On May 31, 6:32*pm, Mr Thant
wrote:
On 31 May, 17:50, wrote:

But isn't the eventual plan that the suburban services will gain new 8
car trains, whilst the longer distance services will gain 12 car
trains. This will lead to a separation in the rolling stock at least.

Things we know:
- All trains via London Bridge will be 12 car, to maximize capacity
- All (or most) trains via Elephant will be 8 car, due to platform
lengths at the inner south London stations
- All trains stopping at Kentish Town or Cricklewood will need to be 8
car, due to platform lengths.
- All other inner (and outer) stations are being lengthened to 12 cars

I think the likely outcome is off-peak, the "metro" services are 8
cars and call all stops, but during the peaks many of the 12 car
trains make various calls at the inner MML stations (except KT and
CW).


Hmm, I'd be surprised it there were many of the 12 car trains making
'extra' stops south of St. Albans during the peak, as the the
deceleration would make them less attractive to the longer distance
commuters. I'd think that the split between outer and inner suburban
services will be similar to now, but with extra 12 car trains running
on the outer suburban ECML services, where platforms are to be
lengthened to 12 car. Of course, there may be more stops in these
services just before and after the core peak periods and there might
be some inner suburban 12 car trains running on routes which can take
them south of the river.

The question is surely whether the service has to be completely
separate or whether the suburban section can be specified by TfL as a
signatory to the franchise, with a suitable arrangement of fare
allocations.

Exactly. Splitting the operations between separate companies doesn't
necessarily make much sense.

There are a few inner suburban trains that run to / from Letchworth
during the peaks.

Checking the new timetable, they now only do this during the off-
peaks. I thought they'd stopped doing ti completely.


So they do, and every hour now, the former Stevenage via Hertford
services have been extended to Letchworth. I wonder if they plan to
extend peak trains as well, once they get a few more 313s