Rocky start for third new Thameslink rail timetable

 A third new train timetable in two months on Thameslink and Great Northern lines has descended into chaos on the first day.

The operators, whose parent company is Govia Thameslink Railway, have offered apologies to rail passengers.

Hundreds of services have been cancelled since departure schedules were modified on May 20.

An interim timetable was introduced on June 4, when around 6per cent of daily services were removed, but reliability continued to be an issue.

Thameslink and Great Northern introduced a third new timetable on Sunday, and said they hoped to reduce the number of on-the-day cancellations.

However, a passenger named Jude tweeted yesterday: “A predictable start to the new interim timetable. More delays, cancellations, trains too full to get on and incorrect info on the app. Is this ever going to change?

“The service is getting worse by the week.”

Some passengers did experience disruption-free journeys yesterday. One said she had got a seat on an on-time train for the first time since the May timetable change. Kate Dodsworth said she was “cautious yet jubilant”.

Charles Horton, the chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, announced his resignation in June.