Thameslink (train operating company, 1997–2006)

{{About|the former train operating company|other uses of the name|Thameslink (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox rail company

| name = Thameslink

| logo = ThameslinkLogo.svg

| logo_size = 300px

|image= Class 319 DC Unit - Thameslink livery - East Croydon railway station - England - 270404.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|franchise= Thameslink
{{start and end date|1997|3|2|2006|3|31|df=y}}

|nameforarea= station

|regions= Bedford, King's Cross,
Brighton

|secregions= Luton Airport, Blackfriars,
London Bridge, Gatwick Airport,
Wimbledon

|fleet= 74 Class 319

|stations= 56 (26 operated)

|parent_company= Govia (Go-Ahead/Keolis)

|abbr= TR

|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}

|el = 750 V DC third rail (South of Farringdon)
25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead (North of City Thameslink)

|predecessor= Network SouthEast

|successor= First Capital Connect}}

Thameslink[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03013232 Companies House extract company no 3013232] Thameslink Rail Limited was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by Govia that operated the Thameslink franchise between March 1997 and March 2006.

The franchise was originally due to end on 31 March 2004, however a two-year extension was awarded to Govia by the Strategic Rail Authority on 13 February 2004.{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040422173122/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/2/extensions_130204 |archive-date = 22 April 2004 |url = http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/2/extensions_130204 |title = Franchising Program Continues Apace |publisher = Strategic Rail Authority |date = 13 February 2004}} In December 2005, the Department for Transport awarded the new franchise to FirstGroup; thus the services operated by Thameslink were transferred to First Capital Connect on 1 April 2006.

Services

Thameslink operated passenger services from Bedford via the Thameslink route to London Moorgate, Sutton, Wimbledon and Brighton.

Rolling stock

Thameslink inherited a fleet of 66 Class 319s from Network SouthEast.

During 2002, Thameslink hired two Class 317s from West Anglia Great Northern for services to Moorgate. Thameslink received some extra Class 319s from Southern in 2004.

Between September 2004 and May 2005, Class 317s were hired from West Anglia Great Northern to operate Bedford to St Pancras services while the Thameslink line was severed for six months for the new St Pancras station to be built.{{cite magazine |title= |magazine= Rail Magazine |issue= 448 |date= 26 May 2004 |page= 46}}{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}

class="wikitable"

---- bgcolor=#f9f9f9

! rowspan="2" |Class

! rowspan="2" |Image

! rowspan="2" |Type

! colspan="2" |Top speed

! rowspan="2" |Number

! rowspan="2" |Built

---- bgcolor=#f9f9f9

!mph

!km/h

317

|100px

|electric multiple unit

|100

|160

|1981–1982

rowspan=2|319

|rowspan=2|100px

|electric multiple unit

|100

|160

|74

|1987–1988, 1990

colspan=5|File:Class 319 Thameslink Original Diagram.png

File:Class 319 Thameslink Later Livery Diagram.png

Depots

Thameslink's fleet was originally maintained at Selhurst Depot under sub-contract by Connex South Central/Southern.{{cite magazine |title= |magazine= Rail |issue= 443 |date= 4 September 2002 |page= 38}}{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} With the Thameslink line to be severed for six months, Bedford Cauldwell depot was built in 2004. It progressively took over all work from Selhurst.{{cite web |url = http://tre.truth.posiweb.net/FeaturedArticles/railengineer/view/48 |title = Cauldwell: Success born from dereliction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111020225/http://tre.truth.posiweb.net/FeaturedArticles/railengineer/view/48 |archive-date=11 November 2013 |publisher = The Rail Engineer |date = April 2009}}

Demise

File:South Merton railway station, London (geograph 3292660).jpg

In April 2005, the Strategic Rail Authority announced the parties shortlisted to bid for the new Thameslink Great Northern franchise; Govia was not shortlisted.{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050407061424/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |archive-date = 7 April 2005 |url = http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |title = Pre-qualified Bidders for Two New Passenger Franchises were announced by the SRA today |publisher = Strategic Rail Authority |date = 1 April 2005}} In December 2005, the Department for Transport awarded the new franchise to FirstGroup. Accordingly, the services that were operated by Thameslink were transferred to First Capital Connect on 1 April 2006.{{cite web |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 |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}} However, it was announced in May 2014 that Govia had reclaimed the Thameslink franchise, which started on 14 September 2014, thus ending the First Capital Connect franchise. Govia now operates Thameslink under Govia Thameslink Railway.

References

External links

{{commonscat-inline|Thameslink (train operating company)}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20050330013705/http://www.thameslink.co.uk/ Internet archive of official site] as at 30 March 2005

{{s-ttl|title=Operator of Thameslink franchise

|years=1997–2006}}

{{s-aft|after=First Capital Connect
Thameslink and Great Northern franchise}}

Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom

Category:Go-Ahead Group companies

Category:Keolis

Category:Railway companies established in 1997

Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2006

Category:Railway operators in London

Category:Rail transport in Bedfordshire

Category:Thameslink

Category:1997 establishments in England