Odd Thameslink move at London Bridge Lunchtime 20/03

[Minstral25]

Really odd today - I was on 9R23 (Three Bridges - Bedford) heading into London at London Bridge and noticed a parallel Thameslink Train going through platform 8 non-stop, it was 9S26 (Brighton to Cambridge). We were signalled to a stop just after London Bridge to let it cross and go up to Blackfriars.

It was unusual to see a Thameslink train go through the SouthEastern platforms (although obviously they can), especially with the call at London Bridge cancelled as it didn't stop but otherwise normal service along route. Checked later and it appears 9J32 and 9T24 also did the same.

Do not really understand why those three were diverted but our train went through normal Thameslink Platform at same time? Can anyone enlighten?

 

[Magdalia]

Looking at Real Time Trains the issue appears to have been with 9R28 1126 Gatwick-Bedford which was blocking the northbound Thameslink line somewhere between New Cross Gate and London Bridge.

Realtime Trains | 9R28 1126 Three Bridges to Bedford | 20/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 9R28 1126 departure from Three Bridges to Bedford on 20/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

9R28 1126 Three Bridges to Bedford

 

[LBMPSB]

Really odd today - I was on 9R23 (Three Bridges - Bedford) heading into London at London Bridge and noticed a parallel Thameslink Train going through platform 8 non-stop, it was 9S26 (Brighton to Cambridge). We were signalled to a stop just after London Bridge to let it cross and go up to Blackfriars.

It was unusual to see a Thameslink train go through the SouthEastern platforms (although obviously they can), especially with the call at London Bridge cancelled as it didn't stop but otherwise normal service along route. Checked later and it appears 9J32 and 9T24 also did the same.

Do not really understand why those three were diverted but our train went through normal Thameslink Platform at same time? Can anyone enlighten?

Maybe there was a issue with a previous train ahead of you that cleared as you got there, and the other trains had already be committed to diversion. A train blocking the line between New Cross Gate and London Bridge on the Up Sussex Fast/ No 5 Up line will mean either the following Thameslink trains sit and queue on the Up Sussex Fast between New Cross Gate and Norwood or, they get diverted towards the London Bridge via the Bermondsey reversibles and get crossed over to No 8 Up line and run through Platform 8 or 9 at London Bridge. Thameslink, do not allow their trains to call at London Bridge on Platforms 7, 8 & 9. Platforms 3 & 6 where always designed to be alternative calling Platforms should ever Platform 4 or 5 be out of use for whatever reason. So the poor customer/passengers have to sit there and travel through usable platforms and miss their stop. The issue cannot be that Southeastern are the primary dispatchers of trains on Platforms 7, 8 & 9 because Platform 6 is the same platform as Platform 7 and Thameslink are self dispatch, no platfom staff need, no monitors needed on platforms as they have onboard monitors. Southeastern and Thameslink can be very anti using each others platforms, even though the SIgnaller can easily signal trains through with no to minimal delay. Nor can it be that there is no Harrington Humps, because other Thameslink stoppable pLatform 3 & 6 do not have Harrington Humps. I feel it is just a bitter Southeastern/Thameslink rivalry, 'we are not letting our staff assist your passengers'. Likewise, because Thameslink do not have dispatch staff on Platform 4 & 5, Southeastern trains can not call at these platforms only run through. Internal politics and stupidity no thought of making it flexible for the customer.

 

[43066]

Really odd today - I was on 9R23 (Three Bridges - Bedford) heading into London at London Bridge and noticed a parallel Thameslink Train going through platform 8 non-stop, it was 9S26 (Brighton to Cambridge). We were signalled to a stop just after London Bridge to let it cross and go up to Blackfriars.

It was unusual to see a Thameslink train go through the SouthEastern platforms (although obviously they can), especially with the call at London Bridge cancelled as it didn't stop but otherwise normal service along route. Checked later and it appears 9J32 and 9T24 also did the same.

Do not really understand why those three were diverted but our train went through normal Thameslink Platform at same time? Can anyone enlighten?

It’s unusual but does happen - most commonly if it a TL train sits down in LBG station itself. In this case it was felt it made most sense to allow the ECML bound train to claw back some time.

Southeastern and Thameslink can be very anti using each others platforms, even though the SIgnaller can easily signal trains through with no to minimal delay. Nor can it be that there is no Harrington Humps, because other Thameslink stoppable pLatform 3 & 6 do not have Harrington Humps. I feel it is just a bitter Southeastern/Thameslink rivalry, 'we are not letting our staff assist your passengers'. Likewise, because Thameslink do not have dispatch staff on Platform 4 & 5, Southeastern trains can not call at these platforms only run through. Internal politics and stupidity no thought of making it flexible for the customer.

This is nonsense. It’s isn’t generally done because it doesn’t make operational sense to do it - nothing to do with “internal politics and stupidity” - the station and surrounding railway is specifically designed to segregate CH+, TL and CST flows.

However it can be done where it makes sense to aid recovery.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It’s unusual but does happen - most commonly if it a TL train sits down in LBG station itself. In this case it was felt it made most sense to allow the ECML bound train to claw back some time.



This is nonsense. It’s isn’t generally done because it doesn’t make operational sense to do it - nothing to do with “internal politics and stupidity” - the station and surrounding railway is specifically designed to segregate CH+, TL and CST flows.

However it can be done where it makes sense to aid recovery.

Platforms 8&9 are pretty straight compared to 4&5 so ought to be easier for self dispatch but this is one of many examples where the industry says it "Puts the Passenger First" but it doesn't try hard enough to resolve examples like this. Anyhow good to see all that expensive flexibility being used to work around an issue and signallers and train crew deserve credit for that its not there fault trains aren't allowed to stop.

 

[ComUtoR]

Platforms 8&9 are pretty straight compared to 4&5 so ought to be easier for self dispatch

The on board cameras are what makes it possible. The curvature of the platform has little impact on self dispatch when they are being used.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The on board cameras are what makes it possible. The curvature of the platform has little impact on self dispatch when they are being used.

So even less of reason not to be able to use any platform if its illuminated for DOO.