Train times change twice as GTR responds to improvement work and return to office

Train times will change across the board on Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern for a week from Monday 21 February to accommodate major engineering work on the Brighton Mainline.

The timetables will then change again, a week later, on Monday 28 February, and remain in place until May, to provide more space on many routes as commuters return to the office.

Passengers are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance using the National Rail Enquiries website and re-check before they travel.

Govia Thameslink Railway Interim Chief Operating Officer Angie Doll said: “The Brighton Mainline directly or indirectly affects our entire network, which is why its closure for nine days of vital improvement work will alter the times of all our trains.

“We are seeing more commuters return to the office, although in much lower numbers than previously as many continue to work from home for part of the week. Therefore, from 28 February, we’ll be focusing on providing more services with 12,000 more seats for passengers travelling in and out of London in peak times than today.

“We’ll have more direct Southern services to London Victoria and London Bridge and increases to peak services. On Thameslink and Great Northern we’ll add some more services and stops across the network.

“We’re constantly reviewing our service provision and our next big timetable change will take place in May, when we plan to put in more services again. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience.”

Prioritising commuters will, however, mean some reduction in other services particularly in the middle of the day when fewer people are travelling. Gatwick Express remains suspended but is set to return in time for the summer season to support the recovery of the airport and wider region.

As trains begin to get busier, GTR’s relentless focus on keeping stations and trains virus-free remains with the use of long-lasting viricides and air-conditioned trains that refresh air on board every 6-9 minutes. Thameslink on-board train screens also tell passengers which carriages have space.

Ends

Notes to editors

Full details of the service changes can be seen online at the Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink websites with journey planners updated at National Rail Enquiries. 

The details for 28 February onwards are copied below.

Find out about engineering work closing the Brighton Mainline.

• To keep passengers and staff safe, GTR has an enhanced cleaning regime focused on touch points
• GTR sanitises every train carriage in use every day and uses viricides which give long-lasting protection across stations, trains and staff areas
• All air-conditioned trains continually refresh the air in each carriage every 6-9 minutes
• Weekly Covid safety checks are carried out across trains and stations, looking at cleaning and passenger information
• At National Rail Enquiries, you can subscribe to journey alerts with information on busier services
• Over 1,000 touch-free hand sanitisers have been installed at stations
• We have one-way and queuing systems ready to apply at our busiest stations if necessary
• We promote the government’s offer of twice-weekly lateral flow tests to our staff
• E-tickets are available at 60 stations to reduce social contact through ticket buying
• Customers can order a free Key smartcard online, buy a new season ticket online, and add it to their card simply by tapping it to their phone or a station ticket gate or validator 

Mondays to Fridays from 28 February 2022

The times of trains on all routes will change again from Monday 28 February following the completion of major engineering work between Three Bridges and Brighton. We will run services to and from London Victoria on more routes and the hours that services operate will be extended on many routes.

Journey planners have been updated to show the services we plan to operate, so you are advised to check the times of your individual journey.

Changes to Gatwick Express services

Services continue to be suspended, however additional Southern services will operate between Brighton and London Victoria calling at Haywards Heath and East Croydon. During busy times, services will make additional stops at Preston Park, Hassocks and Burgess Hill.

Gatwick Express branded trains may be used on Southern services on some routes. Southern tickets will be accepted for these journeys.

Changes to Great Northern services

All routes

Trains will operate at different times, and in some cases to a reduced timetable.

Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage via Hertford North to Moorgate

Services towards London arriving between 07:45 and 08:45 and away from London between 17:30 and 18:30 are expected to be very busy. Please travel outside these times were possible. We are running additional trains to provide extra capacity where possible.

London King’s Cross to Cambridge (stopping) service

The current service will continue:

• Two trains per hour running between Royston and London King’s Cross
• One train per hour is extended (in each direction) from Royston, to Cambridge serving Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton
• Additional services will run between Royston and Cambridge to improve school time connections with Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton.

London King’s Cross to Cambridge (limited-stop) service

Additional station stops will be made at Royston and Letchworth to improve connections at busy times.

Changes to Southern services

Direct services between most destinations and London Victoria restored

Direct services will continue to operate on most routes, including to/from the Sussex Coast via Haywards Heath following the completion of engineering work. Services previously diverted to London Bridge will serve London Victoria again.

West London Line

Until Friday 11 March, there will be no Southern services between Clapham Junction, Kensington Olympia, Watford Junction and Milton Keynes.

Please use London Overground services, or Southern/Tube/London Northwestern services via London Victoria/Euston to complete your journey. You may also use Thameslink services to/from St Pancras International which is a 20 minute walk from Euston.

From Monday 14 March, the following peak-hour services will be reintroduced:

• 05:27 Balham to Milton Keynes Central
• 07:01 Milton Keynes Central to Clapham Junction
• 17:16 Selhurst to Milton Keynes Central
• 19:16 Milton Keynes Central to Selhurst

At other times, please use the alternatives listed above.

Beckenham Junction to London Bridge via Crystal Palace

Services will run between Beckenham Junction and London Bridge every 90 minutes throughout the day. Additional services will run at school times to provide improved connections in the Dulwich area.

Customers at stations such as West Norwood wishing to travel to or from London Bridge should use the “via Norwood Junction” option in www.nationalrail.co.uk journey planners to show additional journey options.

London Bridge to London Victoria via Crystal Palace

Most services on this route will not run. Two morning peak services will operate (07:50 and 08:20 London Victoria to London Bridge) plus some late evening services.

Brighton and Hove to Littlehampton, Portsmouth and Southampton

Brighton and Hove shuttle services will generally not run. Please use services between Brighton and Littlehampton / Chichester to complete your journey.

Direct services to/from Brighton will not operate between Chichester and Portsmouth/Southampton. Please change at Barnham or Chichester for connecting services.

Brighton to Eastbourne and Hastings

One train per hour will run throughout the day. Most trains will run with eight, rather than four carriages.

Epsom to London Bridge via Carshalton Beeches

Fast services between Epsom and London Bridge will run every half-hour, the exception being a reduced frequency in the early morning. Trains from Epsom to London Bridge will depart at 05:45, 07:16, 08:15 then every 30 mins until 22:45.

Redhill to Tonbridge

An hourly service will run between Redhill and Tonbridge throughout the day, increasing to two trains per hour at busy times.

London Bridge to East Croydon via New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge West and Norwood Junction

Trains will run every 30 minutes.

Uckfield to London Bridge

The hourly service from Uckfield will be increased to half-hourly between 06:33 and 07:33 to support peak time and school travel on the route. The service will be hourly at busy times, but will be reduced to every two-hours when trains are quieter the departure times shown will run:

• Uckfield to London Bridge: 05:31, 06:33, 07:03, 08:33, 09:33, 10:33, 12:33, 14:33, 16:33, 17:33 then hourly until 22:33
• London Bridge to Uckfield: 06:07, 07:07 08:07, 09:07, 11:07, 13:07, 15:07 then hourly 21:07, 23:07

Sutton to London Victoria via West Croydon

Up to four trains per hour will run between Sutton and London Victoria via West Croydon at busy times, with two trains per hour at quieter times. There will however be fewer trains running where there is less demand such as away from London Victoria in the morning rush hour, or towards London Victoria in the afternoon.

All other routes

Trains will operate at different times, and in some cases to a reduced timetable.

Changes to Thameslink services

St Albans and London to Rainham Thameslink services

One train per hour is operating between Rainham and St Albans City. At other times, please use alternative Thameslink services between St Albans and London Bridge and Southeastern services between London Bridge and Dartford.

Thameslink services to and from Littlehampton and East Grinstead (peak hours only)

These trains will not run. Please use alternative Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink services and change as necessary to complete your journey.

Orpington to London Blackfriars

Additional services will run between Orpington and London Blackfriars to provide up to three services per hour at busy times between Bromley South and London Blackfriars.

London Blackfriars / Luton to Sutton / Wimbledon

Four trains per hour will continue to run between Sutton and London Blackfriars via Tulse Hill. Two trains per hour will continue to Luton via St Pancras International. However, the following trains will not run from 28 February 2022:

• 11:34 Luton to Sutton
• 13:19 Sutton to Blackfriars
• 13:51 Blackfriars to Sutton
• 14:46 Sutton to Luton

This change is to support the introduction of additional Southeastern services at London Blackfriars.

Cambridge to Brighton

Additional station stops will be made at Ashwell & Morden to improve connections at busy times.

All other routes

Trains will operate at different times, and in some cases to a reduced timetable.