GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation Phase 3 – Weekends & Late Night Trains (2330 – 0500)
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GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation Phase 3 – weekends & late night trains (2330 – 0500) Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to our Consultation. We’ve finished phase one and two which concentrated on Monday to Friday proposals and now we’re consulting on weekend services and late night trains. The details contained within this consultation represent proposals which will lead up to the biggest timetable change many routes around London and the South East have seen for decades. We are keen for everyone to have their say in shaping the future train service. Definitions: Daytime: this refers to train services between 0700 & 1859 on Saturdays or 1000 & 2059 on Sundays. Evening: this refers to train services between 1900 & 2159 Saturdays. Bank Holidays – A Saturday service runs except on Christmas Day when there is no service, Boxing Day when a very limited Southern and Gatwick Express service operates and New Year’s Day when a Sunday service operates. Subject to any planned engineering works. RELEASES: First issue 22 November 2017 Updated 24 November 2017 – amendments to formatting on late night trains for easier reference. Updated 28 November 2017 – corrections to calling patterns of some overnight trains to Bedford. GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3 2. Why is GTR consulting? .................................................................................. 4 3. Our approach to 2018 ...................................................................................... 6 Passenger Demand ............................................................................................. 6 Capacity ............................................................................................................... 7 Operational resilience and robustness .............................................................. 7 4. Proposals for an expanded north to south cross-London Thameslink network from 2018 ................................................................................................... 8 Proposed Thameslink service patterns from 2018 ............................................ 9 Thameslink route information .......................................................................... 10 5. Proposed Thameslink routes ........................................................................ 12 6. Proposals for a redesigned and simplified Southern network .................... 18 Southern route information .............................................................................. 18 7. Proposed Southern service patterns ............................................................ 21 8. Gatwick Express – dedicated airport link ..................................................... 36 9. Proposals to transform the Great Northern network ................................... 37 Great Northern Mainline .................................................................................... 37 Great Northern Metro ........................................................................................ 37 9. Proposed Great Northern service patterns .................................................. 38 10. Late night trains departing London (2330-0500) ......................................... 42 Page 2 of 59 1. Introduction This phase (phase three) of the consultation sets out proposed changes to the weekend timetable which will be operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) following completion of the Thameslink Programme. Phase one and two contained information and timetables on weekday services. Information and timetables on these phases can be found on transformingrail.com. The GTR franchise is a Management Contract with the Department for Transport (DfT) specifying the service and agreeing any changes. GTR and the DfT are working together to propose changes to the services to provide the capacity and levels of performance required. GTR operates train services under four local brands, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink as follows: Gatwick Express: non-stop direct services between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Great Northern: connects London with Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Stevenage, Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely and Kings Lynn. Southern: frequent Metro service between London and South London and Surrey. Mainline services between London, Gatwick Airport and the Sussex Coast. Coastway services between Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton to the West and Lewes, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ashford to the East. Thameslink: cross-London services linking north and south between Bedford, Brighton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks. During 2018 a number of Great Northern and Southern services will be transferred to Thameslink. New services from Kent will also be introduced to provide an expanded cross- London network. Background to 2018 timetable change The Thameslink Programme is funded by the government through the DfT, with Network Rail delivering infrastructure improvements, Siemens delivering new trains and GTR providing additional passenger services. When the Programme completes, it will transform north-south travel through London; journeys will be improved with trains every two to three minutes through central London at peak times. Improved connections will give you better travel options to more destinations than ever before, modern track will make your journeys more reliable and new trains will provide additional capacity. Network Rail is carrying out station, track and signalling works, working closely with GTR to minimise disruption to passengers. As part of the Programme, Network Rail will simplify the track layouts on the approaches to London Bridge station which will allow for a more reliable, less congested railway. In order to achieve this, Network Rail will introduce new infrastructure including a major new section of railway. Page 3 of 59 2. Why is GTR consulting? This consultation seeks to increase our understanding of what service is required to meet the majority of our passengers’ needs. Phase one of the consultation focused on calling patterns and frequency for weekday peak and off peak services. In phase two we released detailed timetables for Monday to Friday for comment and now we are consulting on weekend and late night timetables. The consultation process The consultation will be undertaken in phases. This process forms the third phase as described below. • Phase one of the consultation focused on the expected benefits, changes to train services, proposed frequencies and calling patterns with some specific options for timetable development. Services between 0700 and 2200 were consulted on. complete • Our initial plans were shared with stakeholders and passengers for feedback. • The consultation period lasted for three months and was widely advertised. There were opportunities to speak with us directly at our Meet the Manager and Roadshow events. Phase 1 • This consultation will be the earliest a train operator has released proposals in advance of the planned Consultation changes allowing sufficient time for meaningful and on-going engagement. • GTR is working with Network Rail and other industry partners on these proposals. Sept to Dec 2016 complete • Following consideration of phase one consultation responses we developed an all day timetable for Phase 2 Monday to Friday. Consultation 26 June - 27 July 2017 • Full weekend and late night timetables will be available . An online journey planner will be available to Phase 3 check individual journeys (transformingrail.com) or in hard copy writing to us at the address provided. * Consultation 22 November - 20 December 2017 • An awareness programme will begin early in 2018 to communicate the significant changes to train services from May 2018. Implementation *If you would like to request a hard copy of the timetables please write to the address below. GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation East Side Offices Kings Cross Station Kings Cross London N1C 4AP Page 4 of 59 How to respond to the consultation? Information provided will only be used for purposes of the consultation and will not be passed outside of GTR or its operating brands Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink. Please respond via the online survey on the website or you can post your responses to: GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation East Side Offices Kings Cross Station Kings Cross London N1C 4AP Or submit feedback via email [email protected] How long will the consultation period last for? We are keen for as many interested parties as possible, whether as groups or individuals, to be involved in shaping the future train service. The third stage of the consultation will start on Wednesday 22 November 2017 and close at 1200 (mid-day) on Wednesday 20 December 2017. Alternative Formats We can provide copies of this documentation in alternative formats by contacting [email protected] Or writing to: GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation East Side Offices Kings Cross Station Kings Cross London N1C 4AP Page 5 of 59 3. Our approach to 2018 We know the operational delivery of train services has been very difficult and challenging for passengers during this period with in some cases a reduction in train services whilst London Bridge station is being rebuilt. When the Programme is completed there will be new infrastructure, using the latest signalling technology to deliver an improved more frequent service