TOC Focus - Govia Thameslink Railway

Hello, wherever you all may be! Having a great week so far? I know I am!

Anyway, this post focuses on the combined TOC (Train Operating Company) Govia Thameslink Railway. This is a combination of the Great Northern and Thameslink franchises, both operated by Govia (a collaboration between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%).


The Great Northern Focus

 Great Northern operates services on the Southern section of the East Coast Mainline, The Moorgate Line, The Cambridge Line and the Hertford Loop.

East Coast Mainline (ECML) - services to London Kings Cross from Peterborough, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City and many more. These services are ran by a mixture of Class 365s, Class 321s and Class 317s (all on the routes further than Welwyn Garden City). Stopping services from Welwyn Garden City are ran by Class 313 units.
©Liam Jenkins - Special Livery 365510 passes through Alexandra Palace on the ECML.

Moorgate Line - services to Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage from Moorgate and Highbury and Islington. These are all ran by Class 313 units.

©Liam Jenkins - 313036 waits at Alexandra Palace with a service from Welwyn Garden City.

Cambridge Line - services to London Kings Cross and Stevenage from Kings Lynn, Letchworth Garden City, Royston and Cambridge. Majority of these services are ran by Class 365s and Class 317s.
©Liam Jenkins - 365518 passes Alexandra Palace with a service to Cambridge.

Hertford Loop - stopping services to London Kings Cross from Hertford North and Stevenage (via Hertford North). All of these services are ran by Class 313s.
©Liam Jenkins - 313036 arrives at Alexandra Palace with a stopping service.

As mentioned briefly above, Great Northern operates a fleet of 44 Class 313 units, numbered from 313024 - 313033, 313035 - 313064, 313122 - 313123, as well as 313018, 313134.
They also operate a fleet of 41 (40 in use) Class 365s, numbered from 365501 - 365525, 365527 - 365541. 365526 is out of use after the Potters Bar accident.
In addition to this, Great Northern operate a fleet of 12 Class 317s, numbered from 317337 - 317348. These were renumbered from 317/1s after a refurbishment.
Finally, they also operate a fleet of 18 Class 321/4s. These are numbered from 321401 - 321410 and 321418 - 321420.

In September 2014, Govia Thameslink Railway took over the Great Northern franchise from First Group, where it was branded 'First Capital Connect' from 2006 to 2014.

The Thameslink Focus

Thameslink operates services on the Brighton Mainline, Thameslink Core and the Midland Mainline.

Brighton Mainline - A majority third rail line, Thameslink operates a half hourly service from Brighton to London Bridge, stopping at all stations until Haywards Heath, and then running semi fast to London Bridge, usually calling at Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, East Croydon and London Bridge. In addition to this, Thameslink operates a half hourly service to Bedford from Brighton, calling at intermediate stations. A half hourly service is also in use from Three Bridges to Bedford via Elephant and Castle to ease congestion on the Brighton Mainline whilst work at London Bridge is ongoing.
©Liam Jenkins - 319428 passes through Horley with a service to Bedford.

Thameslink Core - All Thameslink services beyond London Blackfriars (from Brighton) and St Pancras International (from Bedford) use the Thameslink Core. It is a mainly underground section of line that connects South London to North London via Farringdon and St Pancras International.
©Liam Jenkins - 319002 arrives into London Blackfriars with a service to Brighton.

Midland Mainline - A majority overhead electrification line, Thameslink operates a half hourly service from Brighton and Three Bridges to Bedford (Midland Mainline working from St Pancras to Bedford). These services use the fast lines between West Hampstead TL and St Albans, where they cascade to the slow lines, for an all stopper service to Bedford. Thameslink also operate slower stopping services from Sutton and Wimbledon to Luton and St Albans. These services use the slow lines at all times, as they are stopping services.
©Liam Jenkins - 319425 approaches Mill Hill Broadway with a service to Sutton.

Thameslink operates a fleet of 72 Class 319 units, numbered from 319001 - 319013, 319214 - 319220, 319370 - 319373, 319375 - 319378, 319381, 319384 - 319386, as well as 319421 - 319460.
They also operate a fleet of 32 Class 377s, numbered from 377207 - 377215, 377501 - 377523.
In addition to this, Thameslink operate a fleet of 29 Class 387 Electrostars, numbered from 387101 - 387129.


Look to the Future

 Govia Thameslink Railway has a very promising future.
  • London Bridge is having work done for a long time to provide a unique Thameslink hub in the busy area. However, whilst work is being done, havoc is being caused, as you may have seen in the news.  
  • An order of futuristic Class 700 Desiro units is being executed right now, with the first of the units due to arrive at Three Bridges this summer! This means Thameslink can cascade their Class 377 units to Great Northern, which will result in the ageing Class 317 and 321s being cascaded elsewhere.
  • Thameslink are building many new depots at locations such as Horsham and Three Bridges, ready for the introduction of lots of new services from Horsham, and South London connecting to Anglia and Hertfordshire.

I hope you have all enjoyed my post tonight, please share with your friends :) Liam
Regards:

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