GTR cancellations including not operating from Victoria until 10th Jan

[Minstral25]

More disruption next week - GTR has just announced that they will be running a reduced timetable with no Victoria services to 10th January

 

[Horizon22]

More disruption next week - GTR has just announced that they will be running a reduced timetable with no Victoria services to 10th January

Think pretty much every TOC is running a reduced timetable from January 10th. That doesn't sound right though - not a single Southern service to Victoria? Where are the trains going? Or is there engineering works.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Think pretty much every TOC is running a reduced timetable from January 10th. That doesn't sound right though - not a single Southern service to Victoria? Where are the trains going? Or is there engineering works.

They may have decided to extend the London Victoria Blockade for another week, but that is the only thing I can think of, and seems very unlikely.

 

[Failed Unit]

On the Great Northern routes it looks like a Saturday timetable. Considering demand before Christmas and the fact that next week tends to be lighter demand anyway that is probably better then the normal service with lots of cancellations (if they can staff it). Before Christmas the Moorgate routes (which I used, so could be true of others as well) had too many long gaps with successive cancellations.

 

[Surreytraveller]

They may have decided to extend the London Victoria Blockade for another week, but that is the only thing I can think of, and seems very unlikely.

There aren't enough drivers available to run the service, and not enough time to replan the service. The only option is to roll over this week's plan

 

[JonathanH]

They may have decided to extend the London Victoria Blockade for another week, but that is the only thing I can think of, and seems very unlikely.

It was explained in another thread that there is no resource to come up with a different timetable so they are just sticking with what is in force this week. The lines to Victoria will be open but unserved.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Think pretty much every TOC is running a reduced timetable from January 10th. That doesn't sound right though - not a single Southern service to Victoria? Where are the trains going? Or is there engineering works.

The trains are going to London Bridge. Same as this week

 

[Failed Unit]

There aren't enough drivers available to run the service, and not enough time to replan the service. The only option is to roll over this week's plan

I guess that is what they have done with Great Northern. But the timetable is online. Southern don’t mention next week at all. (yet)

 

[JonathanH]

If they find some extra drivers, is a shuttle service from East Croydon to Victoria possible under control / STP arrangements?

 

[Peregrine 4903]

There aren't enough drivers available to run the service, and not enough time to replan the service. The only option is to roll over this week's plan

Where has this actually been said publicly that this is happening though, can't find anything?

It was explained in another thread that there is no resource to come up with a different timetable so they are just sticking with what is in force this week. The lines to Victoria will be open but unserved.

Also, I am involved in this process, so am well aware of what is going on.

 

[Minstral25]

Where has this actually been said publicly that this is happening though, can't find anything?



Also, I am involved in this process, so am well aware of what is going on.

Stakeholder communication this week - assume will be issuing general public notification later

Also states lack of staff to re-plan the service means rollover of this weeks timetable

 

[Surreytraveller]

Stakeholder communication this week - assume will be issuing general public notification later

Also states lack of staff to re-plan the service means rollover of this weeks timetable

Tell the public at the last minute as usual

 

[JonathanH]

Seems to be in the news now.
https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/30/sou...ns-to-london-victoria-for-two-weeks-15840479/

Southern Rail cancels trains to London Victoria for two weeks

All Southern Rail services to and from London Victoria have been scrapped until at least January 10 due to staff shortages.

Southern trains will stop calling at Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Common in the meantime, spelling weeks of misery for commuters.

 

[Robbouk]

Looks like Covid Isolation is taking its toll at Southern with no services operating from Victoria and Clapham Junction until 10th Jan.

Source: https://www.southernrailway.com/coronavirus-information/revised-timetable

Does this mean Victoria will essentially be closed or do southeastern run from there?

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Looks like Covid Isolation is taking its toll at Southern with no services operating from Victoria and Clapham Junction until 10th Jan.

Source: https://www.southernrailway.com/coronavirus-information/revised-timetable

Does this mean Victoria will essentially be closed or do southeastern run from there?

Southeastern will still run from Victoria.

 

[swt_passenger]

There’s also a massive planned closure of Victoria area for resignalling going on here for a few days this weekend, and next weekend as well, it’s not just staff isolating.

 

[traingeek97]

Thameslink has also suspended direct services between Luton and Rainham, with a shuttle between Rainham and Dartford and Luton and London Bridge instead. It says from 4 January but this is already the case today. Perhaps no surprise given the number of railway staff who are having to isolate or who have Covid.

From Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 January 2022

A reduced timetable will operate. Train times have changed on all routes and an additional change of trains may be required to complete your journey, so it is important to check your journey before you travel.

No Services to and from London Victoria

There will be no Southern or Gatwick Express services at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction or Wandsworth Common. Southern services on the following routes will be diverted north of East Croydon to London Bridge:

• Ore – Hastings – Eastbourne – London
• Littlehampton – Hove – London
• Southampton/Portsmouth Harbour/Bognor Regis – Horsham – London
• East Grinstead – London
• Horsham – Dorking – Epsom – London

In addition, Southern Metro services via Streatham Common/Streatham Hill that normally run to/from London Victoria will terminate at/start from Balham. There will be no direct service between Mitcham Junction and Balham. Customers will need to travel via Streatham and Streatham Common.

If you wish to travel to/from London Victoria, please travel via London Bridge (or London Blackfriars on Thameslink services) and use TfL buses or the Tube to complete your journey.

If you wish to travel to/from Battersea Park, please use the nearby Queenstown Road station for travel to Clapham Junction and London Waterloo. Please use TfL buses to travel between Battersea Park and London Victoria.

If you wish to travel to/from Clapham Junction, please travel via London Bridge and use Southeastern services between London Bridge and London Waterloo East and South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction to complete your journey.

If you wish to travel to/from Wandsworth Common or between Clapham Junction and Balham, please use London Buses. We’re also working to arrange a rail replacement bus service between Balham and Clapham Junction Please check the service updates page for the latest information on the status of this service.

If you wish to travel to/from Balham, Northern Line services are available between Balham and Central London, and you can change at Stockwell for Victoria Line connections with Victoria. However, Balham station is expected to be very busy between 07:00 and 09:00. Please avoid travelling via Balham during peak hours and use alternative rail services to London Blackfriars or London Bridge wherever possible.

Gatwick Express

Services will be suspended. Please use alternative Southern and Thameslink services to travel between Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Central London.

West London Line

There will be no Southern services between Clapham Junction, Kensington Olympia, Watford Junction and Milton Keynes.

Please use London Overground services, or Southern/Tube/London Northwestern services via London Victoria/Euston to complete your journey.

Stopping services between East Croydon and London Bridge via Forest Hill

There will be no all-stations Southern service on this route.

Please use London Overground services which will serve all stations between West Croydon, Norwood Junction and New Cross Gate.

Southern Mainline and Thameslink services between East Croydon and London Bridge will continue to call at Norwood Junction and additional stops at New Cross Gate will also be made. These additional stops will be advertised in journey planners by mid-day on the day before operation.

Sutton to London via Carshalton Beeches

There will be no direct service to central London on this route. Please change at Norwood Junction and use alternative Southern and Thameslink services to travel between Norwood Junction and London Bridge

Tonbridge to Redhill and Reigate to Central London

An hourly service will operate between Reigate, Redhill and Tonbridge calling at all stations. Please change at Redhill for connecting services to/from London Bridge.

Caterham and Tattenham Corner to London Bridge

Services will operate between Tattenham Corner / Caterham and London Bridge via Tulse Hill. Quicker journeys will be possible by changing trains at East Croydon and using direct services to / from London Bridge

Uckfield to London Bridge

Services will run between Uckfield and East Croydon only. Please use alternative Southern/Thameslink services to travel between East Croydon and London Bridge.

Beckenham Junction to London Bridge via Crystal Palace

A service of two trains per hour has been reintroduced on this route.

Luton and London to Rainham Thameslink services

These services will not operate. Please use alternative Thameslink services between Luton and London Bridge and Southeastern services between London Bridge and Dartford. Thameslink will operate a service between Rainham and Dartford.

All other routes

Trains will operate at different times, and in some cases to a reduced timetable.

 

[GodAtum]

This is ridiculous, people need to go back to work on Tuesday!

 

[JaJaWa]

Due to the ongoing effect of coronavirus isolation and sickness, there will be no direct services to/from London Victoria until 10 January.

As a result, no Southern services will call at:
❌London Victoria
❌Battersea Park
❌Clapham Junction
❌Wandsworth Common

Services on the following routes will be diverted at East Croydon to London Bridge:

Ore/Hastings/Eastbourne – London
Littlehampton/Hove – London
Southampton/Portsmouth/Bognor Regis – Horsham – London
East Grinstead – London
Horsham/Dorking/Epsom – London


⛔ The following services will not run:

Clapham Junction – Milton Keynes
East Croydon – London Bridge via Forest Hill
Epsom – London Bridge via Carshalton Beeches


➡️ The following services have also been amended:

Tonbridge - Redhill/Reigate - London
Caterham/Tattenham - London
Uckfield - London Bridge
Beckenham Junction - London Bridge via Crystal Palace
Luton to London / Rainham


➡️ Southern Metro services via Streatham Common/Streatham Hill will only operate south of Balham.

There will be no direct service between Mitcham Junction and Balham - customers will need to travel via Streatham and Streatham Common.

Ticket "restrictions" remaining in place

Presumably ‘Thameslink Only’ tickets between LBG and stations towards BTN are ‘officially’ interavailable on Southern trains during this period?

Hi there. As we will have both Southern and Thameslink train services operating between London Bridge and stations on the Brighton Mainline, there won't be a change to this and restrictions remain in place, in the same way as have been running this week. ^Alex.S

 

[Dhansak]

There’s also a massive planned closure of Victoria area for resignalling going on here for a few days this weekend, and next weekend as well, it’s not just staff isolating.

I wondered about this. Is it Southern staff unavailability due to Covid, or overrunning engineering works (potentially also down to Covid)? Being Southern's main line, it seems an odd route on which to suspend services due to staff unavailability.

 

[JN114]

I wondered about this. Is it Southern staff unavailability due to Covid, or overrunning engineering works (potentially also down to Covid)? Being Southern's main line, it seems an odd route on which to suspend services due to staff unavailability.

Staff availability (or lack thereof)

They have a working, robust timetable in place at the moment with the engineering works; which they are successfully covering with the staff they do have.

Their expected absence level matches the current service provision to LBG only, therefore the easiest/most robust option is to roll the engineering timetable into next week.

 

[theageofthetra]

Is it more to do with lack of available staff with a dispatch licence at Victoria?

 

[JonathanH]

Is it more to do with lack of available staff with a dispatch licence at Victoria?

That isn't the reason repeatedly made in this thread which is that the only course of action available with the available traincrew and planning capacity is to roll forward this week's timetable.

 

[swt_passenger]

Staff availability (or lack thereof)

They have a working, robust timetable in place at the moment with the engineering works; which they are successfully covering with the staff they do have.

Their expected absence level matches the current service provision to LBG only, therefore the easiest/most robust option is to roll the engineering timetable into next week.

That was my take on it. Easier all round to use the timetable on the weekdays as well, and hope things are better by the 10th…

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Staff availability (or lack thereof)

They have a working, robust timetable in place at the moment with the engineering works; which they are successfully covering with the staff they do have.

Their expected absence level matches the current service provision to LBG only, therefore the easiest/most robust option is to roll the engineering timetable into next week.

Seems bizarre that Southern whose main terminus is Victoria have just rolled over and left L.Bdge as the terminus so suggests to me the engineering works are at risk of not completing on schedule so best option is to leave the revised service in place given low level of commuters likely next week anyhow. Hopefully Southern will redeploy some of the Vic Ctl staff out to other stations to assist.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Seems bizarre that Southern whose main terminus is Victoria have just rolled over and left L.Bdge as the terminus so suggests to me the engineering works are at risk of not completing on schedule so best option is to leave the revised service in place given low level of commuters likely next week anyhow. Hopefully Southern will redeploy some of the Vic Ctl staff out to other stations to assist.

No. That's not the reason. There is no time or planning capacity to rewrite the timetable to match the available driver resources.
The only sensible course of action is to continue with this week's timetable

Is it more to do with lack of available staff with a dispatch licence at Victoria?

Is there a lack of available staff at Victoria?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

No. That's not the reason. There is no time or planning capacity to rewrite the timetable to match the available driver resources.
The only sensible course of action is to continue with this week's timetable

I get its sensible on the main line but would have at least been sensible to get the metros at Balham at least extended upto C.Jcn rather than force everyone onto the Northern Line not exactly providing a Covid secure travelling environment.

Given staff absence is going to continue at high levels for the whole of January can we expect a revised Vic service to be planned in for the remainder of Jan.

Interesting that SWT and SE are holding their current service levels so i do hope ALL TOCs have been tasked by government to have a reduced service plan for every route ready to go as its pretty clear every depot is destined to face an outbreak at some point.

 

[Failed Unit]

It is on Southerns website now as well.

 

[Surreytraveller]

I get its sensible on the main line but would have at least been sensible to get the metros at Balham at least extended upto C.Jcn rather than force everyone onto the Northern Line not exactly providing a Covid secure travelling environment.

Given staff absence is going to continue at high levels for the whole of January can we expect a revised Vic service to be planned in for the remainder of Jan.

Interesting that SWT and SE are holding their current service levels so i do hope ALL TOCs have been tasked by government to have a reduced service plan for every route ready to go as its pretty clear every depot is destined to face an outbreak at some point.

There's no time or resources to rewrite a plan. Its not a simple task to extend the Balham terminators to Victoria. Stock workings have to be rewritten, timetables have to be rewritten, driver diagrams have to be rewritten. Maintenance schedules for the stock have to be rewritten.
There is no-one and no time to do it

 

[SynthD]

Will that half of Victoria station and approach be silent? If so, does that make the engineering works easier because they don’t have anyone to hand it back to between the periods they’ve planned for?