More commuter services on Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink in summer timetable change

Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink will be running more weekday trains in its summer timetable, targeted mostly at supporting commuters returning to the workplace.

Customers are advised to check ahead at nationalrail.co.uk as train times will change from 15 May. Southern will continue running almost all its trains at weekends for passengers making the most of day trips/destinations across our network. However, with fewer people travelling overall throughout the week, some short distance routes will be reduced on Saturdays.

Full details of the changes are available online at Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink. Gatwick Express, which returned in April, will not change. Highlights include:

Great Northern

• More trains (up to 10 every hour) in the morning and evening rush hours to and from Moorgate in the City of London (from Welwyn Garden City or Stevenage)

Thameslink

• New half-hourly peak services that cross central London from Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Potters Bar, New Barnet, Oakleigh Park, New Southgate and Finsbury Park to St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, Elephant & Castle and beyond to Sevenoaks
• Two extra trains to and from Bedford in each of the rush hours
• Around twice the number of trains in the peaks at stations between St Albans and London
• Two peak trains an hour from Orpington through to Luton, doubling for the most part the service on the Catford Loop at stations such as Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead and Crofton Park, all of which will cross London
• A half-hourly cross-London service all day between Luton and Rainham doubling the service through Medway towns such as Chatham, Gillingham and Dartford

Southern

• Hastings to Brighton peak services doubled to become half-hourly
• Beckenham Junction to London Bridge via Tulse Hill increased in the peaks to half-hourly
• 40-year-old trains on London suburban routes replaced with more reliable modern trains from the Southern fleet, providing customers with air-conditioning and toilets
• Direct Brighton services restored beyond Chichester, to Portsmouth and Southampton
• Changes to two short distance routes in the inner-London area and two in the Brighton area. Maintains minimum half-hourly frequencies with longer trains where needed

Chief Operating Officer Angie Doll of Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs the services, said:

“The new timetable from Sunday 15 May is the starting point for rebuilding our railway, to help our customers get where they want to go while reflecting new travel patterns which have changed significantly, particularly on weekdays.

“Our priority is to support passengers by running reliable services, working closely with our stakeholders to support the economic recovery of both local and regional rail.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

Changes to weekday services

Great Northern

Welwyn Garden City / Stevenage to Moorgate

Five trains per hour will run on each branch at busy times, combining to provide up to ten trains per hour between Moorgate and Alexandra Palace.

At quieter times, two trains will run on each branch per hour as today.

Thameslink

London King’s Cross to Cambridge – stopping service via Potters Bar

The stopping service between London King’s Cross and Cambridge will increase to provide two trains per hour across the entire route.

This means that services at Meldreth, Foxton and Shepreth will increase from one to two departures per hour, as well as providing additional services between Royston and Cambridge.

Welwyn Garden City to St Pancras International and central London – peak only

Two additional peak services per hour will run between Welwyn Garden City and Sevenoaks, providing additional services at Hatfield, Potters Bar, New Barnet, Oakleigh Park, New Southgate, Finsbury Park and additional cross-London connectivity between St Pancras International and London Blackfriars.

This change is introduced by extending existing Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars services through to Welwyn Garden City during peak hours.

Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars

As detailed above, during peak hours, the existing Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars service will be connected to Welwyn Garden City. This will provide more direct cross-London services for stations to the south of London Blackfriars.

Off-peak, the service will continue to run between Sevenoaks and London Blackfriars only.

Orpington to Luton – peak only

Peak only services between Orpington and Luton via Catford will be reintroduced, providing two services per hour.

Sutton to St Albans

Four trains per hour will run between Sutton and St Albans via central London.

Luton to Rainham

Two trains per hour will run between Luton and Rainham.

East Grinstead to Bedford

One peak service AM and PM in each direction will run between East Grinstead, central London and stations towards Bedford.

05:55 St Pancras International to East Grinstead

07:15 East Grinstead to Bedford

17:17 Leagrave to East Grinstead (18:10 London Bridge)

19:17 East Grinstead to West Hampstead Thameslink

Littlehampton to Bedford

One peak service AM will depart Littlehampton at 05:52 calling at London Bridge at 07:34 before continuing to Bedford.

A return service will depart Bedford at 15:43, calling at London Bridge at 16:54 and arriving at Littlehampton at 18:37.

Bedford to Three Bridges

Additional peak services will run between Bedford and Three Bridges, departing Bedford at 05:43, 06:45 and 07:15 in the AM and departing Gatwick Airport at 16:57 (17:56 St Pancras International) and 17:24 (18:10 St Pancras International).

Between Bedford and St Pancras International in the AM these services will provide additional services at Flitwick, Luton, Harpenden and St Albans. In the PM these services will also call at Luton Airport Parkway, Leagrave and Harlington.

Southern – weekdays

Brighton to Hastings

Additional services will run to provide a 30-minute frequency at busy times.

Brighton to Portsmouth and Southampton

Direct services will run between Brighton and Portsmouth and Brighton and Southampton.

Beckenham Junction / Crystal Palace to London Bridge via Tulse Hill

Services will run every 30 minutes during busy times, with an hourly service off-peak.

Watford Junction to Clapham Junction

An hourly service will run between Watford Junction and Clapham Junction. Customers for stations between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central should change at Watford Junction.

One AM service will start from Hemel Hempstead at 07:31

Southern – Saturdays

Watford Junction to East Croydon

An hourly service will run between Watford Junction and East Croydon. Customers for stations between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central should change at Watford Junction.

London Victoria to London Bridge

Direct services between London Bridge and London Victoria will not run.

Sutton to London Victoria via West Croydon and Norbury

Services will reduce from four to two trains per hour in each direction. Longer trains will run on this route.

West Worthing to Brighton

West Worthing to Brighton services will not run. Customers should use longer distance Brighton to Portsmouth / Southampton services, or Littlehampton to London Victoria services changing at Hove.

Lewes to Brighton

Lewes to Brighton services will not run. Customers should use Hastings to Brighton or Seaford to Brighton services.