Rail Operators Announce Service Changes Amid Crew Deficiencies

Two railway operators are issuing warnings about reduced services scheduled for Saturday due to a lack of available train crew. Thameslink and Great Northern, both owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), have confirmed that their services will face cancellations or revisions until the close of Saturday. They also indicated that some services would commence and conclude at different stations than their usual routes. Passengers are being advised to allow up to an additional 30 minutes for their journeys on Saturday, anticipating potential disruptions. They have been cautioned that they might need to switch trains, endure longer waits for a service, or utilize alternative public transport options to complete their travels. GTR has arranged for ticket acceptance, which includes some Southern and London Underground services, as well as Metrobus services operating between Three Bridges and Horsham/Redhill. GTR further stated that its journey planners have been updated to reflect the services that are scheduled to run. The company warned that late-night services would also be impacted, urging passengers to verify their travel plans before departing, especially for routes connecting to and from Gatwick and Luton airports. A GTR spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry that we’ve had cancellations to our services on Saturday.  We understand this is frustrating and we’re sorry for the disruption it is causing. A combination of driver training, sickness, and annual leave, can sometimes take Great Northern and Thameslink to a position where they find it challenging to cover the service.” The spokesperson added that GTR is continuously recruiting more drivers to help with this issue, but it typically takes approximately 18 months to fully train a driver. Additionally, due to scheduled engineering work on the Thameslink network this Saturday, “various lines” are slated for closure. On Saturday, Thameslink announced that a diminished service would operate via London Bridge, and also between London Blackfriars and Three Bridges. Services connecting Luton and Rainham are scheduled to follow a revised timetable. Concurrently, throughout Saturday and Sunday, Thameslink services will not extend to or originate from Sutton when traveling via Mitcham Junction. For updates, follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.