Failed Unit
Established Member
Just looking as numbers are recovering generally on the network, wondering what peoples opinion is on if Covid has saved a few blushes on the focus of Thameslink. I am sure I have missed a few things but here a few items that were never delivered (probably won’t be now)
Cambridge - Maidstone East services (understand lack of Ashford Depot)
This splits people for a start as the start / terminating at Kings Cross does prevent importing of delays. But the through trains to stations to London Bridge are welcome even if no-one really cares where the train goes afterwards. However would we have enough 700s to run this service. We often see 387s running this route. I don’t think the failure rate of the 700s is anywhere near as high enough to run that service even if demand existed.
Welwyn / Hertford - Moorgate.
This should be every 15 minutes off-peak (the area where demand is picking up) - This was never introduced because of lack of staff, but even now I don’t see this improving. I suspect if the fall in passenger numbers because of Covid hand not happened we would still not have this running. Understand Covid didn’t help staff training, but I also understand even if Covid didn’t impact this, recruitment isn’t keeping up with retirement and resignation. Some of these are getting busy in the peak but not as bad as pre-Covid. The gaps in the tfl area should really be smoothed out if it is to stay every 30 mins.
24tph through the core.
Again if was always in doubt if this could be achieved, but now we don’t need to worry about it.
Welwyn - Sevenoaks seems to be getting a loyal following, but from WGC trains are certainly not as busy as pre-pandemic, and that is with the Baldock - London services still not in the timetable. On GN side a number of peak services are not in the timetable still. (Not sure about other routes). Hopefully these won’t be removed as a quick cost saving as when they don’t run (cancellations) the other services are not overwhelmed with displaced passengers.
Do you think Covid is a very good smoke screen for cuts to the GN / Thameslink (or rather not full implementation) of the 2018 timetable, that the DfT would had to make anyway. I know some services are on a worse frequency then pre 2018, but the number of seats is up. Some routes were slightly over provisioned (Hitchin - Cambridge), but even Peterborough - Hitchin off-peak is all 12 car when some were previously 4.
Hopefully we won’t make the same mistake as the 1980s and move stock way only for us not to be able to bring it back (although the loss of the 365s this has already happened to a degree). I guess we need a period of stability before we can start thinking of growth again, but I think the DfT are rather fortunate that they no longer need to try to implement the 2018 timetable.
Cambridge - Maidstone East services (understand lack of Ashford Depot)
This splits people for a start as the start / terminating at Kings Cross does prevent importing of delays. But the through trains to stations to London Bridge are welcome even if no-one really cares where the train goes afterwards. However would we have enough 700s to run this service. We often see 387s running this route. I don’t think the failure rate of the 700s is anywhere near as high enough to run that service even if demand existed.
Welwyn / Hertford - Moorgate.
This should be every 15 minutes off-peak (the area where demand is picking up) - This was never introduced because of lack of staff, but even now I don’t see this improving. I suspect if the fall in passenger numbers because of Covid hand not happened we would still not have this running. Understand Covid didn’t help staff training, but I also understand even if Covid didn’t impact this, recruitment isn’t keeping up with retirement and resignation. Some of these are getting busy in the peak but not as bad as pre-Covid. The gaps in the tfl area should really be smoothed out if it is to stay every 30 mins.
24tph through the core.
Again if was always in doubt if this could be achieved, but now we don’t need to worry about it.
Welwyn - Sevenoaks seems to be getting a loyal following, but from WGC trains are certainly not as busy as pre-pandemic, and that is with the Baldock - London services still not in the timetable. On GN side a number of peak services are not in the timetable still. (Not sure about other routes). Hopefully these won’t be removed as a quick cost saving as when they don’t run (cancellations) the other services are not overwhelmed with displaced passengers.
Do you think Covid is a very good smoke screen for cuts to the GN / Thameslink (or rather not full implementation) of the 2018 timetable, that the DfT would had to make anyway. I know some services are on a worse frequency then pre 2018, but the number of seats is up. Some routes were slightly over provisioned (Hitchin - Cambridge), but even Peterborough - Hitchin off-peak is all 12 car when some were previously 4.
Hopefully we won’t make the same mistake as the 1980s and move stock way only for us not to be able to bring it back (although the loss of the 365s this has already happened to a degree). I guess we need a period of stability before we can start thinking of growth again, but I think the DfT are rather fortunate that they no longer need to try to implement the 2018 timetable.