thameslink

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 is 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; {{stn|Farringdon}}, for London Underground Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines, and the Elizabeth line; {{rws|City Thameslink}}, which replaced the demolished Holborn Viaduct station and has a southern entrance serving Ludgate Circus; {{stn|Blackfriars}}, for main-line rail services and the Underground District and Circle lines; and {{stn|London Bridge}} for main-line links into Kent and Sussex and the Underground Northern and Jubilee lines. {{rws|King's Cross Thameslink}} 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.

Passenger services operated across London through the Snow Hill Tunnel from mid-Victorian times until World War I, when services terminated at Moorgate from the Midland line to the north, and at 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.

On 14 June 1941, railway manager George Dow proposed in an article in the London evening newspaper 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.{{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}}

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.

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.{{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.}}

The Snow Hill tunnel was re-opened by British Rail to passenger trains after 72{{nbsp}}years, with Thameslink beginning in May 1988.{{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}} 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 {{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.

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

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.

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.{{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}}

From 1 April 2006, the franchise was taken over by First Capital Connect along with some services that had been operated by WAGN.{{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 }}{{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}} 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.{{efn|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,{{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}} 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.{{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}}

{{main|Thameslink Programme}}

File:Stpancrasthameslink.jpg

File:Blackfriars station MMB 19.jpg new cross-river platforms]]

Given the network's success, realised plans arose to upgrade the network to cope with persistent peak-time overcrowding.{{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}} Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,{{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}} funding was secured in July 2007{{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}} and construction began in October 2007.

{{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}} 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,{{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}} with the full timetable being introduced in May 2018.

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.{{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}}

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.

{{#section:Thameslink Programme|provisional-timetable}}

{{main|Thameslink and Great Northern#Thameslink|British Rail Class 700}}

All rolling stock used on Thameslink is electrically powered dual-voltage units using {{nowrap|25 kV AC}} overhead power north of Farringdon and 750{{nbsp}}V{{nbsp}}DC third rail to the south.{{ref|a}}

File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG

File:Thameslink Class 700.jpg

Class 700 trains were delivered between 2015 and 2018, providing an additional 14,500 seats.{{clarify|date=February 2017|reason=Per day? Per week?}}{{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.}} Siemens Mobility was named preferred bidder on 16 June 2011, with the Desiro City train family.{{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}} The contract was signed in June 2013{{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}} for 1,140 carriages, with 55 twelve-car and 60 eight-car trains. The depots are at Hornsey and Three Bridges. 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.

{{Table alignment}}

File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg

Rolling stock used on Thameslink included the 86 Class 319 trains built between 1987–1988 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.{{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}}

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.{{cite web |url= http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/index.php/faqs/faqs_categories/public_index#question_29 |title= Do we really have to wait until 2012 and 2015 for some relief to the overcrowding? |date= 20 October 2008 |publisher= First Capital Connect |access-date= 28 October 2008 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081109090627/http://thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/faqs/faqs_categories/public_index#question_29 |archive-date= 9 November 2008 |df= dmy-all}}

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.

Due to delays in the new 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).{{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}}{{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}} 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 brand.{{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}}

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, FirstGroup, Govia, MTR Corporation and Stagecoach Group had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.{{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 }}

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.{{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}}

On 23 May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to Govia Thameslink Railway.{{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}} The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise 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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/Thameslink%202|title=Railfuture – Thameslink 2}}

• Crossrail – project to build the east–west Elizabeth line route through London
• West London Line – the North West-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

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine|title=Thameslink underway|first=Leslie|last=Freitag|page=11|issue=83|date=August 1988|magazine=RAIL|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

{{Commons category|Thameslink}}

• {{Official website}}

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