Weekday timetable set to change in September

• Additional trains and service better suited to current travel patterns

The weekday timetable of Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink trains will change from Monday 6 September 2021, to provide additional trains and a service that better meets the needs of passengers overall as the impact of the pandemic recedes.

The new timetable is designed to meet the needs of customers across the network and support schools, colleges and those returning to the office. Almost 1,000 trains per week will be reinstated with changes across the network.

Looking forward, Govia Thameslink Railway will continue to adapt the timetable as it receives further feedback and monitors the return of customers and their new travel patterns.

Train times at www.nationalrail.co.uk will be updated from the weekend of 28 August, from when passengers are urged to check and plan ahead. Meanwhile, a summary of changes will today be listed on the websites of Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink and can be found, below, in the editor’s notes.

Govia Thameslink Railway Chief Operating Officer Steve White said: “In anticipation of the return of schools and more passengers returning to the office, much of our service will be expanded from 6 September. Like many other businesses our staffing levels continue to be affected by the pandemic but the new timetable has been planned to make better use of the drivers we have available, providing more trains, more reliably.

“The Covid third wave this summer has been the most challenging throughout the pandemic to balance the availability of our resources with the needs of our customers. We apologise if you have been affected.

“These changes will ensure we provide you with an increase in trains and provide a more reliable service as we steadily work to overcome the legacy of the pandemic. As people come back to using the railway, we will continue to adapt our services to match demand.”

Customers can check how busy their trains are likely to be using the ‘Find a quieter train’ pages on the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern websites (view press release).

ends

Notes to editors

There is no change to weekend services, although passengers are always advised to check ahead so they won’t be disrupted by planned engineering work.

The new timetable uses drivers more efficiently allowing GTR to run almost 200 more trains each weekday.  Some individual routes will see a reduction to help GTR target train services where they are needed most at a time when staff continue to be affected by coronavirus and the legacy of the pandemic. Future timetables will continue to be based on feedback.

Where possible, some services may be reintroduced early. Changes planned from 6 September are as follows:

Thameslink and Great Northern services

Bedford to St Pancras International and Gatwick Airport

There will be an overall increase in both all-station and fast trains on the route.

• Two services per hour will run all day between Bedford and Gatwick Airport via Redhill from 6 September. In combination with Thameslink services between Bedford and Brighton, there will now be up to four services per hour between Bedford and St Pancras International.
• Four services per hour will run between St Albans and Sutton from 6 September, resulting in more stopping services across the route.

Orpington to Luton / London Blackfriars

Fewer peak-time-only services will run between Orpington and Luton. Stations between Luton and St Pancras International have stops on the Bedford and Gatwick Airport via Redhill or St Albans to Sutton services referenced above.

Customers at stations on the Catford Loop should use the all-day service between Sevenoaks and London Blackfriars.

East Grinstead to London Bridge

The one morning and evening peak Thameslink service will not run on this route from Monday 6 September. Southern services will continue to run. Customers travelling to/from London Bridge will need to change trains at East Croydon.

Cambridge to King’s Cross

Two stopping trains per hour will run between Cambridge and King’s Cross during school and busy times. During the middle of the day, one of these trains per hour will not run between Cambridge and Royston, meaning an hourly service at Foxton, Shepreth and Meldreth outside busy times

Peterborough to King’s Cross

In the morning, there will be two semi-fast services from Peterborough to London King’s Cross departing Peterborough at 06:36 and 07:04. In the evening, there will be two semi-fast services from London King’s Cross to Peterborough departing London King’s Cross at 17:42 and 18:12. Customers at other times should use alternative Thameslink services via St Pancras International.

Southern

Caterham and Tattenham Corner to London Bridge

Direct fast services to London Bridge will be reintroduced on this route on an every 30 minute basis.

Clapham Junction to Watford Junction and Milton Keynes

One train per hour will run between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes throughout the day. After 18:30 services will run between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction only. At busy times, some services will be extended to / from Selhurst.

Beckenham Junction to London Bridge

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 and seeking 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

Most services will not run on this route. Two morning peak services will operate (07:50 and 08:20 London Victoria to London Bridge) plus some late evening services. Customers should change at Norwood Junction for fast services to or from London Bridge.

Brighton to Hastings

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

Brighton to Hove

Fewer shuttle trains will run between Brighton and Hove, customers should use longer distance services from Brighton to and from Littlehampton, Portsmouth and Southampton.

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.

Uckfield to London Bridge

The hourly service from Uckfield will run as 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 reduce to every two-hours when trains are quieter in the following periods. To illustrate this, the departure times shown will run:

• Uckfield to London Bridge: 05:31, 06:33, 07:03, 07:33, 08:33, 09:33, 10:33, 12:33, 14:33, 16:33, 17:33 then hourly until 22:33
• East Croydon to Uckfield 05:20, then 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 a change at busy times, with 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.