Blackfriars Update - 2nd September 2009

Just a quick update with some pictures of Blackfriars. Over the bank holiday wekend the passenger bridge linking platforms 4 and 5 was lifted into place. as you can see from the following pictures, work has progressed rather well.

Not in the pictures is the new front entrance to the station which is completed. It will open along side the new station control room in around two weeks time.

Electrostar Update

FCC's 7th Electrostar, unit 377509, sits in the cleaning sheds at Selhurst Depot on the 2nd June 2009 shortly after delivery.


With the recent problems of Bombardier I thought it would prove useful to update the current status of the Electrostars for both FCC (377/5) and London Overground (378).

377/5

The original plan was for most of the 377/5 dual voltage units to be ready for the Thameslink Programme (TLP) Key Output Zero (KO0), as we know this didn't happen and the massive timetable change went ahead and only on the second day did the first passenger run of a 377/5 happen on the 24th March 2009. So far six units have been delivered with the 7th, 377509 currently at Selhurst on commissioning runs. 377510 was reported on the test track at Bombardier's Derby center last week.

The units have so far been in service as such

377501 – 24/03/09
377504 – 30/03/09
377502 – 29/04/09
377507 – 08/05/09
377508 – 18/05/09
377505 – 29/05/09

The current expected date for all 23 377/5 is now December 2009, some 7 months late.

378

The 378 fleet for London Overground has suffered worse. Originally it was hoped that the first would be in passenger service in December 2008. This was soon to be disappointed as the only 378 delivered in 2008 was 378001 which was only fitted out for test running. The first 378 ready for passenger service was 378005. This was followed by 378007 and the latest unit is 378015 which left Derby today (4th May). The latest updated estimate of a 378 in passenger service is 29th June. This is now some seven months late.

Units 378002/006/009/011/013/014/016 have all been seen completed externally at Derby.

Hopefully as the year progresses more Electrostars will delivered which will help relief overcrowding on FCC's Thameslink routes and provide the best proof of the upgrade to the London Overground is really happening and from next year provide lengthen trains and increased frequencies.

Blackfriars Shield

As part of the engineering work over the Easter period a shield was installed around the sub surface tracks of the District/Circle lines at Blackfriars was lifted into place. This shield is to protect the tracks and allow running as both the Underground and First Capital Connect stations during the 30 month rebuild that's costing £350m as part of getting ready for Key Output One (KO1) which should be in place in time for the 2012 Olympics. Once finished both parts of the Tube station will have escalators and lifts allowing step free access to the four Network Rail platforms and the two Underground ones.

For more images of the station as its being rebuild see here.

377501 in service

377501 leaves City Thameslink leading 377208 northwards to Bedford

377501 in service

377501 during its first day.

377 News

377501 was on test today although the unit isn't expected to come into public service until later on this week.

Unit 377504 will be the first in passanger service from Tuesday 24th March 2009 running the following trains

0210 Bedford - St Pancras International
0358 St Pancras International - Bedford
0540 Bedford - Brighton
0816 Brighton - Bedford
1410 Bedford - Brighton
1709 Brighton - London Bridge
1842 London Bridge - Brighton
2007 Brighton - Bedford

Goodbye Moorgate

This is the final passanger train leaving Moorgate for the last time. The 8 car unit was formed of 319364 and 319365, the two Thameslink programme branded 319 trains. Now work can begin on the track at Farringon, although the branch will not be pulled up till December 09 but it will shortly be degrade to empty stock movements only shortly.

The bays at Blackfriars are also now shut after the final 2112 service to Sevenoaks departed last night.

On good news 377501 is on test today before going back to FCC next week hopefully.

Southern 377's start working on Thameslink

The first unit in service 377207 formed 2T27 bedford (09:24) to Brighton (11:59) which due to a fault at Farringdon ran fast from East Croydon to Brighton.

Finally after a long period of testing and training the first Southern 377 unit ran a passanger service over the Thameslink metals prior to full services from monday. Although the inital jounery was marred by a 25min delay changing power at Farringdon, the introduction went smoothly with a service being provide. Inside the first class FCC head have been attached to the Southern seating but still feel very werid to be in, especially at stations like City Thameslink. They service also saw staff from FCC, Network Rail and Bombarbier aboard to ensure a pretty smooth running jounery. This wasn't always the case but as with any first time there are always problems.

The service ran

Bedford (0924) 0929, Bedford South Junction (0926) 0930, Filtwick (0937) 0938, Harlington (0937) 0943, Leagrave (0942) 0948, Luton (0948 ) 0951, Luton Airport Parkway (0950) no time recorded, Harpenden (0956) 0959, St Albans (1004) 1005, passing through not calling at - Hendon (1014) 1016, West Hampstead (1016) 1018, Carlton Road Junction (1018 ) 1019, Kentish Town (1019) 1021, St Pancras International (1024) 1030, Farringdon (1029) a. 1034 d. 1051, City Thameslink (1032) 1055, Blackfriars (1035) 1059, London Bridge (1042) 1107, Bricklayers Arms Junction (1045) 1111, Sydenham (1050) 1115, Norwood Junction (1052) 1117, Windmill bridge Junction (1053) 1119, East Croydon (1055) 1125, Purley (1059) 1128, Stoats nest Junction (1100) 1130, Earlswood (1105) 1134, Gatwick Airport (1111) no info, Three Bridges (1115) no info, Balcombe Tunnel junction (1118 ) no info, Haywards Heath (1127) no info, Keymer Junction (1131) no info, Preston Park (1143) no info, Brighton (1149) 1259.

This is the unit on its return jounery to Bedford although the side displays showed St Albans.

Thameslink Programme - Key Output Zero

Pictures are of FCC unit 377501 (the first of 23 Electrostars to be deliveried) departing platform four at Blackfriars. The unit was returning to Selhurst before going onto Derby the following day.

As the Thameslink programme is now under way the first major step of the programme is about to begin and is going to have massive affect on the customers using the Thameslink route and also SouthEastern's customers on the services that currently terimate in Blackfriars.

The Thameslink Programme was broken down into three output phases. The first, Key Output Zero hits on the 23rd March. This will see the bays at Blackfriars horded off and the station rebuilt while serving trains. Moorgate will lose its Thameslink branch and Barbican will lose mainline trains and become a London Underground station only. Sevenoaks services will be extended northways with all but 5 services going as far as Kentish Town with some peak working going even futher. The current SouthEastern trains to (AM peak) and from (PM peak) Blackfriars will be extended as far as Bedford.

To achieve this First Capital Connect (FCC) are gaining additional stock to run all these extra services. Now this is where the problems arise. Due to massive problems Bombarbier have had with some suppliers being out of business. This has also affected the London Overground 378s. Because of the fact that now building work has started and the Thameslink Programme can not be put back any futher, a train cascade is now taking place to ensure that FCC can cope with the demands of a Key Output Zero (KO0) timetable. FCC will now recieve eight 377/2 Electrostar (which are actually the same as the 377/5 FCC are waiting to be deliveried). This would mean that Southern are multiple units short. To this end they are getting some 375 Electrostars from SouthEastern, Dual Voltage 350/1s from London Midland and using some 442 EMUs to cover their services.

The bad news is this is now enough units to cover everything so the following services are going to be DC only Networkers services instead of going futher north. All will terimate at City Thameslink.

AM Peak
0740 Sevenoaks to (Kentish Town) City Thameslink
*8 car 319 now 6 car Networker (465 + 466)
0752 Sevenoaks to (Luton) City Thameslink
*8 car 319 now 8 car Networker (465 x2)

PM Peak
1650 (Luton) City Thameslink to Sevenoaks
* 8 car 319 now 8 car Networker (465 x2)
1808 (Kentish Town) City Thameslink to Sevenoaks
* 8 car 319 now 8 car Networker (465 + 466 x2)
1906 Sevenoaks to (Kentish Town) City Thameslink
* 8 car 319 now 8 car Networker (465 x2)

Ther is also an extra train that will start at Farringdon. This is because the unit will be formed of two 4 car 317 units that are AC only so are unable to work south of Farringdon. The units will run the following service

1816 Farringdon to Bedford
St Pancras International 1820, St Albans 1842, Harpenden 1848, Luton Airport Parkway 1854, Luton 1857, Harlington 1905 and arrive at Bedford 1920

The joint SouthEastern/FCC services will including the following as well as the Sevenoaks services. These will use 4 or 8 car 319 trains to achieve this

AM Peak
2 trains from Orpington via Catford
2 trains from Orpington via Herne Hill
2 trains from Bromley South via Catford
1 train from Beckenham Junction via Herne Hill
1 train from Kent House via Herne Hill

PM Peak
1 train to Orpington via Catford
2 trains to Beckenham Junction via Herne Hill

Long distance services will be as follows

AM Peak
0609 Bearstead to Bedford via Maidstone East
0623 Ashford International to Bedford via Maidstone East
0729 Rochester to bedford

PM Peak
1622 Bedford to Gillingham via Herne Hill
1646 Bedford to Bedford via Maidstone East
1700 Bedford to Gillingham via Herne Hill

So the Fleet for FCC Thameslink come KO0 will be as follows

317 x2 (borrowed from FCC Great Northern route)
319 x86 (the whole 319 fleet)
377/2 x8 (Borrowed from Southern)
377/5 x2 (with a futher 21 to be deliveried during 2009)

This leaves a total of 10 peak trains that are four car units which are as follows

AM Peak
0629 Luton to Sevenoaks
0816 Brighton to Bedford

PM Peak
1507 Brighton to Bedford
1534 Sevenoaks to Bedford
1537 Brighton to Bedford
1544 Luton to Sutton
1613 St Albans to Wimbledon
1711 London Bridge to Brighton
1740 Sutton to St Albans
1757 Wimbledon to Luton
1842 London Bridge to Brighton

Once all 23 377/5 Electrostars are deliveried all AM peak services will be of 8 car units and only six 4 car services in the PM peak. Although there is more than planned 4 car services the capacity remains silmar to the planned KO0 timetable.

Moorgate Closure

The end is coming for the short branch from Farringdon to Moorgate for First Capital Connect's Thameslink route. To make way for the new 12 car platforms at Farringdon the two station link will be cut off from the end of peak traffic on the 2oth March 2009.

Current passanger trains are as follows

Morning arrivals

0659 from Bedford
0723 from Luton
0735 from Luton
0743 from Bedford
0751 from Bedford
0755 from Luton
0819 from Luton
0823 from St Albans
0839 from Bedford
0847 from Bedford
0855 from Luton
0911 from Luton
0941 from St Albans

Evening Departures

1635 to Bedford
1710 to Bedford
1720 to St Albans
1724 to Bedford
1744 to Bedford
1804 to Luton
1816 to Bedford
1828 to Bedford
1840 to Bedford
1906 to Bedford

Come the morning of the 23rd March anyone wanting to get to Barbican and Moorgate will have to change at Frringdon for the Underground. As part of a deal any season ticket for two years after the closure is vaild to Moorgate on the Underground at "no extra cost". After this time I assume that you will need a Zone 1 travelcard to get to Moorgate from stations on the Thameslink route.

377501 At Bedford Depot

Well the first of First Capital Connect's 377/5 4 car units was finally deliveried on friday and has made it safely to Bedford as the images above show. Currently only 377504 is the other completed until and is still under going testing on the Brighton main Line at night. It seems with the deadline of the 22nd March for the new timetable a major rolling stock movement is about to begin that will see 350/1 Desiro's working the Southern service between Milton Keynes and East Croydon recently reported on. This would free up some of Southern's 377/2 units for FCC to use on its Thameslink route while Bombarbier get the other 21 377/5 built and working.

Goodbye Blackfriars

The first major thing to happen in the Thameslink programme has started. The closure of Blackfriars Tube station until late 2011 to rebuild a modern step free station providing greater interchange with First Capitial Connect's new 12 car station.

Customers must now use either Temple or Mansion House to get on the Circle or District Lines. Personally I prefer Temple as spring is coming a nice walk along the Thames is a great way to start the week!

TLP Month

March 2009 might as well be called Thameslink Programme (TLP) month from all the changes happening with the staged introduction of Key Output Zero (KO0). This basically is when the Moorgate branch closes and trains from Sevenoaks are (re)added into the Thameslink network due to lack of terminating bays at Blackfriars come the end of the month. The key dates are different to the 'official' dates but I have used the actually changes rather than the basic timetable changes as weekend services as you know is non existence at the moment.

27th Febuary 2009

The final time you'll be able to use Blackfriars Tube station until late (IE nov/dec) 2011. This is due to Network Rail (NR) rebuilding the whole station to provide a proper interchange with the Thameslink station and will have step free access. Please not that although they say it closes on the 2nd Febuary there is engineering work that weekend meaning you can't access the station on the 28th Febuary/1st March.

20th March 2009

This is the final day of services into Moorgate from the north Thameslink route before closure to allow Farringdon's platforms to be extended over the branch's junction to cope with the 12 car trains coming from 2012. The final service should be the 1906 to Bedford calling at Farringdon, St Pancras International, St Albans, Harpenden, Luton, Leagrave and Bedford arriving at 2012.

23rd March 2009

Customer living on the Sevenoaks to Blackfriars via Catford line will come under the Thameslink/First Capital Network with all trains running through the Central London Core to at least as far as Kentish Town. The service will be run by 4 car 319s and in the peaks will be extended to as far as Bedford. The current services from Beckenham Junction, Gillingham, Rochester and Ashford International into Blackfrairs will also be a joint effort with First Capital Connect and SouthEastern. The trains are due to be run by dual voltage 377/5 and are planned to be 8 units if enough 377/5's are delivered for this date.

As you can see the next month sees a lot of changes to both First Capital Connect services as well as SouthEastern services from late March. This is all part of providing more seats for customers using these services. There is still a danger that these keys dates are not meet. As of writing we are a 4 weeks away from the latest date and yet we have only had two 377/5's delivered with the first 377501 expected to be in service this week according to the latest dates. The second unit 377504 was delivered last week and has under gone some testing, neither have been on the Thameslink Core as of yet. Something that will have to change very soon. Work on the bridge at Farringdon is also behind but Network rail is stepping up efforts there and beginning to make real effort to meet the deadline. If enough 377's and the bridge at Farringdon isn't ready in time then the whole programme could slip. There is only a few months 'spare' in the time scale before the Olympics hit in 2012. Hopefully FCC, DfT, SouthEastern, NR and Bombardier will have all the problems solved or minimised by the time KO0 kicks in.

Sign Of Things To Come?

With the current issues with Bombardier and its supplying of Electrostars to both First Capital Connect and London Overground heavly delayed due to economical problems 23 of its suppliers are going through it seem they are getting ready for a mark 2 verison of this mass product. According to Railway Gazette, Bombardier are planning to reveal the second generation Electrostar at next months Railtex Expo 2009 next month. Whats this got to do with London's transport? Well the 30 new 4 car EMU's for Stanstead Express preferred bidder is Bombardier who will build the 120 new carriages at Derby and its likely that they will be a part of the Electrostar family. Also with Bombardier going after the mega Thameslink order for a completely new fleet for FCC as part of the Thameslink Programme, any new verison of the Electrostars are likely to be in the running for this order. Depending on how well the 377/5 fleet does during its few years with FCC could very well affect the decision. Also Crossrail is looking to Thameslink Programme and its new fleet of 12 car trains as they will need a silmar product for the 10 car trains its currently due to start running in 2017. So it could be a south-east land of Electrostar in the future.

377501 on Test

This weekend the first of First Capital Connect's new fleet of Electrostars, unit 377501 has been on test in daylight hours.

The unit ran into London Victoria as part of a 12 car formation.



It was also spotted at Clapham Junction as part of a 8 car formation.



The unit is rather late as it was originally expected that the fleet of 23 units would be in service for a timetable change in Decemeber 2008. sadly this wasn't the case and now the recession has hit hard at Bombardier, forcing them to buy some of their suppliers to ensure the units can be completed. The air conditioned 4 car units will be introduced from the end of this month to help with the new Thameslink timetable that comes into force on March 22nd. These units will run the long distance services such as Ashford International and the Medway Towns in the peak and run Bedford to Brighton off peak. Introduction of all 23 trains is currently unknown as the second unit, 377504, is expected to be deliveried this week.

377501 First Images

Im luckly enough to have been given permisson by Paul from the southernrailway Yahoo Group of the first public images taken of First Capital Connect's first class 377, 377501 while on test at Brighton in the early hours of monday morning.

As you can see the units are 2+2 seating with Southern's green 'astroturf' seating covers. The inside of the units is to typical Southern spec. personally I dont really think that the green, purple and pink go really well but it seems FCC doesn't want to pay for the units to have their seat covers or Southern have said no.

So far the unit has been testing on the Brighton mainline during the late night/early morning. It was due to go testing on the West Coast Main Line this week but Im sorry to report the unit has been suffering multiple failures during testing. While I don't know the fault it has happened more than once but the last time it failed it was sent back to Selhurst and not allowed on test for the remander of this week. What I do know is that the unit must run 5,000 fault free miles before it is accepted for passanger service. So far it's well short of this with failures.

Problems arise as until they accept 377501 the delieveries of other units are going to be delayed until its sorted out. As it currently stands 377502 and 377503 are due/planned to be deliveried late friday/early saturday morning but this may now be delayed. It seems the plan to have five 377/5 Electrostars in service for the timetable change on March 22nd is in danger once again. I will remind you that the original plan was for the timetable change to happen in December 2008 with Moorgate branch and Blackfriars bay platform closing along with all 23 377/5's coming into service. Now the deadline of getting Blackfriars and Farringdon means the deadline can't be changed now and FCC is going to have to deal with less trains when it changes its timetables next month.

This date is know as Key Output Zero or KO0 (meaning no extra trains). KO1 comes in December 2011 with the rebuilt Blackfriars and Farringdon opened and extra services. KO2 is due to be completed in December 2015 with London Bridge and the viaduct between there and Blackfriars being completely rebuilt and giving FCC trains there own tracks from Kentish Town to Bermondsey. The new NeXt generation Electrical Multple Unit trains (NXEMU's) are due to be in service replacing all the current 319, 365, 313, 317 and the forthcoming 377 EMU's.

38 days remaining to Key Output Zero of Thameslink.

Beware what's coming commuters!

Beware whats coming commuters
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Here's the start of LU's major information drive to inform customers of the forthcoming closure of Blackfriars tube station as part of the Thameslink Programme. This along with a leaflet drive should get to customers the fact the station is closing temporarly. Once complete the new station will have step free access and a new airy and glass building fronted ticket office. It will look good but lead to major pain in the medium time.

Thameslink Programme Update

Farringdon (First Capital Connect), originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu.

Just an update on Farringdon works as part of the Thameslink Programme. The first part of the new bridge is finally up and working now. Hoping over the next few weeks the rest of the bridge (to the right of the bit you seen in this picture) will be installed and completed before Moorgate branch is closed and Farringdon gets alot busier interchange.

Also the first of the new trains for First Capital connect is currently on test with the following paths

5Z70 2050 Selhurst depot - London Bridge 2108
5Z70 2114 London Bridge - Gatwick Sidings 2155
5Z71 2208 Gatwick Sidings - London Bridge 2237
5Z72 2245 London Bridge - Brighton 2354
5Z73 0003 Brighton - London Bridge 0055
5Z74 0102 London Bridge - Brighton 0151
5Z75 0200 Brighton - London Bridge 0248
5Z76 0254 London Bridge - Gatwick 0319
5Z77 0325 Gatwick - Selhurst depot

It also seems thats another two 377 (likely 502 and 503) are to be deliveried on saturday morning (if anything like 501 around 0200-0300). This seems to work with the latest information that FCC will run with five 377 in the new timetable on March 22nd.

This is all good news for those affected by the Thameslink programme as it seems things are starting to kick in. I for one can't wait to see what March's timetable change brings us in terms of altered services. So far the information Im getting seems to be that instead of being able to run all but six services as 8 car trains, there will be many more 4 car trains in peak until all 23 377/5 units are in service. To give an idea how long it takes to do a 4 car 377, Im told atleast three cars have been made in jan. This of course is unconfirmed information.

Stay tuned for more updates as events happen including a time line of changes at Blackfriars.

377 on Thameslink Core update

377202 on test through the Thameslink Core
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

This week has been busy for 377 working on Thameslink metals. On tuesday we had 377214, with 377202 returning on wednesday and now today we've had 377211 running. At the moment the 377 are making runs from Selhurst Depot to Kentish Town then reverse to Herne Hill, return to Kentish Town before reversing again to Selhurst.

The routing is the following stations

Selhurst Depot, Norwood junction, Crystal Palace, Gipsy Hill, West Norwood, Tulse Hill, Herne Hill, Loughborough Junction, Elephant & Castle, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Kentish Town (reversing in platform 3).

5Z11 Selhurst to Kentish Town

Selhurst 11:15
Norwood Junction 11:17
Crystal Palace 11:23
Tulse Hill 11:35
Herne Hill 11:39
Loughborough Junction 11:42
Blackfriars 11:51
Farringdon 11:58
St Pancras International 12:01
Kentish Town 12:06

5Z12 Kentish Town to Herne Hill

Kentish Town 12:21
St Pancras International 12:30
Farringdon 12:36
Blackfriars 12:44
Loughborough Junction 12:53
Herne Hill 13:00

5Z13 Herne Hill to Kentish Town

Herne Hill 13:22
Loughborough Junction 13:24
Elephant & Castle 13:28
Blackfriars 13:33
Farringdon 13:38
St Pancras International 13:42
Dock Junction North 13:45
Kentish Town 13:47

5Z14 Kentish Town to Selhurst

Kentish Town 14:06
Dock Junction North 14:09
St Pancras International 14:13
Farringdon 14:19
Blackfriars 14:25
Loughborough Junction 14:34
Herne Hill 14:37
Tulse Hill 14:41
Crystal Palace 14:43
Norwood Junction 14:59
Selhurst Depot 15:05

Driver training on the 377

377 214 on Test
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

First Capital Connect (FCC) have restarted their driver train on a borrow 377 from Southern. Last year they used 377 202 with regular trips up to Bedford on the Midland Main Line. Now after returning 202 I spotted 377 214 on test. This image is from a run from Selhurst to Kentish Town where the unit reversed in platform 3 and heading off south. The trip ended at the newly installed reversing siding at Herne Hill.

Times the unit is booked to run

5Z11 Selhurst to Kentish Town

Selhurst 11:15
Norwood Junction 11:17
Crystal Palace 11:23
Tulse Hill 11:35
Herne Hill 11:39
Loughborough Junction 11:42
Blackfriars 11:51
Farringdon 11:58
St Pancras International 12:01
Kentish Town 12:06


5Z12 Kentish Town to Herne Hill

Kentish Town 12:21
St Pancras International 12:30
Farringdon 12:36
Blackfriars 12:44
Loughborough Junction 12:53
Herne Hill 13:00