Chris Stokes
Converting to Class 350: No 350368 undertaking platform-train interface testing at Rugeley Town on 14 April 2019 prior to introduction of this class on the newly-electrified Chase line with the May 2019 timetable change. At left is No 170506 on a Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham working. G. E. Stringer
As I write this, everyone in the industry and government must be devoutly hoping that May will not see a repetition of last year’s timetable problems. The Thameslink operation has settled down reasonably well. The drivers’ route knowledge backlog has been resolved, and Thameslink is now delivering, with the pattern of usage reflecting the dramatically improved distribution provided by the service across central London, as well as opening up many more cross-London flows. The benefits of the project will of course increase significantly when Crossrail finally opens and Farringdon becomes one of the most important interchanges on the network.
