Thameslink lay out plans to improve services on Greenwich line
Thameslink have increased the number of drivers following years of cancellations along routes such as the Greenwich line.
According to answers given at a recent meeting the company stated “Between July 2024 and the end of 2025, the number of full-time equivalent Thameslink and Great Northern drivers increased by 5% and we expect a further 7% increase this year.
“This is supporting improvements in resiliency and more reliable services for customers.”
Sufficient drivers are of course essential in operating timetabled services along the Woolwich line, with Thameslink the only route linking fast growing north Kent stations east of Dartford with the Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood and Woolwich, as well as the DLR.
For the Rainham service they stated “For depots in Luton and Gillingham – two key depots for the Rainham service – we expect an increase of 6% this year.”
Stations such as Stone Crossing, Northfleet, Greenhithe and Northfleet are seeing thousands of homes under construction nearby, with the line served by Thameslink sometimes located far closer than HS1 at Ebbsfleet making it an appealing route – if reliable.
It’s not far to Abbey Wood for onward Elizabeth line travel. For example, Stone Crossing is 16 minutes to Abbey Wood then a quick change to frequent Elizabeth line departures across London and beyond.
Long running issue
Thameslink has been beset with issues ever since it began running on the route from Luton through Greenwich to Rainham in Kent. Initially they only operated one of the supposed two trains per hour for many months.
Ever since it’s been a regular occurrence to see cancellation “due to a planning error” in addition to infrastructure causes. That does appear to have reduced in recent months.
While an increase in drivers will certainly help, it doesn’t always help with infrastructure problems in the core and north of London. Thameslink stated they are working with Network Rail to increase signalling resilience on the core between London Bridge and St Pancras:
“For instance, alongside Network Rail we have made the case for a secondary signalling system in the Thameslink Core – based on axle counters – which will help to minimise the type of disruption we saw in December where a signalling fault by Blackfriars caused significant disruption for Thameslink customers across the network.”
I find the Thameslink services specifically on weekends poor. Often running 1tph because of engineering works North of the river despite having 2tph previously with late starts and gaps in service.
Any chance the Thameslink trains ever become 12-car on the route. Given they skip Woolwich Dockyard is there any stops that cannot take 12-car?
The current 8-cars can be packed already and that’s before new homes across north Kent. Perhaps Southeastern should extend two trains per hour beyond Dartford to, say, Gravesend ensuring 4 TPH from Gravesend to Abbey Wood.
SE already run 4 trains an hour to Gravesend, 2 via Sidcup and 2 via Bexleyheath. You won’t fit any more into the bay platform.
Thameslink 12 car 700s are banned from all Kent routes due to various clearing and signal sighting issues.
I meant curtail two of those 4 via the Bexleyheath and Sidcup to Dartford and have two of the Abbey Wood/Woolwich line trains that currently terminate at Dartford run beyond. Alongside Thameslink that gives 4 tph direct to TfL modes in Abbey Wood and Woolwich for those between Dartford and Gravesend.
I doubt many that way are travelling to Sidcup. They’ll want Elizabeth line, DLR or central London and extending the trains via Woolwich past Dartford provides all that.
Thameslink not being able to run 12 car that seems odd as SE are able to along the line. What’s the specific clearing and signal sighting that means TL cannot? Both SE and TL use 20m cars.
@Ed Gillingham depot where the 700s are stored overnight / during the day cannot take 12 carriage 700s.
@John… Errr… What does “Sifficficent drivers ar ekey in operating services along the Woolwich line” mean…?
Perhaps they might check out the ridicilous Sunday timetabling North of St Pancras whereby thevtrsins either crawl or waste lots of minutes at stations because of exceßive slack in the timetables – an athlete could keep up with the train.
One other thing is trains leaving before their scheduled departure time. It is not unusual on the centre section to be able to see a train moving out on a green signal before the clock on the departure board reaches itscdeparture time.
Gillingham depot where the 700s are stored overnight / during the day cannot take 12 carriage 700s.
Southeastern should continue on operating suburban services in & out of London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street to Dartford, Gravesend and the rest of North Kent that goes via Woolwich Dockyard.
With Thameslink to continue on operating to Rainham and Gillingham. And perhaps Thameslink could expand more services such as to Tattenham Corner, Caterham and Reigate especially at peak times. As Govia Thameslink Railway is to be re-nationalised from Sunday 31st May.
Well apparently Govia Thameslink Railway are to be re-nationalised on May 31st this year that will see another train operator to be brought back into public ownership. So it’s best that Thameslink should retain their Luton/St. Albans City-Gravesend & Rainham via Woolwich Dockyard.
And Southeastern to continue on operating the North Kent service to/from London Charing Cross and Cannon Street stations to Dartford, Rochester, Paddocks Wood and Faversham services intact.
I still think that Southeastern should continue on operating the North Kent service and to allow their trains to stop at stations that Thameslink trains already stop at on the North Kent Line.
Plus I think that Thameslink could serve other stations and routes such as to Epsom, Epsom Downs, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Reigate and East Grinstead and to share some services with Southern. And with Govia Thameslink Railway soon to exist on the 31st May and to be taken back into public ownership as part of DfT Great British Railways.
Any chance of improving the comfort of the seating and general ambiance of carriages? The interior design is soulless.
Little chance until a mid life refresh. The DfT specced the trains I believe and did a rubbish job. Was it half way through the order they rushed to add seat back tables and plug sockets realising it was a big omission for trains on journeys up to two hours but half the trains don’t have them?
I wonder if the austere, soulless design is a factor in why they’re tagged and vandalised so much more than other stock on other networks. No staff on board or at most stations won’t help.