Train Geeks

Ali

Are not lots of bridges which complicates things

gardener-joe

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maclondon

This is all true but the scale of works is less than the scale of works on the lines to Bristol and Cardiff - the key reason for NR to take its time is that there are alternate routes in London for freight and that TfL is the only passenger services and so compensation is less.

sg_mike

As much as a pain it is, it's much cheaper to shut a line continuously for this kind of upgrade work, especially as getting access to some really awkward viaducts and bridges isn't easy in this bit of London and they have to turn the railway into a construction site. When they were electrifying the north London line a few years ago they closed the line for months on end too. The economics on the line out to Cardiff and Bristol are pretty different, they carry far more passengers paying far bigger fares, so that work has been spread out over many (eight?) years. Still a pain though...

Sutent

I went to Brighton for the day on Thameslink for £7 return (with railcard). I can't wait until we can go from Finsbury Park. St Pancreas will be a mission in comparison

maclondon

My point is that the work can be done with a shorter closure than the nearly 9 months. Blockades are better than weekend closures for years but we are getting these too! As some of you mentioned other lines are busier but it is epidemic that rail engineers just want as much time possible and there is not the real commercial pressure to do it more quickly as th money just goes around the rail industry and it is only the poor passengers who suffer.

jlong

Are there any updated timings as to when Thameslink will be stopping at FP? It will have a huge impact on the area.

maclondon

Direct Thameslink services through central London to south London should start at the end of 2018.

gardener-joe

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Arkady

Such a service is only as matter of time post-electrfication - some rush-hour trains already do in effect - but they are likely to skip Gospel Oak for the time being.

sg_mike

By December 2018, there should be full Thameslink services running from Finsbury Park, with the improved Moorgate service also operating by that point. However, they are working to a target of May 2018 to get at least some Thameslink services running from Finsbury Park, and it seems they are on track for that.

Sutent

There is a bit of an issue with timetabling of these trains and current track capacity especially on the fast track through Finsbury park. It will be interesting to see how this is resolved

Arkady

Do we know when the first class 700s will roll out, and when the first of them will start running through FP?

Sutent

The class 700 look ready to roll. I passed them again at Three Bridges on the way to Brighton on Saturday. 

Ali

Goblin used to go to Kentish town and onwards through a tunnel.

sg_mike

I think the first Class 700s will start operating on other routes within a few weeks, I don't think they start operating through Finsbury Park until late this year or early next year though

NorthNineteen

Love this thread

Sutent

For the goblin line upgrade they will upgrade the bridge when it goes over the river lee. I think this price of work is happening December 16. This will be good as there are currently speed restrictions over this bridge. I think the canal tow path will be closed too.

Sutent

@arkady. Just for you..

Arkady

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing them in service, especially up here.

Arkady

TfL and the Mayor are making noises about taking the suburban lines, including the Northern City Line down to Moorgate, under the London overground umbrella: 

Sutent

How exciting

NorthNineteen

Yep - referred to in the: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-and-mayor-set-out-vision-for-rail-travel-across-london-and-the-south-east

Arkady

Can I get a whoop-whoop? Arriving end of the year:

http://railcolornews.com/2018/03/13/uk-first-gtr-class-717-for-great-northern-making-its-test-rounds/

Sutent

Thats really exciting! I will miss the old EMU though. They have some charm

Arkady

They have the charm of a lecherous derelict.

Arkady

https://paulbigland.blog/2018/05/05/coming-soon-new-trains-for-the-gn-moorgate-lines/

Sutent

@Arkady. OMG they got to test drive the train. I have always wanted to drive a train since I was small

gardener-joe

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gardener-joe

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