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Permalink Reply by Derek Keay on December 10, 2014 at 14:56

Brilliant, but they're not addressing the issue of the real overcrowding from 07:30 to 9am everyday. For example the08:05am to Moorgate. You're lucky if you even get on the train when it arrives at Bowes Park. GN have also promised Moorgate opening at weekends and new rolling stock.

 

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Permalink Reply by Donald Smith on December 11, 2014 at 17:29

I have also heard complaints in respect of the previous FCC early train service on Saturdays using 3-cars when empty train stock was sitting idle in Hornsey depot

For more information on GoVia Thameslink clickhere, aka www.gtrailway.com

From December 2015, Moorgate opening hours will be extended to allow services to operate there, rather than King’s Cross, earlier in the morning (from about 0600), later in the evening (until about midnight) and at weekends. This reflects clear demand for extended operating hours on the Moorgate branch

The Class 313 rolling stock which currently operates into Moorgate will be replaced by 150 new carriages, due to be introduced during 2018.

For further details see the factsheet,read here or below

Attachments:

• Factsheet 1 - Great Northern inner suburban services.pdf, 614 KB

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Permalink Reply by Michael Dawson on December 15, 2014 at 12:14

I agree.  I am not a regular user, but I very much doubt these trains get crowded, perhaps with the exception of some after an Arsenal evening match.  A simpler change that would definitely benefit me, and probably others, would be for the driver to announce the station when it is dark outside. There are no signs in the trains and the lighting on the platforms is not great, so it is easy to miss your station if you are not fully alert (or fully sober - although my own experiences have been whilst sober!). I contacted the train operator and they said it was left to the driver, but he/she should announce the main stations.  In my experience, this does not happen, and for Finsbury Park is probably unnecessary.  I do not understand why all stations are not announced as routine, certainly when it is dark and hard to see the station signs.

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Permalink Reply by Donald Smith on December 15, 2014 at 12:50

Michael Dawson  writes:

I contacted the train operator and they said it was left to the driver, but he/she should announce the main stations

You probably received a reply from Customer Services...now the staff replying on behalf of First Capital Connect and Great Northern Railway are ostensibly the same team as they were TUPE'd across. But which company replied, please

For information, the carriages known as Class 313 are NOT all the same as those transferred and used on SOUTHERN were refurbished at Wolverton works and included a Passenger information System. click here

Some stations under FCC control allegedly had improved platform lighting

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Permalink Reply by Michael Dawson on December 15, 2014 at 12:56

The address on the email I received was: Customer Relations, Great Northern, PO Box 443, Plymouth.  There may be some trains on the line with in-train info boards, but most do not seem to have them.  Unless station lighting is VERY good, I question how effective it is when it's dark outside.  The main effect seems to be: dark outside, very light inside, resulting in a mirror effect.

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Permalink Reply by Donald Smith on December 16, 2014 at 11:55

Thank you for the information. The Train Class 313 stock used on Southern Railway is shown in the images

and if applied to Class 313 based in Hornsey depot would have provided a substantive improvement of service for Bowes Park Passengers with not only a  Passenger Information Systems but other improvements

It is now too late for you and other commuters to attend a Meet the Manager event at Kings Cross (held 11th December) but there is an event to be held at nearby London St Pancras station on 8 January 2015 between 07:30 and 09:30.​

For the formal invitation and feedback, see here

Attachments:

• SN00601 Transport for Disabled people.pdf, 186 KB

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