Thameslink Class 387s move to operate on Fen Line route

Class 387/1s were due to be introduced on Govia Thameslink Railway’s Fen Line route from the start of the new May timetable on May 21 (after this issue of

RAIL went to press). GTR has cascaded the four-car electric multiple units from its Thameslink operations, where they have been used on its Great Northern routes from London King’s Cross-Cambridge/ Peterborough. Now GTR plans to use them on trains to Kings Lynn, replacing Class 365s that have worked the route since their introduction in 1995.

There are 29 Class 387/1s - all are to be fitted with free WiFi and air-conditioning (unlike the ‘365s’).

GN Passenger Services Director Stuart Cheshire said that Network Rail was upgrading power supplies and lengthening platforms at Watlington, Littleport and Waterbeach, to enable the ‘387s’ to run as eightcar trains by the end of the year.

Additionally, GTR will serve the new Cambridge North station (also due to open on May 21). Two trains per hour in each direction will use the facility, with one running to Ely and the other a new train direct to King’s Cross. This gives Ely a half-hourly GN service all day, adding more than 3,300 seats (40%) across the day.

Cheshire explained: “Although most of the four-carriage Kings Lynn trains cannot stop at Cambridge North until platforms are lengthened at Watlington, Littleport and Waterbeach, these one dozen extra King’s Cross trains at Ely should ease crowding on the King’s Lynn services, which will be a real boon for our passengers.”