuters rely on the vast interchanges on the Woolwich line, the DLR, Jubilee line and Crossrail all intersect or are very near to the Woolwich line, the Sidcup line doesn't offer anything like that at all, also Thameslink need Gillingham depot, because Gravesend/Hoo Junction has apparently been safeguarded for a future Crossrail extension which may not happen for another ten years at the earliest!

What should happen is that they should extend the new CX to Dartford service via Lewisham and Woolwich to Gillingham, in addition to the Thameslink service, have the CX service skip Northfleet, Swanscombe, Stone, Slade Green, Erith, Belvedere and Dockyard and have the Thameslink service call at those stations, that way everyone wins.

I have heard rumours that after 2019 Thameslink will review the Rainham service, as they have taken into account the effect Crossrail may have, will usage at certain stations near to Abbey Wood or Woolwich Crossrail fall? Or will people change at Abbey Wood for Crossrail, it has been predicted that demand for Crossrail will be pretty high from day one and let's not forget that the Abbey Wood branch will be the one that will have services that will actually reach outer West London, Heathrow and Reading, not to mention that Crossrail from Abbey Wood to Farringdon will be much quicker than Thameslink to Farringdon via Greenwich.

For me I've resigned myself to sitting on hard plastic seats on a train that sounds like the sound effect for a UFO in a 1950s b movie and a much longer commute for the forseable future until things change

 

[Domh245]

Then why are there cheaper TOC restricted tickets for slower journys between stations elsewhere in the country? In fairness such examples on WCML to Birmingham and Liverpool are both long distance and a lot slower.

However even between London and Gatwick Airport, there are "Thamelink Only" fares which are a little cheaper. It would make sense for Thamelink to introduce similar fares to reflect the increased times.

Govia love to milk pretending how they are separate companies so it is only fair that their brands providing the slower services has a cheaper fare accordingly.

Yes, you are paying to go between stations but between stations on most routes in the country there is a cheaper fare for the slower routes, whether opting for London Midland over Virgin, Southern over Southeastern, Thameslink over Southern or Northern over Transpenine Express, there is usually always a lower fare available. That is the reason why the fares should decrease, or at least a more restricted TOC only fare introduced.

Plus, don't the poor people of Medway and North Kent deserve any compensation for the increased times?

Those "slower TOC only" fares tend to exist because they want to use up the capacity on their train and do so by undercutting the other TOC on price, there are very few people who would pay an equal amount (or more) to go slower. As there is no competitor, the comparison is irrelevant.

Perhaps they do deserve compensation if the increased times are taking the mickey - I've not seen it reported anywhere how much longer the journeys will be, but I suspect it is nearer to 5 minutes than 15.

 

[BluePenguin]

Maybe you could argue the fares should go up?

Access to more stations, train makes more stop which is greater wear on the mechanicals, uses more electric having the accelerate

Ahh yes the "increased (but slower) journey opportunities".

Let's hope somebody official doesn't read this post and get any ideas!

 

[Class465fan]

Let's hope DAFT doesn't see that.

 

[carriageline]

Excited for tomorrow..

It’s the first time we are going to see ETCS in full operation, and maybe even ATO!

 

[talldave]

You are paying to go between stations, not to go on a train for a length of time. You are still being taken the same distance between the stations that you want to go to, so there isn't any reason for the fare to decrease.

So how do you explain the two prices between Gravesend and St Pancras, one high-speed and one not?

Interestingly, I conclude that it must be a steep uphill journey to London, as HS1 takes 28 minutes to get to St Pancras but only 22 mins to get back !

 

[BluePenguin]

Those "slower TOC only" fares tend to exist because they want to use up the capacity on their train and do so by undercutting the other TOC on price, there are very few people who would pay an equal amount (or more) to go slower. As there is no competitor, the comparison is irrelevant.

Perhaps they do deserve compensation if the increased times are taking the mickey - I've not seen it reported anywhere how much longer the journeys will be, but I suspect it is nearer to 5 minutes than 15.

I think the idea is people want to pay less money to go slower. It is already a lot cheaper to use Thameslink over HS1, but it wouldn't hurt if Thameslink decreased the prices even more.

As for the reality of how the new journey times are, who knows. I suppose we will find out tomorrow from disgruntled passengers.

 

[talldave]

I think the idea is people want to pay less money to go slower. It is already a lot cheaper to use Thameslink over HS1, but it wouldn't hurt if Thameslink decreased the prices even more.

As for the reality of how the new journey times are, who knows. I suppose we will find out tomorrow from disgruntled passengers.

I await tomorrow's Twitter meltdown with baited breath !