Thameslink Programme

Rail transport project in London

Parts of this article (those related to Key Output 2, London Bridge & Provisional Timetable) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2018)

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Thameslink Programme

Building works at Blackfriars station (Circle & District lines)

Location| South-East England
Groundbreaking| 2009
Website| www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
Companies
Contractor| Network Rail
Manager| Department for Transport
Technical details
Cost| £6.5 billion
Proposed| 1997

The Thameslink Programme, originally Thameslink 2000, was a £6 billion project in south-east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London. The development facilitated new cross-London journeys, which means that passengers no longer have to change trains in London. Work included platform lengthening, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure, and new rolling stock. The project was originally proposed in 1991 following the successful introduction of the initial Thameslink service in 1988. After many delays, planning permission was granted in 2006 and funding was approved in October 2007. Work started in 2009 and was completed on 18 September 2020,[1] although trains over the new routes began running in 2018.[2]

## Planning

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

The railway junctions at Blackfriars and Snow Hill in 1914

The original Thameslink rail network was created by joining the electrified network south of the Thames with the then recently electrified line between Bedford and St Pancras to the north via the Snow Hill tunnel, allowing passengers to travel between stations to the north and south of London, including Bedford, Luton Airport, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, without changing trains or using the London Underground.[3] New dual-voltage rolling stock was built for the service on account of differing electrification standards north and south of London; lines south of the river are electrified using a 750-volt DC third rail and those to the north by the more modern 25 kV AC overhead system. Services began in 1988 and the route was fully inaugurated in May 1990.[4]

Passenger traffic between destinations in north and south London served by Thameslink services quadrupled after the first year of operation.[5] The success of this initial project encouraged British Rail to develop proposals to extend the network, and increase the frequency of service.

### British Rail 'Thameslink 2000' plans

[edit]

British Rail proposed to expand and upgrade the original network in the early 1990s, with plans to increase the number of stations served from 50 to 169 and to increase passenger capacity by allowing 12-carriage trains and allowing more trains per hour.[6] In 1994 responsibility for the project, intended to be complete by 2000, was transferred to Railtrack as detailed in the Railways Act 1993. This privatisation, combined with a recession in the UK economy, caused the first of many delays to the project.

### Railtrack plans

[edit]

Railtrack applied for Transport and Works Act 1992 powers on 21 November 1997,[7] but two months later London and Continental Railways (LCR), a company created to build the High Speed 1 railway between London and the Channel tunnel, announced that it would require a further direct government grant of £1.2 billion (1995 prices) to finance the rail link;[8] and the Thameslink Programme relied on the construction of a 'concrete box' provided by this other project to house the new Thameslink sub-surface station underneath St Pancras station. The Government and LCR did however reach agreement in June 1998[8] allowing the construction of High Speed 1 and also the associated works required for the Thameslink programme to proceed.

During this period Railtrack carried out an extensive public consultation exercise, which resulted in the revision of the original proposals; it then submitted a Supplementary Order on 29 September 1999.[7]

### First public inquiry

[edit]

Given the size of the project, the Deputy Prime Minister decided to call for a public inquiry, which began in June 2000 and closed in May 2001.[9] The Inspector spent several months compiling a report on the proposals submitted by Railtrack and the feedback provided by various parties for and against the project before submitting the report to the Government. On 30 July 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the Inspector's report, which stated that although there was a strong case for the project, the Inspector did not recommend that the project should be given approval as there were three 'deficiencies' that he was not satisfied with:[10]

* The poor quality proposals for the redevelopment of London Bridge station;
* The lack of proposals for a building above the Blackfriars station concourse (which would have left a 'missing tooth' in London's northern riverside);[11]
* The lack of proposals for the replacement of decorative listed buildings in Borough (which includes Borough Market).

### Revision of plans

[edit]

As a result, the Deputy Prime Minister said in January 2003 that the project would not receive approval and that Network Rail (which had replaced Railtrack by this time) must submit improved proposals and a new Environmental Statement.[12] The delay also led to the 'Thameslink 2000 Agreement', the contract that obliged Network Rail/Railtrack to maintain responsibility for funding the project, being terminated in April 2003. Responsibility for the project's funding was subsequently transferred to the Strategic Rail Authority.[citation needed]

Network Rail revised the original proposal and submitted it along with an updated Environmental Statement dated 14 June 2004.[13] The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport called for a new public inquiry to begin in September 2005.[14] During this period the Strategic Rail Authority was abolished by the Railways Act of 2005, and the Department for Transport (DfT) took over funding responsibility for the project in July 2005.[15]

### Second public inquiry

[edit]

The second public inquiry took place between September and December 2005,[16] and the Inspector completed the report in February 2006,[17] submitted to the DfT for consideration. In October 2006 the DfT published the second report, declaring that the Inspector was satisfied that the deficiencies of the previous proposals had been resolved, and recommending that the project be approved.[18]

### Transport for London's plans

[edit]

In 2004, TfL had wanted to bring the Thameslink network into the London Underground network or have the route branded as a London Overground route.[citation needed] This would have meant the network being re-branded. The drawback to this idea was that the planned routes to Cambridge, King's Lynn, Ashford (Kent), Littlehampton and Eastbourne would have been abandoned and the improvements would have only benefited London and commuter belt towns within 15 to 20 miles (20 to 30 km) of the city.

### Project approval

[edit]

In conjunction with the second report, the Secretaries of State for Transport and 'Communities & Local Government' consequently granted Network Rail the planning permission and legal powers required to execute the project, and the Order (officially described as The Network Rail (Thameslink 2000) Order 2006) came into force on 13 December 2006;[19] furthermore, on 19 December 2006,[20] the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced that the DfT would grant Network Rail £30 million to 'enable a more informed decision to be made regarding the case for funding the implementation of the project in summer 2007'.[21]

On 24 July 2007, the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, formally announced that the Government was fully committed to funding the Thameslink Programme.[22] Since the planning permission and legal powers associated with the project had already been granted, the project was now clear to proceed.[23]

With the downturn in the economy there was some doubt that phase 2 of the project would be completed in its entirety, but on 25 November 2010 the Secretary of State for Transport (Philip Hammond) confirmed that no cutbacks would be made. However, project completion would be delayed until 2018 as the schedule was already difficult to achieve and because cost savings could be made if the level of concurrent activity was reduced.[24]

## Construction

[edit]

Construction was divided into three stages, each with 'Key outputs'. Key Output 0 was to make service changes to allow other work to proceed. Key Output 1 is for work that had to be completed before the 2012 Olympics. Work for Key Output 2 started after the London Olympics,[25] with a planned completion date of summer 2018.[26] Trains began running in March 2018 although all works for Key Output 2 were not finally completed until 2020.

### Key Output 0 (completed March 2009)

[edit]

The first stage, completed on 22 March 2009, was to introduce service changes to allow the major work to take place. The terminal platforms at Blackfriars were closed, as was the Farringdon to Moorgate branch line.[27] A 15 trains per hour (tph) peak-hour service was introduced on the core section between St. Pancras and Blackfriars.[28] A new footbridge was built at Farringdon to improve interchange with London Underground's Circle line. A temporary entrance (now removed) was created at Blackfriars station.[29]

This involved signalling works and alterations to the tracks and overhead line equipment between Farringdon and City Thameslink to allow the merged services to operate. Trains from the south that previously terminated at Blackfriars now terminated at Kentish Town or further north, and 23 dual-voltage Class 377/5 Electrostars were procured to meet the additional rolling stock requirements.[30]

### Key Output 1 (completed 2012)

[edit]

Borough Market junction. The new viaduct before the rails were laid is on the lower left

All aspects of Key Output stage 1 were completed by mid-2012, in time for the London Olympics. A major objective of this phase was to enable 12-carriage trains to run on the Bedford-Brighton route. Work affecting this was completed in time for the December 2011 timetable change,[31] when 10,000 extra peak-period seats were provided.[32][33] By then, 23 stations between Bedford and Brighton had been extended to accommodate the longer trains; in addition, Farringdon and Blackfriars stations had been rebuilt to take 12-car trains and allow for increased passenger flows. Works at Farringdon also allowed for the east–west Crossrail route (which opened as the Elizabeth line in May 2022), while Blackfriars gained a new entrance on the south bank of the Thames.[34] Platforms at Hendon, Cricklewood, and Kentish Town stations were not, and will not be, extended. Those from Elephant & Castle southwards on the Thameslink suburban (Wimbledon/Sutton) loop, and on the Catford loop line towards Sevenoaks, will likewise remain 8-car stations.

A new viaduct was built over Borough Market and Borough High Street to provide trains to Blackfriars and to Charing Cross with their own dedicated routes, and hence allow increased capacity through central London.[32] Though completed in 2012, this only came into use (as scheduled) in January 2016.

The fly-down at Tanners Hill near Lewisham was widened and made double-track.[35]

### Key Output 2 (completed September 2020)

[edit]

Canal Tunnels northern entrance at Belle Isle

Until summer 2018 there were major track, signalling and station remodelling works at London Bridge station as part of the Masterplan project (some works within the station building started during Key Output 1).[33] A grade-separated junction was created at Bermondsey. New permanent way (track level, in this case including both plain rail and junctions) and overhead line equipment were laid out in the new Canal Tunnels just north of St Pancras between the Thameslink route and the East Coast Main Line,[36] opening up the Thameslink network to new destinations north of London. An overhead conductor rail replaced the traditional Mk3b solid wire between the former King's Cross Thameslink station to St Pancras International station.

In July 2020, the consolidation of signalling across the region into a new Railway Operating Centre at Three Bridges was completed,[37] with the closure of the 1970s London Bridge Area Signalling Centre.[38]

On completion of the project,[32] the Thameslink network is now able to handle a nominal peak-period frequency of 24 trains per hour (equivalent to 1 train every 2 minutes and 30 seconds) through the central core between St Pancras and Blackfriars,[20][32] providing an extra 14,500 peak-period seats compared to the level of service in 2008.[39]

As part of the project, a purpose-built fleet of 55 12-car and 60 8-car Class 700 trains (equivalent to 1,140 carriages) is now operating across the network (see the "Rolling stock" section below). The procurement process started in April 2008[39] and the first train entered service in June 2016. To meet the power requirements of this new fleet, electricity-supply enhancement works were carried out, creating 11 new feeder stations/sub-stations, upgrading a further 21 and converting 9 from track sectioning/paralleling equipment; in addition, new track sectioning/paralleling equipment is being installed in 9 locations and upgraded in a further 4.[40]

## Major station works

[edit]

### Blackfriars station

[edit]

Blackfriars station from the Thames following its renovation

Main article: Blackfriars station

Blackfriars station has been rebuilt to accommodate 12-car trains and to make many other improvements to both the main line and underground stations at the cost of losing one bay road platform. The mainline station remained open during most of this work. The Underground station was closed for almost three years; it reopened on 20 February 2012.[41]

The through platforms have been extended along Blackfriars Railway Bridge over the River Thames, and the platform layout altered to avoid the need for trains between City Thameslink and London Bridge to cross the lines giving access to the terminus platforms.[42] The new station houses a new shared National Rail/LUL ticket hall and LUL ventilation shaft together with new escalators and lifts between a mezzanine level for National Rail services and the sub-surface level for London Underground services.[43] A new station entrance has been created on Bankside, with a second ticket hall.[44] It opened on 5 December 2011.[45]

### City Thameslink station

[edit]

Main article: City Thameslink railway station

City Thameslink station has been upgraded to enable 12-car trains to call. The platforms themselves were already long enough, but it was necessary to add extra train despatch equipment (CD/RA indicators) and replace and enhance the CIS (Customer Information Screens) so that information is displayed in a standard format across the central section. New lighting and an additional ticket gate have also been installed. The work was completed in October 2010.[46] Also, as part of Key Output 0, 25 kV AC overhead lines were installed. Northbound trains change from third rail to overhead power here - any trains which cannot do so due to a fault can terminate here and use the adjacent sidings at Smithfield; southbound trains change to third rail power at nearby Farringdon Station but can run into the southbound platform at City Thameslink on AC power if an on-train fault results in the DC collector equipment being faulty - trains can then return north from the southbound platform at City Thameslink back towards Farringdon.

### Farringdon station

[edit]

The new National Rail entrance at Farringdon, built as part of the Thameslink programme

Main article: Farringdon station

Works began in 2009 to remodel Farringdon station to accommodate longer Thameslink trains and make other improvements. Platforms were lengthened and a new roof canopy covering the north end of all four platforms was provided, together with a permanent new entrance and concourse facing Turnmill Street. Platforms were widened to accommodate increased patronage.[47]

It was necessary to build the Thameslink platform extensions to the south, since there is a sharp gradient to the immediate north of the station. This resulted in the two-station branch to Moorgate being permanently closed.[48]

### St Pancras International station

[edit]

The new St Pancras International Thameslink station platforms

Main article: St Pancras railway station

Two new low-level platforms at St Pancras International which accept 12-carriage trains replaced the old King's Cross Thameslink station[49] and opened on 9 December 2007.[50] It allows for better interchange with other forms of transport; it has seven escalators, and also two lifts to allow people with impaired mobility to use the station; and it is covered by CCTV.[49] 'Fit-out' works began in summer 2006 (following the decision by the DfT to provide a further £60-65 million for the High Speed 1 project).[49]

### King's Cross Thameslink station

[edit]

Main article: King's Cross Thameslink railway station

King's Cross Thameslink station closed in 2007 with trains calling instead at St Pancras International using the new low-level platforms at the north end of that station. The Pentonville Road entrance of the old King's Cross Thameslink station remained open to provide pedestrian access to King's Cross St. Pancras tube station between 07:00 and 20:00 Mondays to Fridays until its closure on 23rd March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### London Bridge station

[edit]

Main article: London Bridge station

The new concourse (for terminating trains) at London Bridge station, opened in 2012.

London Bridge station has undergone a major transformation to accommodate Thameslink trains during the peak period and achieve many other benefits. Three terminus platforms and a through track have been closed and three new through platforms created, to allow all services going to Cannon Street and Charing Cross to stop at London Bridge, as well as additional services to Thameslink stations north of the Thames. A new station concourse has been built to improve circulation, and the adjacent bus station expanded.[51] New retail facilities have been built into the existing western arcade, which has been re-opened and extended to link the Underground station and Joiner Street.[52]

As shown in the timetable from 13 December 2008, capacity constraints meant that through London Bridge there were no northbound Thameslink trains in the morning peak between 07:24 and 09:09,[53] and no southbound Thameslink trains in the evening peak between 16:43 and 18:27.[54] During these times, Brighton line Thameslink trains ran via Herne Hill instead. The work was designed in part to remedy this situation and improve the flow not only of Thameslink services but also of all Southeastern commuter services from Kent into Charing Cross and Cannon Street.[31]

Work started in 2013 and was completed in 2018.[55] From 5 January 2015 until 20 May 2018, all Thameslink through trains were diverted via Herne Hill and did not call at London Bridge.[56] Thameslink services remained in operation from London Bridge to Brighton via Gatwick Airport with 2 trains per hour.

### Other stations

[edit]

Work has been carried out at a number of stations north of the Thames to extend the platforms to accommodate 12-car trains. These vary from quite major works such as at Luton, where new bridges had to be installed, and West Hampstead, where a new station footbridge has been built, to relatively straightforward platform extensions.[57]

## Other major works

[edit]

### Borough Market Viaduct

[edit]

First span of the new Borough Market viaduct at Bedale Street

See also: Borough Market

Between London Bridge and the vicinity of Stoney Street and Bedale Street, an extra pair of tracks was built on a new viaduct to the south of the existing one.[58] Widening of the existing viaduct west of Stoney Street was to the north to avoid affecting the Hop Exchange building to the south.

The new, southern pair of tracks is used by trains to and from Charing Cross. Thameslink trains have a dedicated route to Blackfriars on the northern pair of tracks, which is key to providing the nominal peak-hour frequency of 24tph on the core route.[42]

This work required the demolition of 20 grade 2 listed buildings and many other buildings within Borough Market, which is part of Borough High Street Conservation Area,[59] and the original Thameslink programme was rejected at public inquiry partly on the grounds that suitable arrangements were not included to replace the buildings to be demolished within the market.[10] A revised proposal involving remedial work to the market was accepted at a second public inquiry. By January 2009 businesses in the path of the new viaduct were closing down or relocating in preparation for demolition work,[60] and the first section of the new viaduct was installed over the weekend of 10 October 2010.[61] These works had been brought forward to fit in with other, non-railway, developments in the Borough High Street area; the viaduct only came into use in January 2016 as part of the Key Output 2 stageworks when the Charing Cross services started passing through new platforms on the south side of London Bridge High Level Station.

### Bermondsey dive-under

[edit]

The overgrown spur line to the Bricklayers' Arms branch

With the completion of Borough Market Viaduct to the west of London Bridge, Thameslink trains will use the pair of tracks to the north, and Charing Cross trains will use the new pair of tracks to the south. At present, northbound Thameslink trains arrive into London Bridge to the south of the Kent lines. Construction work will be undertaken to the east of London Bridge so that Thameslink trains from the Brighton Main Line can use a grade-separated crossover to avoid impeding trains from Kent bound for Charing Cross.[62][63]

Services to Charing Cross on the Kent lines will be diverted slightly south in the vicinity of Trundleys Road onto the route of the former branch line to Bricklayers' Arms. They will then slope up alongside the Brighton Main Line just north of South Bermondsey station. Thameslink trains in both directions will cross over the Kent lines on a new bridge, meeting the existing alignment just north of Jarrow Road.

Work commenced during 2013, with bridge-strengthening works near London Bridge station completed in June 2013.[64] The first track was used for services from 27 December 2016, two new lines for Southeastern traffic will come into service after the August bank holiday and the overall programme of work is expected to be completed in January 2018. [65] [66] [67]

### Canal Tunnels

[edit]

The Canal Tunnels were constructed between 2004 and 2006, as part of the High Speed 1 redevelopment of St Pancras station. Passing under the Regents Canal, the tunnels connect the East Coast Main Line near Kings Cross to the Thameslink route, with services from Cambridge and Peterborough that started in February 2018.[68] There will be eight trains an hour over this route at peak times.[69][70]

### Farringdon to Moorgate

[edit]

The Farringdon to Moorgate branch was permanently closed in March 2009 at the start of the project - the platform extensions at Farringdon blocked access to the tracks leading to this branch. Passengers for Barbican or Moorgate now have to change at Farringdon and use the Elizabeth Line or the London Underground.

### Tanners Hill fly-down

[edit]

To improve capacity on the line between London Bridge and Lewisham, a new stretch of single track has been built alongside the original bi-directional single track between Tanners Hill Junction (near St John's Station) and Lewisham Vale Junction. Before the new track was laid, St John's Vale Road Bridge was partially demolished and reconstructed with a concrete pier, as well as a new south span over the new track; the existing embankment along the fly-down was also widened.[71] This work was completed in April 2013, and the new track is being used for some services to/from Charing Cross via Lewisham.

### Other infrastructure works

[edit]

The OHLE (overhead line equipment) system has been extended from Farringdon to City Thameslink and was commissioned in December 2009,[72] Combined with a new crossover in Snow Hill tunnel between the two stations, this allows southbound trains to be turned back should they fail to change from AC overhead line traction current to DC third rail.[73] The crossover previously located within City Thameslink station which enabled trains from Smithfield sidings to enter platform 2 was removed as Blackfriars station was rebuilt.[74]

This also allows trains to change from DC to AC power northbound at City Thameslink – and for access into Smithfield Sidings for northbound trains should AC power be unavailable for any reason.

Between City Thameslink and Blackfriars, a large electrical substation has been built at Ludgate Cellars.[75] This 20 MW substation is the largest on the 750 V DC third-rail network.[29]

## Provisional timetable

[edit]

In 2011 a provisional timetable was released for Thameslink services in the London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy. It confirmed that Sutton loop services were to be curtailed at Blackfriars,[76][77] but this decision was subsequently reversed by government. A new proposed timetable was released with the announcement of the Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise winner in May 2014.[78] As part of consultations, the proposed timetable received further tweaks in September 2016[79] and June 2017:[80]

Regional Routes

No.  | Northern terminus  | Central London  | Southern terminus  | Length  | Times (core)
1  | Bedford | semi-fast  | via London Bridge | Brighton | fast  | 12-car  | All day

3  | Bedford | semi-fast  | via London Bridge | Gatwick Airport (via Redhill)  | semi-fast  | 12-car  | All day

5  | Peterborough | semi-fast  | via London Bridge | Horsham (via Redhill)  | semi-fast  | 12-car  | All day[a]

7  | Cambridge | semi-fast  | via London Bridge | Brighton | fast  | 12-car  | All day[a]

9  | Cambridge | stopping  | via London Bridge | Ashford International (peak only)
Maidstone East (off-peak)  | semi-fast  | 8-car  | All day[b]

11  | Bedford | fast  | via London Bridge | East Grinstead | stopping  | 12-car  | Peak only

13  | Bedford | fast  | via London Bridge | Littlehampton (via Hove)  | fast  | 12-car  | Peak only

Commuter Routes
No.  | Northern terminus  | Central London  | Southern terminus  | Length  | Times
15  | Luton | all stations[c] | via London Bridge | Rainham (via Greenwich)  | all stations[d] | 8-car  | All day

17  | St Albans City | all stations  | via Elephant & Castle | Sutton (via Mitcham Junction)  | all stations  | 8-car  | All day

19  | St Albans City | all stations  | via Elephant & Castle | Sutton (via Wimbledon)  | all stations  | 8-car  | All day

21  | Luton (peak only)
Kentish Town (off-peak)  | all stations  | via Elephant & Castle | Orpington (via Catford)  | all stations  | 8-car  | All day[e]

23  | Welwyn Garden City (peak only)
London Blackfriars (off-peak)  | stopping  | via Elephant & Castle | Sevenoaks (via Catford and Otford)  | all stations  | 8-car  | All day[f]

## Rolling stock

[edit]

Main article: British Rail Class 700

Mockup of the new rolling stock at ExCeL London

In 2009, the Thameslink fleet consisted of 74 dual-voltage Class 319s. While the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project (TRSP) will provide a brand-new fleet, the timescales involved were such that interim solutions were required. On 4 April 2007, the DfT authorised the transfer of twelve Class 319s to Thameslink from Southern, which was not using their dual-voltage capability, so that First Capital Connect then had all 86 Class 319 units. Once project funding was guaranteed, 23 Class 377/5s were sub-leased from Southern to meet the capacity requirements of Key Output 0.

It was announced by First Capital Connect on 4 November 2011 that four services running in each direction on the Thameslink network from 12 December 2011 would be 12-car trains. Class 377/2 trains were hired from Southern to enable the longer trains to operate until enough new rolling stock became available.[81]

The Thameslink Rolling Stock Project (itself a part of the Thameslink Programme) began in 2008 with the aim of procuring a brand-new fleet of electric trains.[82] A consortium led by Siemens was named preferred bidder for the train contract on 16 June 2011.[83] Maintenance depots for the new trains have been built at Hornsey and Three Bridges.[83] The new trains are designated Class 700 and the first one came into service in June 2016.

Following the introduction of the new rolling stock, some of the Class 319s have been transferred to Northern, allowing them to replace diesel multiple units following the upgrade of certain lines with overhead line equipment. Newer Class 323 units will, in turn, replace Northern's electric 319s[84] \- however, since leaving Thameslink, some have been retrofitted with diesel engines and renumbered class 769 \- these will remain in service.

## Political developments

[edit]

Network Rail had planned to terminate Sutton Loop Thameslink trains at Blackfriars station, rather than have them continue through central London as at present. This would increase the capacity of the central core as the Sutton Loop could only accommodate shorter trains. This upset many residents in South London and their local politicians, who saw it as a reduction in services rather than an improvement.[85] In response to pressure, government has ordered Network Rail to reverse the decision.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hourly on Sundays.
2. ^ On Sundays, service will run hourly between Cambridge and Kings Cross only; it will not run through the core section or on to Maidstone.
3. ^ Except for Kentish Town, Cricklewood and Hendon.
4. ^ Except for Woolwich Dockyard, Belvedere and Erith.
5. ^ No service on Sundays.
6. ^ An all-day service will operate between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks only, with no service through the core outside of peak hours.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Programme Level Close Out Report" (PDF). Thameslink Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
2. ^ "First direct trains from Cambridge to Brighton via central London launch". Evening Standard. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
3. ^ "Network and Stations". First Capital Connect. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
4. ^ Catford, Nick (10 February 2006). "Station Name: Snow Hill/Holborn Viaduct Low Level". Retrieved 28 November 2006.
5. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - p.29, paragraph 4.
6. ^ "Thameslink 2000". RailStaff. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
7. ^ a b "Transport and Works Act 1992 Orders". House of Commons. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
8. ^ a b "The Channel Tunnel Rail Link" (PDF). National Audit Office. 28 March 2001. paragraph 2, p.6. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
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10. ^ a b "Recommendations" (PDF). Department for Communities and Local Government. 30 July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
11. ^ "Route to reality", New Civil Engineer, 10 November 2005.
12. ^ "Serious setback for cross-London rail route". BBC News. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
13. ^ Network Rail (2004b) - p. 3.
14. ^ "Network Rail Welcomes Confirmation of Date for a New Public Inquiry About the Thameslink Programme" (Press release). Network Rail. 22 March 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
15. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - footnote 1 on page 4
16. ^ "Thameslink Inquiry Closes" (Press release). Network Rail. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
17. ^ DfT (2006) - p.1.
18. ^ DfT (2006) - paragraph 19.13.
19. ^ "The Network Rail (Thameslink 2000) Order 2006". Office of Public Sector Information. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
20. ^ a b "Thameslink Programme". Network Rail. 18 October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
21. ^ "Publications and Records". UK Parliament. 19 December 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
22. ^ "Resurgent railway gets strategy for 30 years of growth" (Press release). Department for Transport. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
23. ^ Coward, Andy (15 August 2007). "Cross-river rail to boost Capital". Rail. No. 572\. Peterborough. pp. 40–43.
24. ^ "Rail Investment" (Press release). Department for Transport. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
25. ^ "Meet the Directors". First Capital Connect. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
26. ^ "London Bridge redevelopment". Network Rail. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
27. ^ "Thameslink Key Output Zero - Blackfriars Terminus Platforms Closure". Southern Electric Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014.
28. ^ Thameslink Programme (2008). "FAQs". Archived from the original on 9 November 2008.
29. ^ a b "Thameslink Programme starts to take off". Railway Gazette International. London. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
30. ^ "Preparing for Thameslink". Modern Railways. London. March 2008. p. 34.
31. ^ a b Abbott, James (December 2010). "Overground champion bows out". Modern Railways. London. p. 48.
32. ^ a b c d "Thameslink aims for Olympic gold". Modern Railways. London. February 2007. pp. 41–47.
33. ^ a b "Halfway-house Thameslink for Olympics?". Modern Railways. London. April 2006. p. 6.
34. ^ "Cross-city expansion gets underway". Railway Gazette International. London. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
35. ^ "Kent RUS strategy page 68 paragraph 4.4.2" (PDF). Network Rail. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
36. ^ Network Rail (2004a), p. 61, paragraph 2.14.4.
37. ^ Thameslink Programme, Programme level close out report, p5. https://uhoun19qey9384ovv24t33c1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Thameslink-Close-Out-Report-1.pdf Archived 22 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine
38. ^ "Farewell to the old and in with the new as London Bridge signalling centre closes and £81m signalling scheme hits halfway point in South London". Network Rail Media Centre. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
39. ^ a b "14,500 extra seats for Thameslink passengers" (Press release). Department for Transport. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009.
40. ^ "Thameslink 2000 Environmental Statement: Main report (Outer Area)" (PDF). Network Rail. 14 June 2004. paragraph 2.1.3, p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
41. ^ "Blackfriars Tube station reopens after three years". BBC News. 20 February 2012.
42. ^ a b "Thameslink Programme (Thameslink 2000)". alwaystouchout.com. 28 October 2006. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
43. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.34, paragraph 2.7.6.
44. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.35, paragraph 2.7.9.
45. ^ "A better Blackfriars!". First Capital Connect. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
46. ^ "£4.5m upgrade of City Thameslink complete" (Press release). First Capital Connect. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
47. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.27, paragraph 2.6.5
48. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - pg.9, paragraph 2.1.1
49. ^ a b c "Thameslink Passengers to Get New Station at St. Pancras" (Press release). Department for Transport. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
50. ^ "St Pancras International". First Capital Connect. 1 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
51. ^ Network Rail (2005b) - p. 18, paragraph 2.25.
52. ^ Network Rail (2005b) - p. 18, paragraph 2.26.
53. ^ "Table 2 – Brighton (BTN) to London (STP) and Bedford (BDM)" (PDF). First Capital Connect.
54. ^ "Table 2 – Bedford (BDM) and London (STP) to Brighton (BTN)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
55. ^ "Two-year Thameslink delay will 'prolong disruptions'". BBC News. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
56. ^ "Customer advice". Thameslink Programme. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
57. ^ "London to Bedford – better stations, longer platforms". First Capital Connect. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
58. ^ "New Borough Market Viaduct takes shape". Modern Railways. London. December 2010. p. 11.
59. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs". Save the Borough Market campaign. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
60. ^ "Last orders at The Wheatsheaf as Thameslink work gets under way". London SE1. Bankside Press. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
61. ^ "Thameslink rail bridge installed above Wheatsheaf at Borough Market". London SE1. Bankside Press. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
62. ^ "Next step for London Bridge rail improvements as Bermondsey 'Diveunder' contract awarded - Thameslink Programme".
63. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.networkrail.co.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
64. ^ "Thameslink: Strengthening works carried out for Bermondsey dive-under". Global Rail News. 10 June 2013.
65. ^ "Passengers thanked as the first part of the Bermondsey Dive Under goes live".
66. ^ "Award-winning Network Rail infrastructure project brings biodiversity to Bermondsey - Thameslink Programme". www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
67. ^ "Bermondsey Dive Under | New Infrastructure". Thameslink Programme Learning Legacy. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
68. ^ Barrow, Keith. "Peterborough and Cambridge join Thameslink network". Rail Journal. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
69. ^ "Canal Tunnels - Thameslink Programme". www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
70. ^ "East Coast Mainline Routes & Branches Part 1: Thameslink Works - London Reconnections". London Reconnections. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
71. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.53, paragraph 2.11.3
72. ^ "Trackwatch". Modern Railways. Vol. 67, no. 738\. London. March 2010. p. 16.
73. ^ DfT (2006) - see paragraph 2.2.16
74. ^ "Proposed G1 Network Change: Works to maintain access to Smithfield sidings for Direct Current (DC) only operated trains until March 2012" (PDF). Network Rail. 10 July 2009.
75. ^ "Kent-Sussex-Wessex Sectional Appendix; LOR SO280 Seq 001" (PDF). Network Rail. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
76. ^ Thameslink provisional 24tph timetable set out, Transport Briefing (pay wall)
77. ^ London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy Archived 13 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine page 72
78. ^ "Proposed Thameslink service pattern" (PDF). goaheadbus.com.
79. ^ "Timetable consultation : Thameslink and Great Northern".
80. ^ "Transforming Rail".
81. ^ Clinnick, Richard (16 November 2011). "First 12-car Thameslink trains to start in December". Rail. No. 683\. Peterborough. p. 24.
82. ^ "Thameslink shortlist announced". Railway Gazette International. London. 10 July 2008.
83. ^ a b "Siemens beats Bombardier to Thameslink train order". Railway Gazette International. London. 16 June 2011.
84. ^ "Class 323s to remain with Northern". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
85. ^ "Please help stop Thameslink trains from terminating at Blackfriars". Retrieved 4 February 2013.

## Documents

[edit]

* Network Rail (2004a) \- "Thameslink 2000 Environmental Statement: Main report (Inner Area)". Network Rail, June 2004
* Network Rail (2004b) \- "Thameslink 2000 Environmental Statement: Main report appendix - summary of significant changes" (PDF). Network Rail. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
* Network Rail (2005a) \- "Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons" (PDF). Network Rail. 4 November 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
* Network Rail (2005b) \- "Thameslink 2000 Statement of Case March 2005" (PDF). Network Rail. 1 March 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
* DfT (2006) \- Department for Transport (18 October 2006). "Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006". Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Thameslink Programme website
* Thameslink Programme \- Network Rail
* Thameslink Programme (DfT) \- Projects and infrastructure
* Thameslink Rolling Stock Project (DfT) \- Projects and infrastructure
* Thameslink Programme (DfT) \- Decision letters
* Thameslink Programme (DfT) \- Inspectors' reports
* Thameslink 2000 Public Inquiry 2005 \- Official website for the second public inquiry
* "Thameslink Programme". alwaystouchout.com.
* Information and Pictures on the Thameslink Programme

* v
* t
* e

Rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom

Current projects

| Projects|

* Camden Highline
* Camp Hill line
* East West Rail (Oxford to Bedford section)
* High Speed 2
* Northern Hub
* Northern Powerhouse Rail (Hull–Liverpool)
* Northumberland Line
* South Wales Metro
* West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill

|

Electrification|

* Bolton–Wigan
* East Kilbride line
* Kettering–Sheffield
* Welsh Valleys

Stations|

* Ashington
* Ashley Down
* Beam Park
* Beaulieu Park
* Blyth Bebside
* Bedlington
* Belfast Grand Central
* Birmingham Curzon Street
* Birmingham Interchange
* Butetown
* Cambridge South
* Darlaston James Bridge
* Kings Heath
* Moseley Village
* Newsham
* Northumberland Park
* Old Oak Common
* Pineapple Road
* Seaton Delaval
* White Rose
* Willenhall
* Winslow

Proposed projects

| Projects|

* Aberdare–Hirwaun Line reopening
* Aberdeen Crossrail
* Bakerloo line extension
* Barrow Hill line reopening
* Bristol Airport Rail Link
* Brentford branch line reopening
* Bolton–Bury line reopening
* Bordon Light Railway reopening
* Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line reopening
* Cirencester branch line reopening
* Consett–Newcastle line reopening
* Coventry Very Light Rail
* Cranleigh line reopening
* Crossrail 2 (London)
* Crossrail Glasgow
* Darlaston Loop reopening
* Parts of Electric Spine (including
* Coventry–Leamington Spa
* Coventry–Nuneaton
* Leamington Spa–Aynho Junction)
* Bedford–Cambridge reopening
* Fawley branch line reopening
* Fleetwood branch line reopening
* Formartine and Buchan Railway reopening
* Maid Marian line reopening
* MetroWest (Bristol)
* Hall Farm Curve reopening
* Heathfield Branch Line reopening
* Heathrow Airport transport proposals
* including Heathrow Airtrack
* Heathrow Southern Railway
* Heathwick
* Western Rail Approach to Heathrow
* Leicester–Burton upon Trent line reopening
* Lisburn–Antrim line reopening
* Cowley branch line reopening
* North and West London Light Railway
* Northern Powerhouse Rail
* North Wales Metro
* Oxford, Witney and Fairford Railway reopening
* Ringwood branch line reopening
* R25 Orbital
* Skelmersdale branch reopening
* Skipton–Colne Rail Link
* Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway reopening
* South Staffordshire line reopening
* Southern Crossrail
* St Andrews Rail Link
* Sutton Link
* Sutton Park line reopening
* Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro
* Walsall–Wolverhampton line reopening
* Wealden Line (Uckfield–Lewes reopening)
* West London Orbital
* Wisbech line reopening
* Windsor Link Railway
* York–Beverley line reopening

|

Stations|

* Armagh
* Allandale
* Aldergrove
* Aldridge
* Arthington
* Ashley Hill
* Ashton Gate
* Balgray railway station
* Balsall Heath
* Barcombe Mills
* Beechwood
* Beeston Castle and Tarporley
* Bonnybridge
* Bordon
* Bradford St James
* Bramley
* Broughton (Flintshire)
* Brownhills
* Brentford Golden Mile
* Brinsford Parkway
* Burgess Park
* Caerleon
* Camberwell
* Cambourne (Cambridgeshire)
* Canterbury Parkway
* Cardiff Parkway
* Carno
* Carr Mill
* Carterton
* Castlethorpe
* Castle Bromwich
* Castle Green
* Charfield
* Cheadle
* Chipping Sodbury
* Claydon
* Cottam Parkway
* Corsham
* Cranleigh
* Cross Hills
* Crwys Road
* Cullompton
* Cwm
* Dalston
* Deeside Parkway
* Devizes Parkway
* Ditton
* Drake Street
* East Midlands Hub
* Eastriggs
* Edwinstowe
* Elland
* Eynsham
* Errol
* Ferryhill
* Finningley
* Fleetwood
* Fort Parkway
* Fraserburgh
* Gabalfa
* Glasgow Airport
* Glasgow Cross
* Glencarse
* Gloucestershire Parkway
* Gorbals
* Greenfield (Flintshire)
* Hatch End
* Haxby
* Heathrow Hub
* Heathfield
* Henbury
* Hirwaun
* Horfield
* Horsforth Woodside
* Hythe
* Hythe Road
* Isfield
* King's Road Chelsea
* Ladbroke Grove
* Langport and Somerton
* Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway
* Leeds New Lane
* Liverpool Baltic
* Lisburn West
* Llanwern
* Long Ashton
* Maiden Lane
* Manchester Airport High Speed
* March Elm Road
* Meir
* Monkerton
* Moorside
* Mouldon Hill
* Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
* Newport West
* Newport West Central
* Newton Longville
* North Filton
* Okehampton Interchange
* Old Kent Road
* Old Oak Common Lane
* Oxford Science Park
* Oxford Business Park
* Ollerton
* Park Farm
* Pelsall
* Peterhead
* Pill
* Portishead
* Portobello
* Poyle
* Richhill
* Roseberry Parkway
* Rugby Parkway
* Rushden Parkway
* Saltford
* Sharnal Street / Hoo
* Oxford Science Park
* Silvertown
* Skelmersdale
* Slattocks
* St Anne's Park
* St Clears
* Stanley Park
* Stockingford
* Stonehouse (Bristol Road)
* Surrey Canal
* Thamesmead
* Templepatrick
* Tempsford
* Thornhill (Dumfries)
* Thornton
* Thorpe Park
* Torquay Gateway
* Town Meadow
* Vauxhall (Merseyside)
* Wantage Road
* Warsop
* Waverley
* Weedon
* Wellington
* Windsor Royal
* Witney
* Wixams
* Woodchurch
* Woodhorn
* Wootton Bassett
* Wormit
* Wrexham North
* Wrexham South

Heritage railways|

* Don Valley Railway
* Norfolk Orbital Railway
* Wisbech and March Bramley Line
* Honeybourne Line

Cancelled projects

| Projects|

* Advanced Passenger Train
* Bordesley to Birmingham Curzon Street
* Cardiff to Swansea electrification
* Central Line extension to Richmond
* Central Line Extension to Denham
* Chessington branch line (never completed)
* Cranbrook and Tenterden Light Railway
* Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway
* Croxley Rail Link
* Docklands Light Railway extension to Dagenham Dock
* Dawlish Avoiding Line
* Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (never completed)
* East Sussex Light Railway
* Edinburgh Airport Rail Link
* Electric Spine
* Oxford-Bletchley/Bedford Electrification
* Glasgow Airport Rail Link
* Hawkhurst branch line (never completed)
* Hebridean Light Railway Company
* Heathrow Airport transport proposals
* Heathrow Airtrack
* HS4Air
* Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Light Railway
* Highclere, Kingsclere and Basingstoke Light Railway
* InterCity 250
* Kingsbridge to Salcombe
* Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway (never completed)
* Leeds and York Railway
* Mid-Suffolk Light Railway (never completed)
* Nightstar (train)
* North Holderness Light Railway
* Ouse Valley Railway
* Picc-Vic tunnel
* Regional Eurostar
* Robertsbridge & Pevensey Light Railway
* St Germans & Looe Railway (never completed)
* Superlink (railway network)
* Tees Valley Metro
* UK Ultraspeed
* York and North Midland Railway (Leeds Extension)
* York, Hull and East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway

|

Stations|

* Barrhead (New)
* Brierdene
* Cassiobridge
* Collywell Bay
* Crowlands
* Doncaster Sheffield Airport
* Doncaster (York Road)
* Dykebar
* Ferguslie
* Glenfield
* Lullingstone
* Paisley East
* Queens Road (GER)
* Richboro Port
* Stanely
* Swithland
* Sykehouse
* Thorpe-in-Balne
* Watford Vicarage Road
* West Hampstead interchange
* Woodhorn

* Proposed projects category
* Cancelled projects category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Approved and current major construction projects in London

Development
sites|

* Barking Riverside
* Battersea Power Station
* Brent Cross Cricklewood
* Canary Wharf's New District
* Chelsea Barracks
* Convoys Wharf
* Earl's Court
* Elephant & Castle (Heygate Estate)
* Meridian Water
* Embassy Gardens
* Greenwich Peninsula
* Kidbrooke Village
* King's Cross Central
* Lewisham Gateway
* London Riverside
* Northumberland Development Project
* Olympic Park (East Village)
* Paddington Waterside
* Royal Albert Dock
* Ruskin Square
* Southall Gas Works
* South Quay Plaza
* Wembley City
* Westfield Croydon
* Westfield London Phase 2
* Wood Wharf

Buildings|

* 40 Leadenhall Street
* 100 Bishopsgate
* Arena Tower
* Heron Quays West
* Landmark Pinnacle
* North Quay
* One Park Drive
* Riverside South
* Spire London

Infrastructure|

* High Speed 2
* London Power Tunnels
* Thames Tideway Tunnel

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template