Thameslink: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:46, 10 October 2025

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Thameslink is a main line route on the British railway network, running from Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws and Template:Rws via central London to Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Rainham, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws and Template:Rws. The initial network opened as a through service in 1988 and, as of 2025, currently calls at 135 stations in regular service.^[1] The entire route is currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. A part of the route, from Template:Rws to Template:Rws, runs 24Template:Nbsphours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.^[2]

The Thameslink Programme was a major £7Template:Nbspbillion scheme to increase capacity on the central London section by accommodating more frequent and longer trains, and providing additional routes and destinations.^[3] The programme was divided into three key phases, with the final Key Output 2 introducing world-first Automatic Train Operation (ATO) technology over European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, enabling 24 trains per hour through the core section.^[4] The new services began operating in 2018, though the full projected timetable of 24 trains per hour has never been achieved. In 2016, new Template:Brc trains started operating on the route and replaced the Template:Brc, Template:Brc and Template:Brc trains which were withdrawn and transferred elsewhere.

Passenger services on the Thameslink route, along with all others currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway, are due to transfer to the publicly owned operator Thameslink Southern Great Northern on 31 May 2026.^[5]

Route

Much of the original route is over the Brighton Main Line (via London Bridge) and the southern part of the Midland Main Line, plus a suburban true loop (circuit) serving Sutton. A branch via the Catford Loop Line to Sevenoaks was added in 2012. Sections to Peterborough on the East Coast Main Line, Cambridge via the Cambridge Line, Horsham on the Arun Valley line and Rainham via Greenwich were added in 2018. East Grinstead and Orpington are also served during peak hours.

The route through central London (today known as Thameslink core) is via St Pancras International for connections to Eurostar and the East Midlands; Template:Stn, for London Underground Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines, and the Elizabeth line; Template:Rws, which replaced the demolished Holborn Viaduct station and has a southern entrance serving Ludgate Circus; Template:Stn, for main-line rail services and the Underground District and Circle lines; and Template:Stn for main-line links into Kent and Sussex and the Underground Northern and Jubilee lines. Template:Rws on Pentonville Road closed on 8 December 2007.

Trains operating the "main line" service (Bedford and Cambridge to Brighton, Peterborough to Horsham) include first-class accommodation; those operating from Luton, St Albans and Kentish Town to Sutton, Sevenoaks and Orpington are usually standard class only. When Govia operated the original Thameslink franchise these services were designated "Thameslink CityFlier" and "Thameslink CityMetro" respectively, but First Capital Connect dropped this branding. Govia Thameslink Railway now refers to these services as Route TL1 (formerly Route 6) and Route TL2/TL3 (formerly Route 7/8) respectively.

Services

File:Thameslink-logo.svg

Logo used by the service operator

Off-peak

The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes:

Thameslink Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern
Route	tph	Calling at
Template:Rws to Template:Rws^[2]^[6]	2	Template:Cslist
Bedford to Three Bridges via Redhill^[2]^[7]	2	Template:Cslist In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
Template:Rws to Template:Rws via Redhill^[8]^[9]	2	Template:Cslist
Cambridge to Template:Rws^[8]^[6]	2	Template:Cslist
London Blackfriars to Template:Rws via Catford and Otford^[10]	2	Template:Cslist
Luton to Template:Rws via Greenwich^[10]^[11]	2	Template:Cslist In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
St Albans City to Template:Rws via Template:Rws (loop)^[2]^[12]	2	Template:Cslist Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Mitcham Junction (see below)
St Albans City to Sutton via Template:Rws (loop)^[2]^[12]	2	Template:Cslist Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Wimbledon (see above)

Peak hours

During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core section' to/from Template:Rws (though a few services originate at Finsbury Park), with extra calls at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws and Template:Rws.^[10]^[13]

As well as these services, during peak hours, several extra trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from Template:Rws (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at Template:Rws in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball.^[10]

In addition, there are seven trains per day in each direction that operate to/from Template:Rws (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), which, after calling at South Croydon, call at Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws and Template:Rws.^[14]

During peak hours, Peterborough to Horsham services call at Faygate between Ifield and Littlehaven, providing the primary service to this station.^[15]

There are also three extra trains throughout the evening peak hours that operate from Gatwick Airport to Bedford in that direction only, calling at various stations.^[16]

History

Conceptual origins and post-war planning (1941–1970s)

The strategic concept for a north–south through-running railway in London has deep historical roots, predating the Thameslink name by decades. Passenger services operated across London through the Snow Hill tunnel from mid-Victorian times until World War I, when services were withdrawn as inner-London traffic shifted to buses and trams.^[17]

On 14 June 1941, railway manager George Dow proposed in an article in The Star a series of electrified, underground main-line routes to interconnect London's termini, arguing that "London suburban lines cannot play their full part... until they have been interconnected across London and electrified".^[18] This vision was further developed in the post-war County of London Plan (1943) and Greater London Plan (1944). A 1949 working party identified a high-priority "Route A" that closely resembled the future Thameslink, designed to integrate suburban services and relieve Underground congestion. These ambitious plans were shelved due to post-war austerity, and the Snow Hill Tunnel route remained open only for cross-London freight trains until 1970.^[17]

Overhead electrification, completed in 1982, allowed the northern section to run as the Midland City Line from Bedford via the Midland Main Line to St Pancras, and via the City Widened Lines to Moorgate.Template:Efn

"Snow Hill Link": a pragmatic revival (1980s)

The concept was revived in the early 1980s as a pragmatic, low-cost project, driven by the new Network SouthEast (NSE) sector of British Rail. Established in 1986 under director Chris Green, NSE moved away from a geographically based management structure towards a business-led approach focused on customer markets and reducing public subsidy.^[19] The reactivation of the disused Snow Hill Tunnel was identified by NSE as a key project that could better utilise existing assets and create new travel opportunities.^[19] A 1984 feasibility study commissioned by the Greater London Council (GLC) had found that the tunnel could be reopened for as little as £7–12 million.^[20]^[21]

The project faced significant institutional resistance. London Transport initially blocked the Parliamentary legislation required for the project, officially due to a dispute over land at Farringdon, but with the "suspicion... that it fears extra competition."^[22] An editorial at the time called for the Transport Secretary to "bang BR and LT heads together to get this scheme on the rails as fast as possible."^[22] Ultimately, the project received government approval with the passage of the British Rail Bill in 1986, which provided for the reopening and electrification of the tunnel to link the Midland and Southern Regions.^[23]

1988 launch and initial impact

The Snow Hill tunnel was re-opened by British Rail to passenger trains after 72Template:Nbspyears, with the first Thameslink services beginning in May 1988.^[17] Marketed as a solution to the "dodge-the-chaos" strain of changing trains in central London, the service was an immediate success.^[24] Passenger demand quickly quadrupled initial projections, leading to severe overcrowding by 1998.^[25] The new link also had a significant economic impact, with one contemporary report noting it led to a "home price boom" in areas north of London like St Albans.^[26]

On 29 January 1990, the section between Blackfriars and Farringdon was temporarily closed to permit the construction of a new alignment. The route through the site of the long-closed Ludgate Hill station, over Ludgate Hill to Holborn Viaduct was abandoned and demolished. The replacement route under Ludgate Hill was opened on 29 May 1990 by the Network SouthEast (sector of British Rail) concurrently with Template:Stnlink station, which was initially called St Paul's Thameslink but was renamed in 1991 to avoid confusion with St. Paul's Underground station, about Template:Convert away.

King's Cross Thameslink on Pentonville Road closed on 8 December 2007, when the Thameslink platforms at nearby St Pancras opened.

Service evolution

In the south the services divide: many main-line trains run almost due south through London Bridge to East Croydon and many continue to Brighton, but the other routes and branches evolved, as follows:

From 1988 to 1991 such trains went variously
- via Bromley: to Orpington or to Sevenoaks, (both since resumed) or;
- via Herne Hill and East Croydon to Purley (off peak only).
From 1991 to 1994, such trains went only via Elephant & Castle and Streatham to West Croydon, Wallington, Sutton, Epsom, Leatherhead and Effingham Junction, to Guildford.
From 1994 to 1995 such trains terminated at West Croydon (cutting franchise zone-crossing due to rail privatisation).
- From the latter year such trains have run "to and from" a nominal furthest point of a true circular loop, Sutton, the Sutton loop calling at stations including Mitcham Junction, Streatham and Wimbledon.
From 2018 the service was greatly recast and expanded following the completion of the Thameslink programme:
- A regular service to Rainham has been added.
- A regular service to Horsham has been added.
- In the north the present termini of the trains are Luton, Bedford, Cambridge, Peterborough, St Albans and in peak hours, Welwyn Garden City.

Franchise operators

As of the early 1990s privatisation of British Rail, Thameslink was franchised to Thameslink, a subsidiary of Govia.

By late 1998, more than 28,000 passengers were carried at morning peak times.^[27]

From 1 April 2006, the franchise was taken over by First Capital Connect along with some services that had been operated by WAGN.^[28]^[29] The branding of most trains, stations, and signs was changed to match the name of the new company, but City Thameslink and West Hampstead Thameslink were not renamed as Thameslink referred to the route.Template:Efn After criticism of the loss of the apt name for this group of routes,^[30] First Capital Connect's publicity began calling this set of services its "Thameslink route" to distinguish it from the former WAGN services.

On 14 September 2014, Govia Thameslink Railway took over operations from First Capital Connect.^[31]

Thameslink Programme

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File:Stpancrasthameslink.jpg

St Pancras International Thameslink platforms opened in 2007

File:Blackfriars station MMB 19.jpg

Blackfriars new cross-river platforms

The Thameslink Programme was a major £7 billion infrastructure project designed to address the severe overcrowding that had developed on the original 1988 route. The programme comprised infrastructure works totalling £5.5 billion (2017 prices) and new rolling stock with lease costs of £1.7 billion.^[3]

Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,^[32] funding was secured in July 2007^[33] and construction began in October 2007.^[34]

The infrastructure budget increased by £474 million (9.4%) from the original 2012 budget, primarily due to unforeseen complexities at London Bridge station. London Bridge station's long history of development and bomb damage during World War Two meant that much of the site was inadequately documented, requiring design changes and accelerated works to maintain the project schedule.^[3]

Plans included rebuilding the station buildings at Farringdon (in conjunction with the Crossrail project) and West Hampstead Thameslink, total rebuild of London Bridge and Blackfriars stations, two new underground platforms at St Pancras International, a new tunnel north of St Pancras International to the East Coast Main Line to allow through services to Peterborough and Cambridge, and platform lengthening. A new 8- and 12-carriage fleet of Class 700 trains began in 2016. The new services on to the Great Northern route began initially on 8 March 2018,^[35] with the full timetable introduced in December 2019, one year later than originally planned to manage risks associated with introducing the complex service changes.^[3]

The programme also identified the need for an additional £900 million of maintenance and renewals work to ensure the wider rail network could reliably support the new high-frequency services, though initial funding covered only £300 million of this work.^[3]

The London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy published in July 2011 laid out a provisional 24<templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />tphScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". timetable. South of London it would provide four trains to Brighton (one semi-fast, one stopping) and two each to Three Bridges, Horsham, East Grinstead, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford International, Maidstone East, Sevenoaks and Bellingham. North of London there would be eight semi-fast trains to Bedford, four stopping trains to St Albans, two stopping and two semi-fast trains to Luton, two semi-fast trains to Peterborough, two semi-fast trains to Cambridge and four stopping trains to Welwyn Garden City.^[36]

Below is a provisional timetable solely for services running through the 'Thameslink core' tunnel. This 'provisional timetable' was proposed before the upgrade and has not yet been achieved. See Services section above for the current service pattern.

Rolling stock

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All rolling stock used on Thameslink is electrically powered dual-voltage units using 25 kV AC overhead power north of Farringdon and 750Template:NbspVTemplate:NbspDC third rail to the south.^[1]

Current fleet

Class 700

File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG

Class 700 at Blackfriars

File:Thameslink Class 700.jpg

Interior of the Thameslink Class 700 trains

Class 700 trains were delivered between 2015 and 2018, providing an additional 14,500 seats.Template:Clarify^[37] Siemens Mobility was named preferred bidder on 16 June 2011, with the Desiro City train family.^[38] The contract was signed in June 2013^[39] for 1,140 carriages, with 55 twelve-car and 60 eight-car trains. The depots are at Hornsey and Three Bridges.^[38] The Three Bridges depot opened in October 2015 and the first trains entered service in spring 2016. All units are now in service, having replaced the Class 319 and Class 387 fleets. Template:Table alignment

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built
Family	Class	Image	Type	mph	km/h	Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built
Siemens Desiro	700 Desiro City	File:Class 700 approaching Bedford.jpg	EMU	100	161	60	8	All Thameslink services	2015Template:Ndash2018
						55	12	All Thameslink services	2015Template:Ndash2018
						Template:Scalable image Template:Scalable image

Past fleet

Class 319

File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg

Class 319 at St Albans

The first rolling stock used on Thameslink were the 86 Class 319 trains built between 1987 and 1990. These are electrically powered dual-voltage four-car units rated to carry 289, 308 or 319 passengers. Four Class 319 trains had been transferred from Southern in December 2008 and the last four followed in March 2009, from which point they were all on Thameslink. The last was withdrawn in August 2017.^[40]

Class 377

First Capital Connect acquired 23 four-coach Class 377 sets during 2009 on sublease from Southern, for the Thameslink route for additional capacity and to allow some of the Class 319 trains to be released for the Catford Loop service to Sevenoaks, now jointly operated with Southeastern under Key Output 0 of the Thameslink Programme.^[41]

Class 317

Class 317 units built in the early 1980s were still in use when services into Moorgate ceased in March 2009: the last timetabled service ran from Farringdon to Bedford on 9 October 2009.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Class 387

Due to delays in the new Class 700 fleet, the DfT and Southern ordered 116 electric dual-voltage Template:Cvt carriages (29 trains) with the option for another 140 carriages (35 trains).^[42]^[43] The tender for the new Template:BRC trains was won by Bombardier and the first set entered service in December 2014, with all in service by May 2015. By 2018, all units were replaced by the new Class 700 fleet with the Class 387 fleet moving over to the Great Northern brand.^[44]

2014 franchise

The invitation to tender for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise was expected to be issued in October 2012, with the contract commencing in September 2013. In March 2012, the Department for Transport announced Abellio, FirstGroup, Govia, MTR Corporation and Stagecoach Group had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.^[45]

Due to problems with the InterCity West Coast tendering process, the process was delayed, with the new franchise delayed until September 2014. The new franchise includes the South Central franchise currently operated by Southern and certain routes from the Integrated Kent Franchise currently operated by Southeastern.^[46]

In May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to Govia Thameslink Railway.^[47] The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise^[31] will include both the Thameslink Great Northern and South Central franchises.

Govia Thameslink Railway began operations on 14 September 2014, with the former First Capital Connect routes Thameslink and Great Northern.

Thameslink 2

Railfuture, an organisation campaigning for better rail services for passengers and freight, has proposed an additional north–south route, connecting the Brighton Main Line to routes north of London, via East Croydon, Lewisham, Canary Wharf, and Stratford.^[48]

References

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External links

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | image_size         = 250px
 | caption            = Two [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700 ''Desiro City''s]] at {{rws|Blackfriars}}.
-| operator           = [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], {{nowrap|14 September 2014 –}} {{nowrap|1 April 2028}}<ref name = dft22 >{{Cite web |title=National Rail Contract Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern | url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1097662/govia-thameslink-railway-limited-2022-national-rail-contract.pdf | date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 7 March 2023 | publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref>
+| operator           = {{indented plainlist|[[Govia Thameslink Railway]], {{nowrap|14 September 2014 –}} {{nowrap|31 May 2026}}<ref name = dft22 >{{Cite web |title=Next train services to return to public ownership revealed as government delivers railways reset  | url = https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-train-services-to-return-to-public-ownership-revealed-as-government-delivers-railways-reset | date = 26 September 2025 | access-date = 5 October 2025 | publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref>}}
 | predecessor        = {{indented plainlist|
 * [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]], {{nowrap|2 March 1997 –}} {{nowrap|31 March 2006}}
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 }}
 }}
-'''Thameslink''' is a mainline route on the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway network]], running from {{rws|Bedford}}, {{rws|Luton}}, {{rws|St Albans City}}, {{rws|Peterborough}}, {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}}, {{rws|London Blackfriars}} and {{rws|Cambridge}} via central London to {{rws|Sutton|London}}, {{rws|Orpington}}, {{rws|Sevenoaks}}, [[Rainham railway station (Kent)|Rainham]], {{rws|Horsham}}, {{rws|Three Bridges}}, {{rws|Brighton}} and {{rws|East Grinstead}}. The network opened as a through service in 1988, with severe overcrowding by 1998, carrying more than 28,000 passengers in the morning peak. All the services are currently operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]. Parts of the network, from {{rws|Bedford}} to {{rws|Three Bridges}}, run 24 hours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/>
-The [[Thameslink Programme]] was a major £5.5{{nbsp}}billion scheme to increase capacity on the central London section by accommodating more frequent and longer trains, and providing additional routes and destinations. The new services began operating in 2018. In 2016, new {{brc|700}} trains started operating on the route and replaced the {{brc|319}}, {{brc|377}} and {{brc|387}} trains which were withdrawn and transferred elsewhere.
+'''Thameslink''' is a main line route on the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway network]], running from {{rws|Bedford}}, {{rws|Luton}}, {{rws|St Albans City}}, {{rws|Peterborough}}, {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}}, {{rws|London Blackfriars}} and {{rws|Cambridge}} via central London to {{rws|Sutton|London}}, {{rws|Orpington}}, {{rws|Sevenoaks}}, [[Rainham railway station (Kent)|Rainham]], {{rws|Horsham}}, {{rws|Three Bridges}}, {{rws|Brighton}} and {{rws|East Grinstead}}. The initial network opened as a through service in 1988 and, as of 2025, currently calls at 135 stations in regular service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thameslink Timetables May 2025 |url=https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/service-updates/timetables}}</ref> The entire route is currently operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]. A part of the route, from {{rws|Bedford}} to {{rws|Three Bridges}}, runs 24{{nbsp}}hours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/>
+The [[Thameslink Programme]] was a major £7{{nbsp}}billion scheme to increase capacity on the central London section by accommodating more frequent and longer trains, and providing additional routes and destinations.<ref name="NAO2017">{{cite report |title=Update on the Thameslink programme |author=National Audit Office |date=23 November 2017 |publisher=National Audit Office |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/update-on-the-thameslink-programme/}}</ref> The programme was divided into three key phases, with the final Key Output 2 introducing world-first [[Automatic Train Operation]] (ATO) technology over [[European Train Control System]] (ETCS) Level 2, enabling 24 trains per hour through the core section.<ref name="ThameslinktechnicalPaper">{{cite report |title=A Review of the Thameslink Programme |date=23 October 2015 |publisher=IRSE Australasia}}</ref> The new services began operating in 2018, though the full projected timetable of 24 trains per hour has never been achieved. In 2016, new {{brc|700}} trains started operating on the route and replaced the {{brc|319}}, {{brc|377}} and {{brc|387}} trains which were withdrawn and transferred elsewhere.
+Passenger services on the Thameslink route, along with all others currently operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], are due to transfer to the [[public ownership|publicly owned]] operator  [[Thameslink Southern Great Northern]] on 31 May 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Next train services to return to public ownership revealed as government delivers railways reset |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-train-services-to-return-to-public-ownership-revealed-as-government-delivers-railways-reset |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
 ==Route==
-Much of the original route is over the [[Brighton Main Line]] (via London Bridge) and the southern part of the [[Midland Main Line]], plus a suburban true loop (circuit) serving Sutton. A branch via the [[Catford Loop Line]] to Sevenoaks was added in 2012. Sections to [[Peterborough]] on the [[East Coast Main Line]], [[Cambridge]] via the [[Cambridge Line]], [[Horsham]] on the [[Arun Valley line]] and [[Rainham, Kent|Rainham]] via [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] were added in 2018. [[East Grinstead]] is also served during peak hours.
+Much of the original route is over the [[Brighton Main Line]] (via London Bridge) and the southern part of the [[Midland Main Line]], plus a suburban true loop (circuit) serving Sutton. A branch via the [[Catford Loop Line]] to Sevenoaks was added in 2012. Sections to [[Peterborough]] on the [[East Coast Main Line]], [[Cambridge]] via the [[Cambridge Line]], [[Horsham]] on the [[Arun Valley line]] and [[Rainham, Kent|Rainham]] via [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] were added in 2018. [[East Grinstead]] and [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]] are also served during peak hours.
 The route through central London (today known as Thameslink core) is via [[St Pancras railway station#Thameslink service|St Pancras International]] for connections to [[Eurostar]] and the East Midlands; {{stn|Farringdon}}, for [[London Underground]] [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]], [[Metropolitan line|Metropolitan]] and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines, and the [[Elizabeth line]]; {{rws|City Thameslink}}, which replaced the demolished [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct station]] and has a southern entrance serving Ludgate Circus; {{stn|Blackfriars}}, for main-line rail services and the Underground [[District line|District]] and Circle lines; and {{stn|London Bridge}} for main-line links into Kent and Sussex and the Underground [[Northern line|Northern]] and [[Jubilee line|Jubilee]] lines. {{rws|King's Cross Thameslink}} on [[Pentonville Road]] closed on 8 December 2007.
@@ Line 42: / Line 45: @@
 ==Services==
+[[File:Thameslink-logo.svg|thumb|Logo used by the service operator]]
 === Off-peak ===
 <section begin="service-table-off-peak"/>
 The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in ''trains per hour'' (tph), includes:
+{{clear left}}
 {| class="wikitable"
 |+Thameslink Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern
@@ Line 53: / Line 58: @@
 |-
 | Bedford to Three Bridges via Redhill<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=O: London and Croydon to Redhill, Reigate, Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1771/Table%20O |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 ||{{cslist|Flitwick|Harlington|Leagrave|Luton|Luton Airport Parkway|Harpenden|St Albans City|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|{{rws|Norwood Junction}}|East Croydon|{{rws|South Croydon}}|{{rws|Purley}}|Redhill|{{rws|Earlswood|Surrey}}|{{rws|Salfords}}|Horley|Gatwick Airport}}
+*In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
-* In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
 |-
-| {{rws|Peterborough}} to {{rws|Horsham}} via [[Redhill railway station|Redhill]]<ref name=":0a" /><ref>{{cite web |title=P: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Crawley and Horsham |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1775/Table%20P |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Huntingdon}}|{{rws|St Neots}}|{{rws|Sandy}}|{{rws|Biggleswade}}|{{rws|Arlesey}}|{{rws|Hitchin}}|{{rws|Stevenage}}|{{rws|Finsbury Park}}|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|East Croydon|{{rws|Coulsdon South}}|{{rws|Merstham}}|{{rws|Redhill}}|{{rws|Horley}}|Gatwick Airport|Three Bridges|{{rws|Crawley}}|{{rws|Ifield}}|{{rws|Faygate}} (extremely limited service in off-peak period)|{{rws|Littlehaven}}}}
+| {{rws|Peterborough}} to {{rws|Horsham}} via [[Redhill railway station|Redhill]]<ref name=":0a" /><ref>{{cite web |title=P: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Crawley and Horsham |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1775/Table%20P |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Huntingdon}}|{{rws|St Neots}}|{{rws|Sandy}}|{{rws|Biggleswade}}|{{rws|Arlesey}}|{{rws|Hitchin}}|{{rws|Stevenage}}|{{rws|Finsbury Park}}|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|East Croydon|{{rws|Coulsdon South}}|{{rws|Merstham}}|{{rws|Redhill}}|{{rws|Horley}}|Gatwick Airport|Three Bridges|{{rws|Crawley}}|{{rws|Ifield}}|{{rws|Littlehaven}}}}
 |-
 | [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]] to {{rws|Brighton}}<ref name=":0a">{{cite web |title=A: King's Lynn, Ely, Cambridge, Peterborough and Stevenage to London, Gatwick Airport, Horsham and Brighton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1762/Table%20A |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=Thameslink}}</ref><ref name="LON-BTN">{{Cite web |title=Q: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Haywards Heath and Brighton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1776/Table%20Q |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|[[Royston railway station|Royston]]|[[Ashwell & Morden railway station|Ashwell & Morden]]|[[Baldock railway station|Baldock]]|[[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]]|Hitchin|Stevenage|Finsbury Park|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|East Croydon|Gatwick Airport|Three Bridges|Haywards Heath|Burgess Hill}}
@@ Line 63: / Line 67: @@
 |-
 | Luton to {{rws|Rainham|Kent}} via Greenwich<ref name="7oaks" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=F: The Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford and Woolwich to London and Luton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1766/Table%20F}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|Luton Airport Parkway|Harpenden|St Albans City|{{rws|Radlett}}|{{rws|Elstree & Borehamwood}}|{{rws|Mill Hill Broadway}}|{{rws|Brent Cross West}}|West Hampstead Thameslink|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|{{rws|Deptford}}|{{rws|Greenwich}}|{{rws|Maze Hill}}|{{rws|Westcombe Park}}|{{rws|Charlton}}|{{rws|Woolwich Arsenal}}|{{rws|Plumstead}}|{{rws|Abbey Wood}}|{{rws|Slade Green}}|{{rws|Dartford}}|{{rws|Stone Crossing}}|{{rws|Greenhithe}}|{{rws|Swanscombe}}|{{rws|Northfleet}}|{{rws|Gravesend}}|{{rws|Higham|Kent}}|{{rws|Strood}}|{{rws|Rochester}}|{{rws|Chatham|Medway}}|{{rws|Gillingham|Kent}}}}
+*In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
-* In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
 |-
 | St Albans City to {{rws|Sutton|London}} via {{rws|Wimbledon}} (loop)<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/><ref name="SUO&WIM">{{Cite web |title=H: Sutton and Wimbledon to London via Streatham and Tulse Hill |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1768/Table%20H}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|Radlett|Elstree & Borehamwood|Mill Hill Broadway|{{rws|Hendon}}|Brent Cross West|{{rws|Cricklewood}}|West Hampstead Thameslink|{{rws|Kentish Town}}|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|Elephant & Castle|{{rws|Loughborough Junction}}|{{rws|Herne Hill}}|{{rws|Tulse Hill}}|{{rws|Streatham}}|{{rws|Tooting}}|{{rws|Haydons Road}}|{{rws|Wimbledon}}|{{rws|Wimbledon Chase}}|{{rws|South Merton}}|{{rws|Morden South}}|{{rws|St Helier}}|{{rws|Sutton Common}}|{{rws|West Sutton}}}}
@@ Line 72: / Line 75: @@
 *Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Wimbledon (see above)
 |}
-{{notelist}}
 <section end="service-table-off-peak" /><!--
 do not start a new line outside this comment: the <section> tag counts as an empty line
 -->
 === Peak hours ===
-<section begin="service-table-peak-hours" />
+<section begin="service-table-peak-hours"/>
-During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core section' to/from [[Welwyn Garden City railway station|Welwyn Garden City]] (though a few services originate at Finsbury Park), with extra calls at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, [[New Southgate railway station|New Southgate]], [[Oakleigh Park railway station|Oakleigh Park]], [[New Barnet railway station|New Barnet]], [[Potters Bar railway station|Potters Bar]] and [[Hatfield railway station|Hatfield]] only.<ref name="7oaks" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=B: Stevenage, Hertford North, Enfield Chase, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar to London |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1763/Table%20B}}</ref>
+During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core section' to/from {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} (though a few services originate at Finsbury Park), with extra calls at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, {{rws|New Southgate}}, {{rws|Oakleigh Park}}, {{rws|New Barnet}}, {{rws|Potters Bar}} and {{rws|Hatfield}}.<ref name="7oaks"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=B: Stevenage, Hertford North, Enfield Chase, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar to London |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1763/Table%20B}}</ref>
+As well as these services, during peak hours, several extra trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from {{rws|Orpington}} (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at {{rws|Petts Wood}} in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball.<ref name="7oaks"/>
-As well as these services, during peak hours, several trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]] (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at [[Petts Wood railway station|Petts Wood]] in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball.<ref name="7oaks" />
+In addition, there are seven trains per day in each direction that operate to/from {{rws|East Grinstead}} (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), which, after calling at South Croydon, call at {{rws|Sanderstead}}, {{rws|Riddlesdown}}, {{rws|Upper Warlingham}}, {{rws|Woldingham}}, {{rws|Oxted}}, {{rws|Hurst Green}}, {{rws|Lingfield}} and {{rws|Dormans}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=N: London and Croydon to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/2784/Table%20N}}</ref>
-In addition, there are seven trains per day in each direction that operate to/from {{rws|East Grinstead}} (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), which, after calling at South Croydon, call at [[Sanderstead railway station|Sanderstead]], [[Riddlesdown railway station|Riddlesdown]], [[Upper Warlingham railway station|Upper Warlingham]], [[Woldingham railway station|Woldingham]], [[Oxted railway station|Oxted]], [[Hurst Green railway station|Hurst Green]], [[Lingfield railway station|Lingfield]] and [[Dormans railway station|Dormans]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=N: London and Croydon to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/2784/Table%20N}}</ref>
+During peak hours, Peterborough to Horsham services call at [[Faygate railway station|Faygate]] between Ifield and Littlehaven, providing the primary service to this station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetable P |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/3564/Table%20P |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>
 There are also three extra trains throughout the evening peak hours that operate from Gatwick Airport to Bedford in that direction only, calling at various stations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetable O |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/3255/Table%20O |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>
-<section end="service-table-peak-hours" />
+<section end="service-table-peak-hours"/>
 ==History==
+=== Conceptual origins and post-war planning (1941–1970s) ===
+The strategic concept for a north–south through-running railway in London has deep historical roots, predating the Thameslink name by decades. Passenger services operated across London through the [[Snow Hill tunnel (London)|Snow Hill tunnel]] from mid-[[Victorian era|Victorian times]] until [[World War I]], when services were withdrawn as inner-London traffic shifted to buses and trams.<ref name="SubBrit">{{cite web| url = http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/s/snow_hill_station/index.shtml| publisher = Subterranea Britannica| work = Disused Stations News| date = 8 December 2007| access-date = 17 June 2008| title = Station Name: Snow Hill/Holborn Viaduct Low Level}}</ref>
+On 14 June 1941, railway manager [[George Dow]] proposed in an article in ''[[The Star (1888–1960)|The Star]]'' a series of electrified, underground main-line routes to interconnect London's termini, arguing that "London suburban lines cannot play their full part... until they have been interconnected across London and electrified".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dow |first=Andrew |title=Telling the Passenger Where to Get Off |date=1 January 2005 |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |isbn=9781854142917 |pages=52–55}}</ref> This vision was further developed in the post-war [[County of London Plan]] (1943) and [[Greater London Plan]] (1944). A 1949 working party identified a high-priority "Route A" that closely resembled the future Thameslink, designed to integrate suburban services and relieve Underground congestion. These ambitious plans were shelved due to post-war austerity, and the Snow Hill Tunnel route remained open only for cross-London freight trains until 1970.<ref name="SubBrit"/>
-Passenger services operated across London through the [[Snow Hill Tunnel (London)|Snow Hill Tunnel]] from mid-[[Victorian era|Victorian times]] until [[World War I]], when services terminated at [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] from the Midland line to the north, and at [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct]] from the south, at a time when most inner cross-London traffic had been lost to buses and trams. There were low-level platforms under the main part of Holborn Viaduct station known as the Snow Hill platforms: these can still be seen when leaving City Thameslink station travelling northwards.
+Overhead electrification, completed in 1982, allowed the northern section to run as the ''Midland City Line'' from [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] via the [[Midland Main Line]] to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]], and via the [[Widened Lines|City Widened Lines]] to [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]].{{efn|This service was colloquially known as the [[Bedpan]] Line from the contracted names of the terminal stations, as had happened with the [[Bakerloo line]]. In general limited-stop trains served St Pancras, and all-stations trains Moorgate.}}
-On 14 June 1941, railway manager [[George Dow]] proposed in an article in the London evening newspaper ''[[The Star (1888)|The Star]]'' that new routes be built in tunnels from Marylebone south to Victoria, and from King's Cross south to Charing Cross.  Both were to connect with a Paddington–Liverpool Street tunnel that he proposed, anticipating [[Crossrail]] by 40{{nbsp}}years. He also proposed a north-east to south-west such link (Liverpool Street to Charing Cross), all giving seamless, key, main-line connections.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dow |first=Andrew |title=Telling the Passenger Where to Get Off |date=1 January 2005 |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |isbn=9781854142917 |pages=52–55}}</ref>
+=== "Snow Hill Link": a pragmatic revival (1980s) ===
+The concept was revived in the early 1980s as a pragmatic, low-cost project, driven by the new [[Network SouthEast]] (NSE) sector of [[British Rail]]. Established in 1986 under director Chris Green, NSE moved away from a geographically based management structure towards a business-led approach focused on customer markets and reducing public subsidy.<ref name="Green1987">{{cite journal |last=Green |first=Chris |title=Sector management in British Rail |journal=The Transport Economist |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=33–45 |date=Summer 1987}}</ref> The reactivation of the disused Snow Hill Tunnel was identified by NSE as a key project that could better utilise existing assets and create new travel opportunities.<ref name="Green1987"/> A 1984 feasibility study commissioned by the [[Greater London Council]] (GLC) had found that the tunnel could be reopened for as little as £7–12 million.<ref name="GLCPlan">{{cite news |last=Millward |first=David |title=Old tunnel rail link plan by GLC |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1984 }}</ref><ref name="King1984">{{cite news |last=King |first=Michael |title=Blackfriars £12m rail tunnel plan |work=Evening Standard |date=1984 }}</ref>
-The Snow Hill Tunnel route remained open for cross-London freight trains until 1970, when the short section between Farringdon and Holborn Viaduct was closed.
+The project faced significant institutional resistance. [[London Regional Transport|London Transport]] initially blocked the Parliamentary legislation required for the project, officially due to a dispute over land at Farringdon, but with the "suspicion... that it fears extra competition."<ref name="RailLinkEditorial">{{cite news |title=Rail link |work=The Times |date=1986 }}</ref> An editorial at the time called for the Transport Secretary to "bang BR and LT heads together to get this scheme on the rails as fast as possible."<ref name="RailLinkEditorial"/> Ultimately, the project received government approval with the passage of the British Rail Bill in 1986, which provided for the reopening and electrification of the tunnel to link the Midland and Southern Regions.<ref name="GoAhead">{{cite news |title=GO-AHEAD FOR TUNNEL BILL |work=Daily Telegraph |date=1986 }}</ref>
-Overhead electrification, completed in 1982, allowed the northern section to run as the ''Midland City Line'' from [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] via the [[Midland Main Line]] to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]], and via the [[Widened Lines|City Widened Lines]] to [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]].{{efn|This service was colloquially known as the [[Bedpan]] Line from the contracted names of the terminal stations, as had happened with the [[Bakerloo line]]. In general limited-stop trains served St Pancras, and all-stations trains Moorgate.}}
+=== 1988 launch and initial impact ===
+The Snow Hill tunnel was re-opened by [[British Rail]] to passenger trains after 72{{nbsp}}years, with the first Thameslink services beginning in May 1988.<ref name="SubBrit"/> Marketed as a solution to the "dodge-the-chaos" strain of changing trains in central London, the service was an immediate success.<ref name="ExpressDrive">{{cite news |title=Express drive to catch road traffic |author=Steve Doughty |work=The Guardian |date=11 May 1988 |quote=The new services, which start on Monday, are aimed at cutting the strain of changing trains when crossing London.}}</ref> Passenger demand quickly quadrupled initial projections, leading to severe overcrowding by 1998.<ref>{{cite press release|url = http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False|publisher=[[Strategic Rail Authority]]|date = 29 March 1999|access-date = 17 June 2008|title = Sustained Passenger Growth in London}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The new link also had a significant economic impact, with one contemporary report noting it led to a "home price boom" in areas north of London like St Albans.<ref>{{cite news |title=New rail link leads to home price boom |work=Evening Standard |date=1988 }}</ref>
-The [[Snow Hill Tunnel (London)|Snow Hill tunnel]] was re-opened by [[British Rail]] to passenger trains after 72{{nbsp}}years, with Thameslink beginning in May 1988.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/s/snow_hill_station/index.shtml| publisher = Subterranea Britannica| work = Disused Stations News| date = 8 December 2007| access-date = 17 June 2008| title = Station Name: Snow Hill/Holborn Viaduct Low Level}}</ref> On 29 January 1990, the section between Blackfriars and Farringdon was temporarily closed to permit the construction of a new alignment. The route through the site of the long-closed [[Ludgate Hill railway station|Ludgate Hill station]], over Ludgate Hill to [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct]] was abandoned and demolished. The replacement route under Ludgate Hill was opened on 29 May 1990 by the [[Network SouthEast]] (sector of [[British Rail]]) concurrently with {{stnlink|City Thameslink}} station, which was initially called St Paul's Thameslink but was renamed in 1991 to avoid confusion with [[St. Paul's station]] on the Underground (Central line), about {{convert|500|m|yd|abbr=on}} away.
+On 29 January 1990, the section between Blackfriars and Farringdon was temporarily closed to permit the construction of a new alignment. The route through the site of the long-closed [[Ludgate Hill railway station|Ludgate Hill station]], over Ludgate Hill to [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct]] was abandoned and demolished. The replacement route under Ludgate Hill was opened on 29 May 1990 by the [[Network SouthEast]] (sector of British Rail) concurrently with {{stnlink|City Thameslink}} station, which was initially called St Paul's Thameslink but was renamed in 1991 to avoid confusion with [[St. Paul's Underground station]], about {{convert|500|m|yd|abbr=on}} away.
-[[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|King's Cross Thameslink]] on [[Pentonville Road]] closed on 8 December 2007, when the Thameslink platforms at nearby [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]] opened.
+[[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|King's Cross Thameslink]] on [[Pentonville Road]] closed on 8 December 2007, when the Thameslink platforms at nearby St Pancras opened.
+===Service evolution===
 In the south the services divide: many main-line trains run almost due south through [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] to [[East Croydon station|East Croydon]] and many continue to [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]], but the other routes and branches evolved, as follows:
 *From 1988 to 1991 such trains went variously
@@ Line 116: / Line 125: @@
 **In the north the present termini of the trains are Luton, Bedford, Cambridge, Peterborough, St Albans and in peak hours, Welwyn Garden City.
-===Franchise owners===
+===Franchise operators===
 As of the early 1990s [[privatisation of British Rail]], Thameslink was franchised to [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]], a subsidiary of [[Govia]].
 By late 1998, more than 28,000 passengers were carried at morning peak times.<ref>{{cite press release|url = http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False|publisher=[[Strategic Rail Authority]]|date = 29 March 1999|access-date = 17 June 2008|title = Sustained Passenger Growth in London}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
-From 1 April 2006, the franchise was taken over by [[First Capital Connect]] along with some services that had been operated by [[West Anglia Great Northern|WAGN]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title=Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise |publisher=Department for Transport |date=13 December 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archive-date=10 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= FirstGroup wins rail franchises |date= 13 December 2005 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4523592.stm |access-date= 13 November 2024}}</ref> The branding of most trains, stations, and signs was changed to match the name of the new company, but [[City Thameslink railway station|City Thameslink]] and [[West Hampstead Thameslink railway station|West Hampstead Thameslink]] were not renamed as ''Thameslink'' referred to the route.{{efn|[[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|King's Cross Thameslink]] kept the Thameslink suffix until it closed on 8 December 2007.}} After criticism of the loss of the apt name for this group of routes,<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter from TfL to FCC|url=http://uk.transport.london.narkive.com/9fxPexxo/letter-from-tfl-to-fcc|url-status=dead|website=Narkive.com|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212084126/http://uk.transport.london.narkive.com/9fxPexxo/letter-from-tfl-to-fcc}}</ref> First Capital Connect's publicity began calling this set of services its "Thameslink route" to distinguish it from the former WAGN services.
+From 1 April 2006, the franchise was taken over by [[First Capital Connect]] along with some services that had been operated by [[West Anglia Great Northern|WAGN]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title=Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise |publisher=Department for Transport |date=13 December 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archive-date=10 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= FirstGroup wins rail franchises |date= 13 December 2005 |work= BBC News |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4523592.stm |access-date= 13 November 2024}}</ref> The branding of most trains, stations, and signs was changed to match the name of the new company, but [[City Thameslink railway station|City Thameslink]] and [[West Hampstead Thameslink railway station|West Hampstead Thameslink]] were not renamed as ''Thameslink'' referred to the route.{{efn|[[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|King's Cross Thameslink]] kept the Thameslink suffix until it closed on 8 December 2007.}} After criticism of the loss of the apt name for this group of routes,<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter from TfL to FCC|url=http://uk.transport.london.narkive.com/9fxPexxo/letter-from-tfl-to-fcc|url-status=dead|website=Narkive.com|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212084126/http://uk.transport.london.narkive.com/9fxPexxo/letter-from-tfl-to-fcc}}</ref> First Capital Connect's publicity began calling this set of services its "Thameslink route" to distinguish it from the former WAGN services.
 On 14 September 2014, Govia Thameslink Railway took over operations from [[First Capital Connect]].<ref name="DFT20140523">{{cite press release |publisher= Department for Transport |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rail-franchising-deal-set-to-transform-passenger-services-across-london-and-south-east |title=New rail franchising deal set to transform passenger services across London and south east |date=23 May 2014 |access-date=11 June 2015}}</ref>
@@ Line 129: / Line 138: @@
 [[File:Stpancrasthameslink.jpg|thumb|St Pancras International Thameslink platforms opened in 2007]]
 [[File:Blackfriars station MMB 19.jpg|thumb|[[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] new cross-river platforms]]
-Given the network's success, realised plans arose to upgrade the network to cope with persistent peak-time overcrowding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1326.aspx |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |access-date=18 October 2006 |title=Thameslink Programme}}</ref> Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |date=18 October 2006 |access-date=16 June 2011 |title=The £3.5bn Thameslink Project clears major hurdle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304113209/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |archive-date=4 March 2007}}</ref> funding was secured in July 2007<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Coward |first=Andy|title= Cross-river rail to boost Capital | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue=572 |date= 15 August 2007 |pages=40–43|location=Peterborough}}</ref> and construction began in October 2007.<ref>
-{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7059432.stm |title=Work begins on Thameslink project |work=BBC News |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref> Plans included rebuilding the station buildings at Farringdon (in conjunction with the [[Crossrail]] project) and West Hampstead Thameslink, total rebuild of [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] stations, two new underground platforms at St Pancras International, a new tunnel north of St Pancras International to the [[East Coast Main Line]] to allow through services to Peterborough and Cambridge, and platform lengthening. A new 8- and 12-carriage fleet of Class 700 trains began in 2016. The new services on to the [[Great Northern route]] began initially on 8 March 2018,<ref>{{cite news|title=First direct trains from Cambridge to Brighton via central London launch|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=8 March 2018|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/first-direct-trains-from-cambridge-to-brighton-via-central-london-launch-a3785091.html|access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> with the full timetable being introduced in May 2018.
+The [[Thameslink Programme]] was a major £7 billion infrastructure project designed to address the severe overcrowding that had developed on the original 1988 route. The programme comprised infrastructure works totalling £5.5 billion (2017 prices) and new rolling stock with lease costs of £1.7 billion.<ref name="NAO2017"/>
+Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |date=18 October 2006 |access-date=16 June 2011 |title=The £3.5bn Thameslink Project clears major hurdle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304113209/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |archive-date=4 March 2007}}</ref> funding was secured in July 2007<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Coward |first=Andy|title= Cross-river rail to boost Capital | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue=572 |date= 15 August 2007 |pages=40–43|location=Peterborough}}</ref> and construction began in October 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7059432.stm |title=Work begins on Thameslink project |work=BBC News |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>
+The infrastructure budget increased by £474 million (9.4%) from the original 2012 budget, primarily due to unforeseen complexities at London Bridge station. London Bridge station's long history of development and bomb damage during World War Two meant that much of the site was inadequately documented, requiring design changes and accelerated works to maintain the project schedule.<ref name="NAO2017"/>
+Plans included rebuilding the station buildings at Farringdon (in conjunction with the [[Crossrail]] project) and West Hampstead Thameslink, total rebuild of [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] stations, two new underground platforms at St Pancras International, a new tunnel north of St Pancras International to the [[East Coast Main Line]] to allow through services to Peterborough and Cambridge, and platform lengthening. A new 8- and 12-carriage fleet of Class 700 trains began in 2016. The new services on to the [[Great Northern route]] began initially on 8 March 2018,<ref>{{cite news|title=First direct trains from Cambridge to Brighton via central London launch|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=8 March 2018|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/first-direct-trains-from-cambridge-to-brighton-via-central-london-launch-a3785091.html|access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> with the full timetable introduced in December 2019, one year later than originally planned to manage risks associated with introducing the complex service changes.<ref name="NAO2017"/>
+The programme also identified the need for an additional £900 million of maintenance and renewals work to ensure the wider rail network could reliably support the new high-frequency services, though initial funding covered only £300 million of this work.<ref name="NAO2017"/>
 The London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy published in July 2011 laid out a provisional 24{{tooltip|tph|trains per hour}} timetable. South of London it would provide four trains to Brighton (one semi-fast, one stopping) and two each to Three Bridges, Horsham, East Grinstead, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford International, Maidstone East, Sevenoaks and Bellingham. North of London there would be eight semi-fast trains to Bedford, four stopping trains to St Albans, two stopping and two semi-fast trains to Luton, two semi-fast trains to Peterborough, two semi-fast trains to Cambridge and four stopping trains to Welwyn Garden City.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/rus%20generation%202/london%20and%20south%20east/london%20and%20south%20east%20route%20utilisation%20strategy.pdf |title=London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213164156/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/rus%20generation%202/london%20and%20south%20east/london%20and%20south%20east%20route%20utilisation%20strategy.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2013 |page=72 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 Below is a provisional timetable solely for services running through the 'Thameslink core' tunnel. This 'provisional timetable' was proposed before the upgrade and has not yet been achieved. See Services section above for the current service pattern.
+{{clear}}
 {{#section:Thameslink Programme|provisional-timetable}}
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 === Current fleet ===
 ==== Class 700 ====
-[[File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG|thumb|Class 700 trains replaced all of the existing fleet in 2018]]
+[[File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG|thumb|Class 700 at Blackfriars]]
-[[File:Thameslink Class 700.jpg|thumb|Interior of the new Thameslink Class 700 trains]]
+[[File:Thameslink Class 700.jpg|thumb|Interior of the Thameslink Class 700 trains]]
-Class 700 trains were delivered between 2015 and 2018, providing an additional 14,500 seats.{{clarify|date=February 2017|reason=Per day? Per week?}}<ref>{{cite news|date=9 April 2008|title=Thameslink gets 14,500 more seats|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7338401.stm|access-date=1 June 2008|quote=The deal, announced by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, will mean the current 720-carriage Thameslink fleet increasing by 380 carriages. A contract for the new carriages is expected to be awarded in summer 2009, with the first train in service by 2012.}}</ref> [[Siemens Mobility]] was named preferred bidder on 16 June 2011, with the ''[[Desiro City]]'' train family.<ref name="rgi20110616">{{cite news|date=16 June 2011|title=Siemens beats Bombardier to Thameslink train order|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]|location=London|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/siemens-beats-bombardier-to-thameslink-train-order.html|access-date=16 June 2011|archive-date=19 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619043534/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/siemens-beats-bombardier-to-thameslink-train-order.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The contract was signed in June 2013<ref>{{cite news|date=27 June 2013|title=Siemens Thameslink deal to create up to 2,000 new jobs|publisher=Department for Transport|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/siemens-thameslink-deal-to-create-up-to-2000-new-jobs}}</ref> for 1,140 carriages, with 55 twelve-car and 60 eight-car trains.  The depots are at [[Hornsey EMU depot and former steam locomotive shed|Hornsey]] and [[Three Bridges depot|Three Bridges]].<ref name="rgi20110616" /> The Three Bridges depot opened in October 2015 and the first trains entered service in spring 2016. All units are now in service, having replaced the [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] and [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]] fleets.
+Class 700 trains were delivered between 2015 and 2018, providing an additional 14,500 seats.{{clarify|date=February 2017|reason=Per day? Per week?}}<ref>{{cite news|date=9 April 2008|title=Thameslink gets 14,500 more seats|work=BBC News|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7338401.stm|access-date=1 June 2008|quote=The deal, announced by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, will mean the current 720-carriage Thameslink fleet increasing by 380 carriages. A contract for the new carriages is expected to be awarded in summer 2009, with the first train in service by 2012.}}</ref> [[Siemens Mobility]] was named preferred bidder on 16 June 2011, with the ''[[Desiro City]]'' train family.<ref name="rgi20110616">{{cite news|date=16 June 2011|title=Siemens beats Bombardier to Thameslink train order|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]|location=London|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/siemens-beats-bombardier-to-thameslink-train-order.html|access-date=16 June 2011|archive-date=19 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619043534/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/siemens-beats-bombardier-to-thameslink-train-order.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The contract was signed in June 2013<ref>{{cite news|date=27 June 2013|title=Siemens Thameslink deal to create up to 2,000 new jobs|publisher=Department for Transport|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/siemens-thameslink-deal-to-create-up-to-2000-new-jobs}}</ref> for 1,140 carriages, with 55 twelve-car and 60 eight-car trains.  The depots are at [[Hornsey EMU depot and former steam locomotive shed|Hornsey]] and [[Three Bridges depot|Three Bridges]].<ref name="rgi20110616" /> The Three Bridges depot opened in October 2015 and the first trains entered service in spring 2016. All units are now in service, having replaced the [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] and [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]] fleets.
 {{Table alignment}}
 {| class="wikitable defaultcenter col1left col2left col9left"
@@ Line 183: / Line 201: @@
 ==== Class 319 ====
-[[File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg|thumb|86 Class 319s worked the Thameslink route from 1987 to 2017]]
+[[File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg|thumb|Class 319 at St Albans]]
-Rolling stock used on Thameslink included the 86 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] trains built between 1987–1988 and 1990. These are [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrically powered]] dual-voltage four-car units rated to carry 289, 308 or 319 passengers. Four Class 319 trains had been transferred from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] in December 2008 and the last four followed in March 2009, from which point they were all on Thameslink. The last was withdrawn in August 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/thameslink-replaces-last-of-30-year-old-class-319-fleet |title=Thameslink replaces last of 30 year old Class 319 fleet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204248/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/thameslink-replaces-last-of-30-year-old-class-319-fleet |archive-date=15 September 2017 |publisher=Rail Technology Magazine |date=1 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+The first rolling stock used on Thameslink were the 86 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] trains built between 1987 and 1990. These are [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrically powered]] dual-voltage four-car units rated to carry 289, 308 or 319 passengers. Four Class 319 trains had been transferred from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] in December 2008 and the last four followed in March 2009, from which point they were all on Thameslink. The last was withdrawn in August 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/thameslink-replaces-last-of-30-year-old-class-319-fleet |title=Thameslink replaces last of 30 year old Class 319 fleet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204248/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/thameslink-replaces-last-of-30-year-old-class-319-fleet |archive-date=15 September 2017 |publisher=Rail Technology Magazine |date=1 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ==== Class 377 ====
@@ Line 190: / Line 208: @@
 ==== Class 317 ====
-[[British Rail Class 317|Class 317]] units built in the early 1980s were still in use when services into Moorgate ceased in March 2009: the last timetabled service ran from Farringdon to Bedford on 9 October 2009.
+[[British Rail Class 317|Class 317]] units built in the early 1980s were still in use when services into Moorgate ceased in March 2009: the last timetabled service ran from Farringdon to Bedford on 9 October 2009.{{cn|date=October 2025}}
 ==== Class 387 ====
-Due to delays in the new [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700]] fleet, the DfT and Southern ordered 116 electric dual-voltage {{convert|110|mph|kph|adj=on}} carriages (29 trains) with the option for another 140 carriages (35 trains).<ref name="DfT">{{cite web |publisher =Department for Transport |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/department-for-transports-boost-to-train-builders |title= Boost to train builders |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Southern">{{cite press release |url=http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/procurement-of-new-rolling-stock/ |title=Procurement of New Rolling Stock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329061413/http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/procurement-of-new-rolling-stock/ |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The tender for the new {{BRC|387}} trains was won by Bombardier and the first set entered service in December 2014, with all in service by May 2015. By 2018, all units were replaced by the new Class 700 fleet with the Class 387 fleet moving over to the [[Great Northern Route|Great Northern]] brand.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Trio of GTR Class 387/1s readied for move to Great Northern duties |date= 16 July 2016 |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue= 805 |page= 33}}</ref>
+Due to delays in the new [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700]] fleet, the DfT and Southern ordered 116 electric dual-voltage {{cvt|110|mph}} carriages (29 trains) with the option for another 140 carriages (35 trains).<ref name="DfT">{{cite web |publisher =Department for Transport |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/department-for-transports-boost-to-train-builders |title= Boost to train builders |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Southern">{{cite press release |url=http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/procurement-of-new-rolling-stock/ |title=Procurement of New Rolling Stock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329061413/http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/procurement-of-new-rolling-stock/ |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The tender for the new {{BRC|387}} trains was won by Bombardier and the first set entered service in December 2014, with all in service by May 2015. By 2018, all units were replaced by the new Class 700 fleet with the Class 387 fleet moving over to the [[Great Northern Route|Great Northern]] brand.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Trio of GTR Class 387/1s readied for move to Great Northern duties |date= 16 July 2016 |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue= 805 |page= 33}}</ref>
 ==2014 franchise==
-The [[invitation to tender]] for the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise was expected to be issued in October 2012, with the contract commencing in September 2013. On 29 March 2012, the [[Department for Transport]] announced [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Stagecoach Group]] had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |title=UK franchise pre-qualified bidders announced |date=29 March 2012 |work=[[Railway Gazette International]] |location=London |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403211916/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+The [[invitation to tender]] for the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise was expected to be issued in October 2012, with the contract commencing in September 2013. In March 2012, the [[Department for Transport]] announced [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Stagecoach Group]] had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |title=UK franchise pre-qualified bidders announced |date=29 March 2012 |work=[[Railway Gazette International]] |location=London |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403211916/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 Due to problems with the [[InterCity West Coast]] tendering process, the process was delayed, with the new franchise delayed until September 2014. The new franchise includes the [[Southern (train operating company)|South Central]] franchise currently operated by Southern and certain routes from the [[Integrated Kent Franchise]] currently operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245041/invitation-to-tender.pdf |title=Thameslink Southern & Great Northern Invitation to Tender |publisher=Department for Transport |date=26 September 2013}}</ref>
-On 23 May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27534731 |title= Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise<ref name="DFT20140523"/> will include both the Thameslink Great Northern and South Central franchises.
+In May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27534731 |title= Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise<ref name="DFT20140523"/> will include both the Thameslink Great Northern and South Central franchises.
 Govia Thameslink Railway began operations on 14 September 2014, with the former [[First Capital Connect]] routes Thameslink and [[Great Northern Route|Great Northern]].
@@ Line 209: / Line 227: @@
 ==See also==
 *[[Crossrail]] – project to build the east–west [[Elizabeth line]] route through London
-*[[West London Line]] – the North West-South route across London
+*[[West London Line]] – the north west{{ndash}}south route across London
 *[[Réseau Express Régional]] (RER) – the similar cross city rail network in Paris
 *[[Cross-City Line]] – a similar north–south route across [[Birmingham]]
 *[[Rail transport in Great Britain]]
-==Notes==
-{{notelist}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 250: / Line 265: @@
 [[Category:Transport in Luton/Dunstable Urban Area]]
 [[Category:Transport in Bedford]]
+[[Category: Underground commuter rail]]