Thameslink will run an amended timetable on the Greenwich Line, its route between Luton, London and Rainham, for October half-term: Saturday 24 October and Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
Weekday peak services stay half-hourly. In the middle of the day and on the Saturday, trains drop to hourly. Thameslink says Southeastern services will still cover most journeys, but some passengers will have to change trains or wait longer. It says school holidays cut peak-time use by 15% across its network.
The Westcombe Society and the Greenwich Line Users Group objected, as they did to the same pattern over the summer.
Anyone heading to or from Blackheath or Westcombe Park for a half-term outing should check times first. Hourly trains on a line that normally runs every half hour are a poor offer in a week when families travel at midday.
- Thameslink will run an amended timetable on the route between Luton, London and Rainham on Saturday 24 October and Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
- Services stay half-hourly in the weekday peaks and run hourly in the middle of the day and on Saturday.
- Southeastern services will still be available for most journeys, but some passengers will need to change trains or wait longer.
- Thameslink says school-holiday usage falls by 15% in peak periods across its network.
- The Westcombe Society and the Greenwich Line Users Group objected; the same reductions were made over the summer holiday.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 18 October 2026.
- westcombesociety.org/2026/10/train-timetable-reductions-for-half-term/ (community alert)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 1 editorial judgements)
- Thameslink will run an amended timetable on the route between Luton, London and Rainham on Saturday 24 October and Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. — community alert, 2026-10-15“For the six days on Saturday 24 October and between Monday 26 and Friday 30 October, the October half term school holiday, there will be an amended timetable in place on the route between Luton, Londo”
- Services stay half-hourly in the weekday peaks and run hourly in the middle of the day and on Saturday. — community alert, 2026-10-15“Thameslink services will still be half-hourly during the weekday peaks to support people to travel to/from work as the trains are busier, but services will then run hourly during the middle of the day”
- Southeastern services will still be available for most journeys, but some passengers will need to change trains or wait longer. — community alert, 2026-10-15“For most journeys, alongside the Thameslink service there will also still be alternative Southeastern services ... for some it will mean a change of train to complete a journey faster or a longer than”
- Thameslink says school-holiday usage falls by 15% in peak periods across its network. — community alert, 2026-10-15“usage falls by 6% across the network as a whole, and by 15% in the peak periods”
- The Westcombe Society and the Greenwich Line Users Group objected; the same reductions were made over the summer holiday. — community alert, 2026-10-15“Despite objections from the Westcombe Society and the Greenwich Line Users Group Thameslink are again reducing services on the Greenwich Line during October half-term.”
- Judgement: Hourly trains are a poor offer in a week when families travel at midday; Blackheath and Westcombe Park passengers should check times first.