Thameslink ideas

[CaledonianBlue]

What I don't understand is why the Thameslink services go so far out, if they are trying to be glorified metro services? For example why insist on the trains all the way from say Cambridge to Brighton? Why didn't they convert the more local services to Welwyn or Letchworth (say) to Thameslink? The trains seem to be designed more for short distance travellers (with priority to room for standing, information about the tube lines, etc.) rather than what longer distance customers might prefer (like more, and more comfortable seats)? Also those inner destinations have more choice of services, but the longer distance passengers are more reliant on a smaller number of strategic trains, that might more reliably start and end at their traditional termini than being delayed going through central London...

 

[Fred26]

What I don't understand is why the Thameslink services go so far out, if they are trying to be glorified metro services? For example why insist on the trains all the way from say Cambridge to Brighton? Why didn't they convert the more local services to Welwyn or Letchworth (say) to Thameslink? The trains seem to be designed more for short distance travellers (with priority to room for standing, information about the tube lines, etc.) rather than what longer distance customers might prefer (like more, and more comfortable seats)? Also those inner destinations have more choice of services, but the longer distance passengers are more reliant on a smaller number of strategic trains, that might more reliably start and end at their traditional termini than being delayed going through central London...

I have thought this too, but the problem is that space is needed at Kings Cross, and the only way to get that was to cut services from terminating there. Diverting them via the core was the alternative.
Another issue is, what would happen to the Moorgate services? If they went through the core, what sort of service would run on the NCL - Moorgate to Finsbury Park shuttles? I don't think that would achieve much either.

I have pondered whether it would have made more sense to connect the WCML to the TL core. By that I mean take over the Overground services out to Watford Junction. I don't know the logistics though, it's merely lines on a map.