All Thameslink services cancelled for hours again along Greenwich rail line
There’s currently no rail services operating at all along the Thameslink line through Greenwich and Woolwich.
In an all too common occurrence a signalling issue on the network has seen all trains between Luton and Rainham in Kent cancelled for hours this afternoon and none will run during the evening peak.
Given Thameslink now provide up to half of all trains through stations such as Deptford and Greenwich during parts of the day it’s another substantial hit to capacity.
Little resilience
Compounding regular Thameslink problems, Southeastern are running 5-car trains in the evening peak along the line. That includes the 5:02pm and 5:24pm service from Cannon Street to Dartford. That’s the regular planned length of trains on those services.
This not only impacts services through Greenwich and Deptford but also capacity between Abbey Wood where the Elizabeth line terminates and north Kent including the busiest station in the county at Dartford.
Regular Thameslink cancellations spanning hours at a time coupled with short Southeastern trains ensure a service of 5-car trains through Deptford and Greenwich as well as Abbey Wood to Dartford.
Too busy to board
In turn trains are too busy to board – as seen again this week. And for those not able to get one it’s a half hour wait for the next one. Half an hour service levels in built up and fast growing areas of London and north Kent is incredibly poor provision. Just about every station on the line has new housing rising in close proximity.
Southeastern have been under Department for Transport control since 2021, made substantial cuts in 2022 and many will also remain from the May 2026 timetable despite a change of government.
Thameslink will be nationalised later this year but as Southeastern metro shows, if government are intent on cuts and will not fund service improvements under either the prior Tory ore current Labour governments it all means little.
Yet again Thameslink fails, the Dartford lines needs a major timetable revamp that removes the useless Thameslink service and restores the route to its previous timetable before the cuts
I use the Thameslink service for some key journeys through and to Blackfriars, St Pancras and West Hampstead. But it is just frustrating unreliable, whether during rush hour or off-peak. It also seems to collapse on short notice – all on time according to the National Rail app and then suddenly hit with delays or cancellations.
So frustrating that our Labour MP – who certainly highlighted the Tories’ failings in this area – has been silent at making improvements to get us back to a reasonable, reliable timetable as part of a Labour Government.
Thameslink can only run services efficiently if the track, signalling and electrical supply are functioning correctly.
And I think I’m correct in saying that these are the responsibility of a state owned body and not Thameslink?
I use Thameslink north of London and most times it runs very efficiently. When there are disruptions, it is normally due to problems outside Thameslink’s direct control.
Majority of the cancellations are within Thameslink control. Overnight services to Gatwick are frequently cancelled due to a “shortage of train crew” and that is often a regular case everyday and not just the overnight services.