Thameslink - AThameslink - A Thameslink is a 24-hour main-line route in the British railway system, running from Bedford, Luton, St Albans City, Peterborough and Cambridge via central London to Sutton, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Rainham, Horsham, Brighton and 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. The Thameslink Programme was a major £5.5 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 Class 700 trains started operating on the route and replaced the Class 319, Class 377 and Class 387 trains which were withdrawn and transferred elsewhere. Thameslink 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 Littlehampton are also served in 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, Farringdon, for London Underground Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines, and the Elizabeth line, City Thameslink, which replaced the demolished Holborn Viaduct station and has a southern entrance serving Ludgate Circus, Blackfriars. For main-line rail services and the Underground District and Circle lines, and London Bridge for main-line links into Kent and Sussex and the Underground Northern and Jubilee lines. 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. Thameslink Services Thameslink Off-Peak The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes:
Royston, Ashwell & Morden, Baldock, Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin, Stevenage, Finsbury Park, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill
Huntingdon, St Neots, Sandy, Biggleswade, Arlesey, Hitchin, Stevenage, Finsbury Park, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Crawley, Ifield, Faygate (extremely limited service in off-peak period), Littlehaven
Flitwick, Harlington, Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, West Hampstead Thames, linkSt Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park
Flitwick, Harlington, Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick Airport In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, Radlett, Elstree & Borehamwood, Mill Hill Broadway, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, Deptford, Greenwich, Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal, Plumstead, Abbey Wood, Slade Green, Dartford, Stone Crossing, Greenhithe, Swanscombe, Northfleet, Gravesend, Higham, Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
Radlett, Elstree & Borehamwood, Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Cricklewood, West Hampstead Thameslink, Kentish Town, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, Elephant & Castle, Loughborough Junction, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Streatham, Tooting, Haydons Road, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, South Merton, Morden South, St Helier, Sutton Common, West Sutton Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Mitcham Junction (see below)
RadlettElstree & Borehamwood, Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Cricklewood, West Hampstead Thameslink, Kentish Town, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, Elephant & Castle, Loughborough Junction, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Streatham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, Carshalton Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Wimbledon (see above)
Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Crofton Park, Catford, Bellingham, Beckenham Hill, Ravensbourne, Shortlands, Bromley South, Bickley, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford, Bat & Ball Thameslink Peak Hours During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core tunnel' to/from 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, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar and Hatfield. As well as these services, during peak hours, several trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from Orpington (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at Petts Wood in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball. In addition, there are six trains per day in each direction that operate to/from East Grinstead (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), calling at Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, Woldingham, Oxted, Hurst Green, Lingfield and Dormans. Thameslink Notes ^:a b Hourly on Sundays. ^ On Sundays, service will run hourly between Cambridge and Kings Cross only, it will not run through the core section or on to Maidstone. ^ Except for Kentish Town, Cricklewood and Hendon. ^ Except for Woolwich Dockyard, Belvedere and Erith. ^ No service on Sundays. ^ An all-day service will operate between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks only, with no service through the core outside of peak hours. Thameslink Overview Thameslink Locale: South East England Greater London East of England Thameslink Predecessor: Thameslink, 2 Mar 1997 – 31 Mar 2006 First Capital Connect, 1 Apr 2006 – 13 Sep 2014 Thameslink Current Operator(s): Govia Thameslink Railway, 14th Sep 2014 – 1 April 2028 Thameslink Termini: Bedford, Peterborough, Cambridge, Sutton, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Rainham, Horsham, Brighton Thameslink Stops: St PancrasBlackfriars Thameslink Train Number(s): TL Thameslink Line(s) Used: Brighton Main Line Chatham Main Line East Coast Main Line Midland Main Line Snow Hill tunnel South Eastern Main Line Sutton Loop Line Thameslink Technical Rolling Stock: 115 Class 700 Desiro City Thameslink Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Electrification: 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE 750 V DC third rail Thameslink Track Owner(s): Network Rail | |||||
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