Govia Thameslink Railway has announced that it will further reduce its train timetable from next week.
From Monday 30th March 2020, Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern will operate reduced timetables of phased timetable changes which have been agreed with the Government to maintain train services for key workers.
As part of this, from Monday, 30 March, the Gatwick Express service will be temporarily suspended until further notice
Southern and Thameslink trains will continue to serve Gatwick with more than enough capacity to satisfy demand.
What did the officials say?
Govia Thameslink Railway Chief Operating Officer Steve White said:
“In this national emergency, we and the rest of the rail industry are doing everything we can to keep essential services running for key workers on whom we all depend.
“These changes will release our staff to concentrate their efforts on keeping these essential services running. Thameslink and Southern trains will continue to serve Gatwick.
“Let me repeat the core message from our Government and Public Health England: travel only if it is absolutely essential.
“Once again, I want to thank the key workers, the doctors, nurses, police and other emergency workers, for what they are doing for us all. I also want to thank railway colleagues who are working so hard to keep trains running.
“To check your journey next week please check online with National Rail Enquiries where the revised timetables will be in place from the weekend. Please note that Coronavirus is having a major impact on us all and there may be further changes so check before your travel.”
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Govia Thameslink Railway could expand their franchise and to retain the Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern (TSGN) franchise including Gatwick Express which is part of the TSGN franchise (Southern Trains franchise). If GTR is to lose the franchise next year.
Or will GTR lose the franchise and to split the entire franchise with Thameslink & Great Northern (TGN) to re-merge and the Southern franchise to be separated and to be franchised by a different franchise (ie Abellio, MTR, First Group, Trenitalia, Arriva or DfT to franchise the open access franchise).
And thinking of Gatwick Express. They could inherit the Class 387/3s hired from c2c and to add more capacity and to send 387105 back to Great Northern. With c2c Class 720/6s to be built and to enter service from next year.
Consistent with impending closure of Gatwick North Terminal. Sad to see ‘ghost trains’ across
the network, but there are still those that need them. Let us hope that the Gatex units can be stored out of the reach of taggers and vandals!