Additional GTR calls from December 2020

[arfortune]

The local MP, Bim Afolami, has just posted this on his Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/432600603766052/posts/1037253176634122/

Does anyone know if this is true as EMR and predecessors have never called at Harpenden or is here some confusion and that once the Corby fasts are introduced, Thameslink will reinstate the stops on their fast trains?
Thanks

“GOOD NEWS! I am pleased to share with you the outcome of countless hours of debate with GTR over the past few years. From December 2020, East Midlands Rail are reinstating their services to Harpenden.

As a result of the instatement of the EMR fast service to London there will be an additional five trains in the morning (departing at *0643, 0713, 0743, 0813, 0843*) and evening peaks (departing St Pancras at *1621, 1651, 1721, 1751, 1821*) will be introduced.
We will see a marked improvement which will see the service capacity from Harpenden return to adequate levels. We still have months to wait before these services resume. So, in the meantime, I will be challenging GTR’s management on the quality of service, increasing the frequency of weekend trains and interrogate GTR's preparedness for December’s timetable launch to avoid another catastrophic period of cancellations and delays as in May and June 2018. It is frustrating that these changes haven’t happened earlier as I pushed hard for improvements to be implemented last December. At least we now there is light at the end of the tunnel and we have clarity on the future increases to the service.

What about Hitchin? I will be announcing Hitchin’s new services once confirmed with GTR in the coming days. The two stations are on different lines so updates on services are rarely able to be given simultaneously.”

 

[swt_passenger]

The local MP, Bim Afolami, has just posted this on his Facebook page.

Does anyone know if this is true as EMR and predecessors have never called at Harpenden or is here some confusion and that once the Corby fasts are introduced, Thames,ink will reinstate the stops on their fast trains?
Thanks

“GOOD NEWS! I am pleased to share with you the outcome of countless hours of debate with GTR over the past few years. From December 2020, East Midlands Rail are reinstating their services to Harpenden.

As a result of the instatement of the EMR fast service to London there will be an additional five trains in the morning (departing at *0643, 0713, 0743, 0813, 0843*) and evening peaks (departing St Pancras at *1621, 1651, 1721, 1751, 1821*) will be introduced...

Yes, it’s rubbish as far as EMR is concerned. He’s simply quoted the additional THAMESLINK calls at Harpenden which are clearly explained on P30 of the EMR Dec 2020 consultation document.

 

[arfortune]

Thanks swt_
Thought it was odd but couldn’t find that very document!

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks swt_
Thought it was odd but couldn’t find that very document!

It’s linked in the first post here:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/emr-december-2020-timetable-consultation.195505/

 

[bramling]

Yes, it’s rubbish as far as EMR is concerned. He’s simply quoted the additional THAMESLINK calls at Harpenden which are clearly explained on P30 of the EMR Dec 2020 consultation document.

Meanwhile, Bim says “what about Hitchin?”.

Any announcement about new services to Hitchin will be a short one, for weekdays at least. A handful of London services slowed down with extra stops (at Welwyn North or Finsbury Park) which won’t exactly be welcomed, and, er, that’s about it. One morning down service extended from Royston to Cambridge if scraping the barrel!

Another waste-of-space off-the-ball MP.

 

[Abpj17]

Possibly just bad drafting / someone else writing the headline... the detail of the post is clear.

 

[Ladder23]

great idea, look forward to seeing it.