.
I don't understand this, the 2018 peak timetable proposes 2tph Rainham to Luton, 2tph Maidstone East to Cambridge & 2tph from each of Orpington and Sevenoaks to run via the Catford Loop so I don't understand how this forces a 20 minute cycle - can you explain the link here please?
IMO they'd be better off focusing the Kent services on the Catford Loop, any services via London Bridge should run onto the BML because having parallel movements in the London Bridge area (i.e. between Thameslink & Kent lines) sort of defeats one of the key objectives of the whole project.
Your 2nd para sums it up perfectly.
The Kent timetable for services ex Cannon St run on a 20 minute cycle (off peak) and 22 minute cycle (peak). Note this doesn't mean a 3tph service to certain destinations, rather it is train paths that do roughly the same thing in the Metro area. E.g. 1702 Hastings, 1724 Ramsgate, 1745 (46) Folkestone, 1808 Ramsgate all have the same routing.
Trains coming out of the TL core via London Bridge to Kent would have to fit into this cycle. But as we know, the TL trains would be in some form of half hourly cycle. So it won't work, at least not reliably and not without plenty of pathing time. Unless, of course, you completely recast the Kent Metro timetable to fit around a handful of Thameslink services.
Hence why it would be somewhat easier from a timetabling perspective to keep TL services via London Bridge heading down the Sydenham corridor, and anything going to Kent to be routed via Bromley South.
Last edited: