Thameslink confirm service cuts over the summer through Greenwich and north Kent

Thameslink have confirmed they are halving services on their route through Greenwich and north Kent to one train per hour from July until the end of August.

The move impacts almost every non-peak train across the day and means fast-growing stations in north Kent will be down to one direct train per hour connecting to the Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood for large parts of weekdays and Saturdays.

Bear in mind it’s not that long ago TfL increased Elizabeth line frequencies on Saturdays given how popular the route is, while with the DfT we see cuts for six weeks impacting the leisure market. Both public bodies but a vastly different approach to rail.

Further west and stations such as Greenwich will see 30 minute intervals between trains for much of the day as a result. That’s the worst service level in decades.

Whilst services often do change for engineering works (see last year’s Blackheath tunnel closure) that’s essential work with no alternative, while this move is down to demands for less spending from government.

DfT press release

The Department for Transport has just issued a press release on plans now they’re in control of Thameslink, Southern and great northern. It explicitly fails to mention the reductions along the Luton to Rainham route, which seems to be the hardest hit of any Thameslink route.

They do highlight service improvements starting in six months time such as further trains to Gatwick.

They also state only two per cent of trains are being reduced which doesn’t sound much, but two per cent of thousands of services is still a hefty number and it’s how they’re doing it that’s damaging to rail growth and public transport usage.

This isn’t carefully crafted peak time extras when fewer commuters are using trains while still leaving a frequent service level but halving trains on a route almost all-day during the summer down to levels far below “turn-up-and-go” standards for urban areas, which tends to mean every 10-15 minutes minimum.

And as for just two per cent of trains cut? That’s not so minor when it’s a 50 per cent cut in trains on one route linking to the enormously popular Elizabeth line.

Another curious line is that they’re cutting to fund improvements later this year. Presumably this is the Gatwick trains as the Greenwich line is not seeing any Thameslink improvements according to the DfT.

Previously those Gatwick trains ran (that move is restoring some prior cuts) but the Luton to Rainham route via south east London and north Kent still managed two trains per hour.

Southeastern

The DfT do state that other operators run alongside Thameslink in south east London and north Kent, which is true, though Southeastern’s services in north Kent do not run to Abbey Wood for interchange to the Elizabeth line.

Further west, the way the timetable is structed means removing a Thameslink service each hour results in no trains between 29 minutes past the hour and 59 minutes past for Deptford, Greenwich, Maze Hill and Westcombe Park. All busy and growing stations. This summer will see major events such as a series of music concerts at the Old Royal Naval College grounds.

The most recent annual growth figures for those stations were:

• Westcombe Park: Up 12.3 per cent
• Maze Hill: Up 11.9 per cent
• Greenwich: Up 14 per cent
• Deptford: Up 16.3 per cent

For north Kent stations, growth was:

• Stone Crossing: Up 15.2 per cent
• Greenhithe: Up 13.1 per cent
• Swanscombe: Up 7.9 per cent
• Northfleet: Up 21.7 per cent
• Gravesend: Up 12.5 per cent

It should also be noted that these rail reductions are occurring in an area where a major road saw a landslip and closed since 2023. Closing the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe causes substantial impact on traffic, congestion and bus services which are now forced on long diversions.

Reducing rail in such an area is hardly conducive to helping that situation.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated:

“As we set up Great British Railways, we’re putting passengers first, fixing what’s broken, and delivering a railway people can rely on – one that rebuilds trust, regenerates communities and delivers the high standards passengers expect and deserve.”

Drivers

A lack of drivers doesn’t appear the reason for such wide ranging reductions on this specific route. While the DfT have proclaimed extra drivers as one of the benefits now they’re in control, the process of training additional drivers has been ongoing for some time.

They also highlight the programme with toilets, but again that’s been happening already. Much of the press has dutifully copied the press release and ignored the impending cuts.

In relation to driver numbers Thameslink last year stated on numerous occasions at various council transport meetings they were embarking on a substantial driver training programme which would bear fruit in 2026. By now in other words we’d start to see the benefits.

In addition, previous years never saw this level of halving a service during the summer and the question is, where does it lead if driver numbers are not the issue but demands for cuts emanating from the Treasury? Reductions every half term? Fewer services in Easter and Christmas – at at least fewer over a longer period than traditionally seen. Cutting back in the middle of day?

A gradual chipping away eventually leads to people giving up on rail. The area is already seeing strong growth and high levels of new homes. Don’t throw that away.

These reductions for six weeks may come at a traditionally quieter time overall but it’s still prime tourist season in places such as Greenwich and many stations have been fast growing due to mass new housing.

Comment

As someone who is a supporter of public ownership of rail and improving the incredibly fragmented nature of rail in the UK since privatisation, these cuts so soon after the DfT takeover are concerning.

Some appear willing to brush them off as government are now in control yet those for privatisation will seize on them. Cutting services for six weeks is not the way to win hearts and minds and capture rail’s potential in the area.

Some also say it’s only six weeks. Well, it’s a slippery slope. Ignoring it could mean the Treasury demands more cuts. Less staff, fewer trains and less upkeep would result. These reductions are not the only ones. Government has explicitly asked Avanti to cut services this summer to save money. A pattern could be emerging where the Treasury seek short term cuts at the expense of long term economic growth.

For one thing, a less reliable service is not going to make me and I suspect many others use Thameslink more this summer nor visit places and spend money I may otherwise have done.

Those moving into new homes near stations in, say, north Kent may attempt it, find a long, long wait for a train to reach the Elizabeth line and sack it off in future. Could hardly blame them.

A close eye

Now that the Thameslink service – and others – are in public hands it’s important to look at exactly what the DfT and Treasury are saying and doing. We’re hearing a lot about “sustainable subsidy” which appears shorthand for cuts.

We saw with Southeastern how – under DfT control since 2021 – DfT control resulted in cuts in 2022 which are still yet to be reversed.

They are supposed to be this coming winter. Hopefully that still happens – and service reductions do not become the norm across various lines and operators.

But for now let’s see if cuts start to be pushed on other services.

Independent sites can only continue with the support of readers.

You can support me via Paypal here

There's the Ko-fi option to buy me a coffee

Many thanks

You can also support the site by adding the Murky Depths as a trusted source in Google here

There's also a Facebook page for the site here