Thameslink lengthens train in latest crowding figures

A Thameslink train that appears in the Department for Transport's crowded trains list for 2015 was lengthened by 50% a few months later. And on the metro route, which can accommodate only eight-carriage services and has two trains in the crowded list, new trains with 40% more capacity will begin running later this year.

Across the Thameslink mainline route between Bedford and Brighton, the first five brand new, longer 12-carriage Thameslink trains, are already in service on the Brighton Main Line, forming 41 daily services and relieving crowding still further - and more will follow.

A spokesman for Thameslink said: "The 06.57 Brighton to Bedford service became extremely crowded in May 2015 when the revised Southern timetable (designed to address some of the performance issues caused by the rebuilding of London Bridge) was introduced.

"The eight-carriage 06.57 saw a heavy increase in passenger numbers because, as part of measures to improve punctuality, a preceding Gatwick Express service from Brighton was withdrawn, displacing passengers onto the 06.57. To address the situation, in December 2015, the 06.57 was given a 50% increase in capacity by lengthening it from eight carriages to 12.

"Passenger numbers across the South East have increased by a massive 40% in the past decade. To help address this, the Thameslink Programme, including the rebuilding of London Bridge which will allow 24 trains per hour to run through the heart of London will ultimately provide increased capacity on busy Thameslink routes.

"We have already begun the introduction of new, longer trains on the Brighton Main Line with five of our new 50% longer 12-carriage trains forming 41 daily services, and by 2018, we will have introduced 1,140 new carriages to the network, significantly reducing crowding on Thameslink routes."

Ends

Editor’s notes

Spring 2015

(Ranked 1) The 07.00 Brighton to Bedford train is the same as the 06.57 Brighton to Bedford train featured in the autumn 2015 counts. It was retimed in the May 2015 timetable change. Actions were taken to extend this train 50%, from eight to 12 carriages as detailed above.

(Ranked 8) The 08.08 Sutton to St Albans City train comprises 8 carriages. This is the maximum length of train for this route so it is not possible to add carriages to it. However, later this year we will start running brand new Thameslink trains on the route which have 40% more capacity for passengers than the existing trains.

Autumn 2015

(Ranked 1) Please see above for the 06.57 Brighton to Bedford train. Actions were taken to extend this train 50%, from eight to 12 carriages as detailed above.

(Ranked 5) The 08.02 Beckenham Junction to Bedford train comprises 8 carriages. This is the maximum length of train for this route so it is not possible to add carriages to it. However, later this year we will start running brand new Thameslink trains on the route which have 40% more capacity for passengers than the existing trains.

(Ranked 8) The 16.26 Bedford to Brighton train comprises 8 carriages. Crowding on this route will be relieved with the introduction of longer 12-carriage Class 700 trains as part of the Thameslink Programme.