Any rumours as to what Cambridge North will be seeing in the way of London services?
No one knows for sure. Its 3 years since the franchise was awarded but there seems to be no hard info on various things including:
(a) whether the May 2019 TSR 2 will be delivered (4 TPH all day Southend, 3 TPD all day Hertford East, hourly Norwich to Cambridge extended to Stansted Airport all day, hourly Liv St Ipswich semifast extended to Norwich all day) and
(b) what infrastructure changes will be made and when, and if not what are the consequences. Franchise agreement includes below requirements. Clearly the listed stations were included for a reason. I dont know for sure but I think in some cases eg Hertford East it is because more than 8 cars is not permitted at all because signals are at end of platform and it is not permitted to start service from beyond the signal, and in others it is because 8 car + can only stop using SDO if rear of train is off platform and will block crossing eg Enfield Lock up direction, and Elsenham
Any GA or Network Rail insiders with any info on this? Is the May 2019 timetable change on track or will it be dropped? Is there a timetable for the platform extensions?
105. Infrastructure upgrades
105.1 By no later than 1 May 2019, the Franchisee shall make all necessary changes to the infrastructure of the Stations (including relevant associated infrastructure surrounding such Stations) in order to accommodate the Passenger Services as set out in TSR2 and the Franchhisee shall incur a minimum expenditure of [REDACTED120] in doing so.
105.2 Pursuant to paragraph 105.1 such changes to the infrastructure shall include such infrastructure works at each of Hertford East, Wickford, Manningtree, Kings Lynn, Elsenham, Ware, St Margarets and Enfield Lock Stations as are necessary to enable any Passenger Services comprised of 10 rolling stock vehicles to call at such Stations by no later than 1 September 2018.