Thameslink new trains shock!

29 June 2011

Passengers using FCC’s Thameslink services can breathe a little easier after the Government announced the preferred bidder for 1200 new carriages to serve cross London routes. The Thameslink route has always been very successful – it does something few other rail routes does – it takes passengers right into the heart of London or beyond avoiding the horrors of changing onto the tube. However, for a variety of historic, franchise structure and operational reasons the service has always left something to be desired.

I used it a long time ago and it was always very crowded. It made a deep impression on me when one day the 0823 from Herne Hill was so crowded everyone had to put their briefcases etc on the racks. As the train jolted off a very hard briefcase came down and nearly knocked me out. So a slow train coming – the new carriages won’t see service until 2015, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once the full service is running many more passengers will be attracted to use it and it will no doubt fill up again!