First Capital Connect Thameslink train using upper level platform 1 at St Pancras

[shinkansen1966]

Owing to the Thameslink programme, at weekends, FCC Thameslink trains from Bedford/Luton terminate at St Pancras upper level, rather continue south via Farringdon/City Thameslink.

There are only 4 upper level St Pancras platforms for all East Midlands and FCC Thameslink trains. On Saturdays, those 4 platforms have to accommodate 5 EMT departures per hour and 4 FCC trains per hour for Bedford. It's a military operation with little scope for delays.

Would it be easier if the FCC Thameslink trains terminate at the usual St Pancras basement Thameslink platforms ? In any case, FCC train use these in the week. There must be crossovers and signalling to make this possible !?

Even at the weekends, there are staff at the entrance to these basement platforms directing passengers upstairs.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Owing to the Thameslink programme, at weekends, FCC Thameslink trains from Bedford/Luton terminate at St Pancras upper level, rather continue south via Farringdon/City Thameslink.

There are only 4 upper level St Pancras platforms for all East Midlands and FCC Thameslink trains. On Saturdays, those 4 platforms have to accommodate 5 EMT departures per hour and 4 FCC trains per hour for Bedford. It's a military operation with little scope for delays.

Would it be easier if the FCC Thameslink trains terminate at the usual St Pancras basement Thameslink platforms ? In any case, FCC train use these in the week. There must be crossovers and signalling to make this possible !?

Even at the weekends, there are staff at the entrance to these basement platforms directing passengers upstairs.

From St Albans City this weekend, we went into 1, EMT occupied 2-4. The turnaround are literally 5 mins. In the LL TL usual platforms, Xovers are only availbale just before and Just after Kentish town, so its probs easier to put them into HL 1-4

 

[westcoaster]

Trains do use SPILL at weekend when there is not enginering work, for the last few weeks there has been work so trains get diverted to highlevel or kentish town, if trains are going to low level the lines between dock junction north and SPILL are both now bi-directional.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry SPILL = st pancras international low level

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Yeah, so the last/first obertunity to get onto the 'correct line' is indeed just arounmd Kentish Town

 

[EWS 58038]

Sorry, but 9 trains per hour at four platforms is absolutely NOT a militairy operation.

FCC trains can be turned around in as little as five minutes. And I'm sure the EMT's can be done in 15. (and that does include empty the binns and cleaning the tables.

It's all about efficiency... something most TOC's lack off.

 

[westcoaster]

Sorry SPILL = st pancras international low level

 

[455driver]

It's a military operation with little scope for delays.

Have a look at Waterloo platforms 1 to 4 if you want to see how it can be done!

 

[MCR247]

Sorry, but 9 trains per hour at four platforms is absolutely NOT a militairy operation.

FCC trains can be turned around in as little as five minutes. And I'm sure the EMT's can be done in 15. (and that does include empty the binns and cleaning the tables.

It's all about efficiency... something most TOC's lack off.

No, EMTs Meridians need at least a 20 minute turnaround, or is it 25? I don't think any decent real IC service should be turnedaround in 15 minutes. Its efficient if everything runs to time, but chaos if it doesn't. It would be a lot better at StP if EMT had all meridians because ATM I think HSTs have around a 45 minute turnaround

 

[adc82140]

FGW can turn an HST round in 7 mins flat- the other night the 19:48 to Cheltenham Spa didn't arrive on its inbound until 19:40, but still left on time having been tanked, seat reservations done and bins emptied. Staff were all over it as soon as it arrived, and the platform was advertised whilst the dregs of the inbound passengers were still on the platform.

So although it shouldn't be timetabled this way, it CAN be done with an HST.

 

[thefab444]

XC have been known to turnaround Voyagers in less than 5 minutes at Bournemouth.

 

[shinkansen1966]

It all reminds of watching an inbound shinkansen arriving at Tokyo and being prepped for the next departure. Very efficient.

 

[jrhilton]

Have a look at Waterloo platforms 1 to 4 if you want to see how it can be done!

That was what I was thinking too!