London Banter - View Single Post - Thameslink programme to go ahead "in it's entirety"

[email protected] · November 26th 10, 12:17 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at 19:10:08
on Thu, 25 Nov 2010, Jim Chisholm
remarked:

istr they were supposed to be lengthening platforms at Cambridge to
take 12 cars, but I think they may have changed their mind and are
doing an island instead.

As well, not instead.

Cambridge has had 12-car Class 365 services to Kings Cross in the
morning peak for some time now.

Isn't that being done by some sort of kludge, rather than lengthening
both platforms 1 & 4 so that all trains could be 12-car, as was
originally proposed?

The Island Platform at Cambridge is due to be opened in just over a
year. They've possessions booked, and it is needed for the proposed 12
car service to Liverpool St, trains for which are already being
produced.

If both 1 & 4 were usable by 12-car trains, perhaps they wouldn't
need such a long island. Do you know whether they've changed
strategy, or will 1 & 4 & the island all be capable of 12-car?

Extending 1 and 4 was part of the Thameslink Programme. 1 was extended
early to allow FCC to run a few 12-car trains in the peak (two up trains
at present but that might change in December).

Only extending 1 & 4 would not provide the terminating capacity needed for
West Anglia 12-car trains that start in December next year, however.

Hence the accelerated programme for the island platform. A bit of an oops
from the lack of coordination between GN and WA routes. Once the island is
there I expect the platform 4 extension will not proceed.

--
Colin Rosenstiel