Why oh why did we fall for the Thameslink advertising blurb suggesting that we go for a nice day out. I don’t know and I’m still trying to work it out.
I think it was because of winter cabin-fever, depressing news, Foot and Mouth etc. which made the idea of a day beside ... Read review
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Advantages: modern trains Disadvantages: filthy carriages
...did we fall for the Thameslink advertising blurb suggesting that we go for a nice day out. I don’t know and I’m still trying to work it out.
I think it was because of winter cabin-fever, depressing news, Foot and Mouth etc. which made the idea of a day beside the seaside just so appealing. The idea that it would not be affected by Foot and Mouth regulations was also factored into the equation somewhere.
... ...We arrived at the nearest Thameslink station for about 9 am. 15 minutes later we were aboard the Brighton service. Did I say service? Some mistake surely?
The inside of that train was like a pigsty of the human variety. At 9 am it had not been cleaned from the previous night and all around were partially-empty booze tins, glasses and assorted bits of McDonalds and KFC products that late-night passengers had obviously been swilling. ... more
Why oh why did we fall for the Thameslink advertising blurb suggesting that we go for a nice day out. I don’t know and I’m still trying to work it out.
I think it was because of winter cabin-fever, depressing news, Foot and Mouth etc. which made the idea of a day beside the seaside just so appealing. The idea that it would not be affected by Foot and Mouth regulations was also factored into the equation somewhere.
Anyway we duly decided to visit Brighton on the sunny South Coast. We decided to have a leisurely Sunday daytrip and let the train take the strain. We arrived at the nearest Thameslink station for about 9 am. 15 minutes later we were aboard the Brighton service. Did I say service? Some mistake surely?
The inside of that train was like a pigsty of the human variety. At 9 am it had not been cleaned from the previous night and all around were partially-empty booze tins, glasses and assorted bits of McDonalds and KFC products that late-night passengers had obviously been swilling. The overall smell was atrocious and that was just in the main carriage.
My 3yr old wanted to use the loo! I had been dreading this from the start and I have to say this was the most revolting part of the ordeal. It was so bad that my little boy took one look and decided that holding it might be the best option. Unfortunately it also meant that the door had been opened! My breakfast just about stayed down.
If travelling in Thameslink’s squalor and filth was not bad enough for us they decided to hold the train at Gatwick for an incredible half-hour while they dealt with some points problems on the line.
This was a dreadful start to a day-out by anyone’s standards. Happily Brighton was a good day’s fun after some morning rain and the return trip was in a clean train which was overcrowded but that’s only to be expected.
Now that I’ve written this opinion for Ciao and got this off my chest somewhat I am considering a written complaint to Thameslink. If I do and there’s a response I’ll update this op.
In the meantime use Thameslink on a Sunday morning at your peril.
Advantages: Usually a good, fast, fairly reliable service Disadvantages: Quite expensive, trains from London may be delayed
Well after reading some other opinions on ciao, you'd be forgiven for thinking their service was the worst in the world. I've never had any major problems with Thameslink, although I only usually travel between Luton Airport and Bedford. My girlfriend was kept waiting 88 min for a train from Luton airport to Bedford one night, but this was on a Sunday during the floods and safety checks when they had said trains could be delayed a lot anyway (although ... ...I've always been able to get a train OK, and even on the days when service was restricted they still ran half-hourly (or more) from Bedford during the day.
I'm quite pleased with Thameslink, although before them I'd only ever used NI Railways (poor). They are also quite expensive, with a single ticket from Luton to Bedford costing £5.90. ...
Beano 07.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Thameslink
Advantages: Through-London service: no need to use the Underground, connects to other operators Disadvantages: Can get busy!
Thameslink is one of the 25 Train Operating Companies in the UK, and operates services in the south-east. They run from Bedford in the north through London to Brighton in the south.
The good thing about catching a Thameslink train are the following: they operate the same type of rolling stock on all of their services. And to distinguish them between the ones that Connex operate, they have a blue livery with Thameslink in a scripty font. They do ... ...an hour or so.
Thameslink is a company that runs on lines where there are alternatives to it. For instance, passengers can go to St Pancras from Bedford and Luton on Midland Mainline services, which are quicker because they don't stop as much. And if you want, services to Brighton are available from Victoria station in London. Though there is not much gain time-wise using this route.
Because it is the only surface-rail line to cross London, it ...
Mattnottm 11.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Thameslink
Advantages: common sense applied to make up lost time Disadvantages: service doesn't sparkle - grubby and overcrowded
...on Bedford station for the Thameslink service to Kings Cross Thameslink, a sprint to Kings Cross, and the last train of the day to Newcastle (yes, Bedford to Newcastle really is routed via London). My meeting in Bedford had run late, and I was playing brinkmanship.
And yes, you guessed it, the Thameslink service was late arriving - about 15 minutes late. As far as I was concerned I'ld missed my connection, and it was hotel in London for the night.
... ...Cross. There was an on-time Thameslink service immediately behind that would serve the intervening stations. By running the late train without stopping for a few stations it more or less made up time, and I guess would have been on-time for the rest of its run to Brighton. And yes, I caught my train at Kings Cross.
This is the first time I can remember a railway company applying a bit of common sense. On this occasion the service was okay - at least ...
Aquila 04.12.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Thameslink
Advantages: The route is convenient for me (Farringdon) Disadvantages: Overcorwded, late or cancelled trains, cater for the airport transit journeys yet are used by commuters
I have used Thameslink services for more than a year now, travelling between East Croyon and Farringdon.
The service is appalling!
I think it is designed as an airport train (it covers both Gatwick and Luton), because the trains at commuter times are not very convenient. They are often 30-40 minutes apart, when trains to Victoria and London Bridge are far more frequent. Yet it is used mainly by commuters, who are patently not catered for.
For ... ...Tulse Hill and Herne Hill. I pity the poor people who get on here. Frequently I have to stand from East Croydon, and if I manage to get a seat then it's far too small a seat for anyone except those who are a size 6! And almost invariably, those who get on at later stations have to stand, jammed in against one another and the tourists' luggage, which always fills the aisles and doorways.
The trains are hardly ever on time (despite the screens at ...
claire_kerr 29.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Thameslink
Advantages: Frequent trains, fast services Disadvantages: Not cheap, can become very crowded
...they're a nightmare!
I use Thameslink for my daily commute to work, from Leagrave through to Kings Cross. Overall, I've found that the service that they offer is fast and regular. However, in my experience, if anything goes wrong (be it a broken-down train, a signal or line problem) all hell breaks loose. In my case, the problem is usually exacerbated by the sheer volume of people that use the service in rush-hour - all of whom are in a BIG hurry ... ...you arrive.
The routes that Thameslink offer include services that stop at all stations along the line, as well as express services that bypass the nearer, less busy stations (between Kings Cross and St. Albans) - which enables those of us who live in the wilds of Bedfordshire to shorten our journey time considerably. For example, most services to Leagrave run fast to St. Albans (taking the journey time down to just short of 40 minutes); however, ...
garbadine 01.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Thameslink
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Reliability of trains
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Advantages: clean, easy to get to, small, well put together Disadvantages: easyjet normally delayed
Where beter to write an opinion from but the place itself. I am at Luton airport on a free internet connection that they have got in the easyjet departure lounge where Iam waiting to fly to Glasgow.
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Advantages: Efficient, not overcrowded, and yes FREE tea and coffee Disadvantages: Slowish line, prices seem to be going up
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