Brighton to Haywards Heath odd Thameslink service running this evening.

[stadler]

Does anyone know why this odd Thameslink service is running from Brighton to Haywards Heath today?

Realtime Trains | 9Z62 2213 Brighton to Haywards Heath | 12/05/2024

Real-time train running information for 9Z62 2213 departure from Brighton to Haywards Heath on 12/05/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

22:13 Brighton
22:17 Burgess Hill
22:23 Hassocks
22:27 Burgess Hill
22:29 Wivelsfield
22:34 Haywards Heath



It is a Thameslink service this evening running solely from Brighton to Haywards Heath only.

There is no engineering work blocking the line further up. The train is on time so it is not heavily delayed or being cut back. Alll the other trains are running as normal. This service seems to have been specifically planned to run today but i can not think why as i have never known of such a service before.

I would be curious if anyone knows the reason behind this unusual Thameslink service running today?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Does the train code (= 9Z62) give any clue?

 

[MrJeeves]

It seems like it was meant to run ECS but got upgraded to passenger between Brighton and Haywards Heath

Realtime Trains | 5S61 2238 Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot | 12/05/2024

Real-time train running information for 5S61 2238 departure from Haywards Heath to Three Bridges Tl Up Depot on 12/05/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Driver made sure to welcome passengers onto the Thameslink Haywards Heath Special, too

It still doesn't answer the question of why it got upgraded to passenger, though. We ran directly behind us stopping southern service to London as well.

 

[Bishopstone]

When I was in Brighton at lunch time there were arrivals from, and departures for, Three Bridges only (calling all stations), listed on the boards as ‘Bucket and Spade Special’.

I assume crowds were expected given the fine weather, and driver resource was available, noting the overtime ban has just ended.

 

[MrJeeves]

To be fair, there were heavy crowds as I passed through Brighton around 2-3pm, but this Thameslink train was loaded with something like 20-25 people as I walked from the rear to the front.

Not complaining, as it made a very nice connection for me to get home!

 

[burgesshillbee]

Whilst at Three Bridges yesterday morning there was a 11.14 Three Bridges to Brighton all stations listed as a Bucket and Spade Special, which would have been handy as the previous Southern Train to Brighton had been cancelled.

 

[Sussex Ben]

It would be useful to have shuttles like this as part of the base plan given how busy the BML gets over the summer. Overcrowding is bad enough that I rarely bother making local journeys at weekends at this time of year, which is a shame given Brighton is so close.

 

[Jim]

Easy win that, unit booked ECS and run it as a passenger instead.

Nice to see some proper railway controlling going on!