Thameslink

[CrunchySaviour]

Come on, Peter. If you've been on a swishy new Southeastern train you'll know that some regions have IMMEASURABLY superior rail services.

Thameslink is the very ARSE of Beelzebub.

[barrykas]

Thameslink is the very ARSE of Beelzebub.

I challenge you to traverse the Oldham Loop on a Class 142 DMU (aka Pacer) and still think that of Thameslink

Cheers,

Barry

[barrykas]

While on the subject of Thameslink, when FCC build the new station at St Pancras and close down KXTL wil they still be offering the through London service?

St Pancras Midland Road Thameslink (to give it its full name) has precisely nothing to do with FCC, apart from the fact that they'll be running the trains that stop there. And yes, the cross-London service will still operate once it opens.

Also, why did KXTL used to be called MIdland City?

When originally opened, the section between Kings Cross and Moorgate that is now used by Thameslink was known as the Widened Lines. This section was closed in May 1979 and reopened in July 1983 as the Midland City Line (the remaining "Midland Electric" services running to/from St Pancras.

It was renamed Kings Cross Thameslink with the introduction of the full Thameslink service in 1987 or thereabouts, though some evidence of the old name remains, in that the three letter code for the station is still KCM.

HTH,

Barry

[barrykas]

Looking at an A-Z from late 60s early 70s was rather interesting and provoked several questions.
-Years before Thameslink was installed there was a line running south of Farringdon past a depot in between Chancery Lane & St Pauls (Site of CT) and down to Blackfriars. What was it used for?

Deliveries to and from Smithfield Central Markets in the main, though the "low level" line through Snow Hill tunnel closed in 1919 or thereabouts.

-The Bakerloo only runs to Stonebridge Park- When did that stop?

Bakerloo services between Stonebridge Park and Watford Junction were withdrawn in September 1982, and reinstated as far as Harrow & Wealdstone in June 1984.

- What services ran from Broad St?

The North London Line to Richmond, and a few peak services to Watford, and that's about it. Once Broad Street closed, those Watford trains were diverted to Liverpool Street via the Graham Road curve, but didn't last long, with the main NLL service being extended to North Woolwich.

HTH,

Barry

[petermiller36]

Come on, Peter. If you've been on a swishy new Southeastern train you'll know that some regions have IMMEASURABLY superior rail services.

Thameslink is the very ARSE of Beelzebub.

St Albans - 20 minutes into london and trains every 15 minutes (excluding the slower ones). It means I dont have to research a timetable before travelling. And for those of that actually go out and socialise (heaven forbid not researching working timetables on a saturday night) it is very useful for going out in London - very late runnings and only 1 and a half hours inbetween end of and start of service. super stuff.

[CrunchySaviour]

Wow - it has redeeming qualities. That does actually sound useful for socialising. It's only 90% atrocious now.

[zeibura]

i could have sworn hatfield to london was 5 times an hour. 3 to moorgate and 2 to kings cross... or am i mistaken?

the new southeastern trains are cool but it's only a matter of time before they get vandalised beyond repair by the medway massives.

in my opinion the worst trains i've ever been on are the silverlink metro ones on the north london line. it doesn't help that there always seems to be a stella-drinking tramp in every carriage, but on the whole they just depress me.

[barrykas]

i could have sworn hatfield to london was 5 times an hour. 3 to moorgate and 2 to kings cross... or am i mistaken?

It does, however the Moorgate trains stop everywhere and take about 45 minutes to get to Moorgate, against 25 minutes for the Kings Cross trains. Similarly, against 8 an hour from St Albans, of which 4 are first stop Kings Cross Thameslink in around 20 minutes, and the other 4 are stoppers, taking 35 minutes.

in my opinion the worst trains i've ever been on are the silverlink metro ones on the north london line. it doesn't help that there always seems to be a stella-drinking tramp in every carriage, but on the whole they just depress me.

Rather ironically, the ones used on Silverlink Metro are identical to the ones used for the Great Northern Inners (Hertford and Welwyn Garden City). Difference being that WAGN refurbished theirs, but Silverlink haven't, presumably because they know they'd end up being trashed.

Cheers,

Barry

[editorsfoot]

the new southeastern trains are cool but it's only a matter of time before they get vandalised beyond repair by the medway massives.

speaking as a resident of Medway I would agree that South Eastern is a lot better than the days of Connex, although I have never vandalised a train yet.

[zeibura]

hah god i remember when connex were in charge of both the SET and southern franchises, i live near a southern station but used to use a southeastern line to get to school every day, and yeah, it was terrible. sorry but french people shouldn't be trusted with busy lines like that. since when could they ever run regular services?

[standclearofthedoors]

The Gospel Oak Barking is even Worse than the NLL imo- so unloved..

[petermiller36]

i could have sworn hatfield to london was 5 times an hour. 3 to moorgate and 2 to kings cross... or am i mistaken?

the new southeastern trains are cool but it's only a matter of time before they get vandalised beyond repair by the medway massives.

in my opinion the worst trains i've ever been on are the silverlink metro ones on the north london line. it doesn't help that there always seems to be a stella-drinking tramp in every carriage, but on the whole they just depress me.

yeah u maybe right but as mentioned already they do stop everywhere. Couple that with the fact Hatfield is a dump and unsafe at night. Now marry that to the fact that thameslink runs through london so has 5 or 6 good interchanges. i will not be beaten on this