On 22 Jan, 11:44, "Paul Scott" wrote:
"Mizter T" wrote:


On 22 Jan, 11:02, "Paul Scott" wrote:
Much of the above will change from December this year when the
Southeastern Sevenoaks service becomes a joint operation with
FCC and runs through to at least Kentish Town as part of
Thameslink Key Output 0, which closes the bay platforms at
Blackfriars...

Paul

True - but my understanding is that's a temporary measure (albeit a
long-term one) whilst construction at Blackfriars goes ahead. I was
under the impression that eventually Blackfriars would get new bay
platforms for terminating services. Of course after a few years of
through running to Kentish Town, I think there'll be a lot of
passengers who will have grown quite accustomed/keen on this temporary
arrangement, and will be displeased to see it finish!

From what I've read over the last couple of years I believe the new
Blackfriars bay platforms will not necessarily be for the same services as
use them now, partly because they'll be on the east side of the through
platforms, but OTOH we keep being told the eventual services are not
confirmed yet, so anything might happen really...


Interesting stuff. First off I presume you mean that the new bay
platforms at Blackfriars will be to the *west* of the through
Thameslink lines (i.e. the other side to where they are now) - in the
not so distant past someone (possibly you) provided a link to the
blueprints, which show how the through Thameslink line will be slewed
at an angle through Blackfriars so as to make this all possible within
the space available.

But you make a very good point about what might happen to the
Blackfriars (and soon to be Kentish Town) to Sevenoaks services -
they'll be approaching on the wrong tracks to use the bay platform
(they could presumably get in there but they'd block the everything up
by so doing). So it seems possible that this Sevenoaks service might
permanently turn into a Thameslink service from December onwards -
which is exactly what happened in the early years of Thameslink. If
that does turn out to be the case it would be welcomed by many
passengers.

There was just something in the back of my mind that suggested any
major rejig of service would have to wait until the SPILL to Great
Northern connection was put in place - which I thought (and I may have
got this very wrong) wasn't going to happen until much later.

Do you know what the story is about Thameslink and the Wimbledon -
Sutton loop - are there proposals for change here as well? And is
there any chance of a restored (off-peak) Sutton via Mitcham Junction
to London Bridge service I wonder?


Incidentally you say it's going to be a joint Southeastern and FCC
operation - how's this thing actually going to work, and what stock is
going to be used?

The joint working bit is based on a 'webchat' reply on the FCC website,
where it was stated that FCC drivers will hand over to Southeastern for the
part of the route south of Blackfriars. The stock is apparently going to be
the recently ordered 'Southern' 377s that were supposed to allow for the
final 319s to be transferred to FCC - its all tied up with the Watford
Junction - Gatwick 'lack of stock' debate thats going on elsewhere at the
moment...

Paul S

Sounds intriguing. I wonder if the driver changeover at Blackfriars
will cause delays. Any idea which TOC will actually "own" the trains?
(Obviously a Rosco will own them, but you know what I mean.)