Thameslink - Current Route And Services
The Thameslink Programme
What’s happening at Blackfriars station?
What’s happening at Farringdon station?
What is happening at Borough and what happens to the market?
What’s happening at London Bridge?
What’s happening at King’s Cross? 
What are the economic/social benefits?
Where will the final Thameslink network be extended to at the end of 2015?

Thameslink - Current Route And Services

The current Thameslink route was opened to passengers in May 1988 utilising the long disused Snow Hill tunnel to link the suburban services via central London on the Midland Main Line and the Brighton Main Line with a second branch serving the Wimbledon Loop.

The Thameslink route covers 140 miles (225 km) from Bedford to Brighton with 50 stations and links some of the countries busiest transport hubs including Luton and Gatwick Airports, St Pancras International and London Bridge Main line stations. It also provides interchanges with London Underground services at nine stations.

The route is one of the busiest and fastest growing in the UK but recent research though shows that up to 50% of current passengers say that trains are sometimes so full they are unable to board.

8 trains per hour (each up to 8 carriages in length) currently run through the central core section between St Pancras and Blackfriars with other services terminating at Blackfriars from the South and Moorgate from the North.

The line is one of very few in the UK which requires a changeover from overhead electrical power supply (North) to third rail (South).

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The Thameslink Programme

What is it?

The Thameslink Programme is a £5.5 billion investment in improved rail infrastructure and new rolling stock. It will deliver more capacity, and more journey options for passengers travelling through or to London from the North and South.

In all work will be required at 50 stations with some 4km of additional platform length being constructed (that’s c.8 times the length of Brighton Pier and around double the length of the runway at Luton Airport).

Major works will be required in Central London with new stations being built at Blackfriars (where the new station will span the river Thames, providing direct National Rail access to both the North and South banks) and London Bridge. Farringdon station too will see big changes with longer platforms, a new footbridge, new station roofing and new concourse facilities for both London Underground and National Rail services.

Major works will also be required at Borough and east of London Bridge station to both improve capacity and provide a more streamlined track layout to prevent the delays caused when trains on the busiest lines have to cross each others paths.

In all the Thameslink Programme will deliver

• 50 per cent longer trains across the current Thameslink route (by 2012)
• New direct services, to new destinations on the Thameslink route (e.g. Cambridge to Gatwick).
• A reduction in overcrowding on the Underground, with three times as many trains travelling between St Pancras International and Blackfriars every hour (an increase from 8 to up to 24 by 2015).
• New stations and an end to bottlenecks at Blackfriars (by 2012) and London Bridge (by 2015)
• New trains across the Thameslink route – an entirely new fleet by 2015
• Platform extensions and other improvements at around 50 stations outside of central London. (by 2012)

Why is it needed?

The Thameslink route is one of the UK’s busiest, with 50 per cent of regular users sometimes not being able get onto the train due to overcrowding.

70 per cent of all rail journeys begin or end in London and the South East and London’s population is projected to grow by nearly a million people in the next twenty years. We need to expand the railway to meet demand and to support our economy.

New Trains

To increase capacity the Thameslink Programme will be introducing additional new and longer trains (rolling stock). Trains will be extended from 8 to 12 cars long.

These new trains require modern maintenance facilities and railway sidings that are long enough to accommodate them.

Following a careful site selection process two new depots are planned. One to the north of London in Hornsey, the other to the south at Three Bridges.

Over a 2 day period in mid July 2009 plans were exhibited for the two new maintenance depots.

Click here to view the display panels presented at Hornsey and Three Bridges.

What is Network Rail’s role in the Thameslink Programme?

Network Rail will build new track, new stations, extend platforms and improve signalling on the Thameslink route.

Network Rail and its contractors will use well over 1000 people to deliver more than 80 million man hours of work over the Programme

When will work start?

It already has!

Work started (at Luton Airport Parkway) in October 2007 just three weeks after funding was confirmed. Work was completed there in November 2008.

Work to extend the platforms at Mill Hill Broadway started in mid 2008 and a further 21 stations will have their platforms extended on the Thameslink route before 2011. In total 4km of platforms will be lengthened before the Olympics.

Preliminary works have started too in central London at Blackfriars and Farringdon with major works due to get underway in early 2009.

Will there be any disruption to services?

Whilst the programme will conduct as much work as possible at times when the fewest possible number of potential travellers will be inconvenienced the reality is that any programme on this scale will inevitably have some impact on services.

From 14 December 2008 and through 2009, there will be no cross-London Thameslink route service between London Bridge / Herne Hill and St Pancras International from 10.30pm to 4.30am, Mondays to Fridays, and during most weekends. The cross-London route will also be suspended over some weekends in the run-up to December 2008.

The works at Farringdon will though necessitate the permanent closure of the Farringdon – Moorgate branch on Thameslink services from 22 March 2009 (though London Underground services will still serve both Barbican and Moorgate stations and First Capital Connect Great Northern services will be entirely unaffected).

The works at Blackfriars will require the terminating platforms to be taken out of use from 22 March 2009 until the new station is complete and Blackfriars Underground station will close from 2 March until late 2011.

When will the benefits be delivered?

Passengers will see the full benefits of the Thameslink Programme by the end of 2015 with up to 24 trains per hour through central London, but the scheme has been carefully planned to deliver better services before the Olympic Games.

For example, by 2012, longer 12 car trains (50% extra capacity) will run on the route between Bedford, Central London and Brighton for the first time.

By 2012 the new Blackfriars station will be complete giving both better interchange facilities with London Underground on the North bank of the Thames and direct access to and from the Thameslink station from the South Bank of the river.

Want to know more?

http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk  

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What’s happening at Blackfriars station?

Network Rail is completely redeveloping and extending Blackfriars rail station, as part of the £5.5bn congestion-busting Thameslink Programme. Construction takes place on both banks of the River Thames plus extensive work on Blackfriars Rail Bridge, helping to create a bright, modern and distinctive station at the heart of London’s infrastructure.

The new Blackfriars will be the only station in the UK to span a river. It will feature a new station on the South Bank, the first built in this location for over 120 years, and it will give passengers direct access to key local attractions such as the Tate Modern.

Due for completion in early 2012, Blackfriars rail station will be equipped to handle 12 car trains for the first time and significantly more trains will stop at the station every hour. The Underground station will also be considerably enhanced, as part of this landmark project, delivering a better interchange for passengers.

 

What’s happening now?

Throughout 2009 exciting, major construction work has taken place at Blackfriars. The work has rapidly and noticeably changed the look of the station. Temporary entrances have been created for both Queen Victoria Street and Paul’s Walk, 167 to 179 Queen Victoria Street has been completely demolished, platforms four and five have been extended with a temporary footbridge between them created, and work has begun on building the new south station.

Whilst much of this work is visible to the public, plenty of hard work has taken place behind the scenes to clean, strengthen and repair the existing bridge structure for its future use.

All these changes are important, but just as important are the erection of hoarding lines in and around the station to facilitate the work and in the interest of public safety.

 

Coming soon

Over Christmas 2009 our construction team will be busy at the station carefully removing an old section of bridge between platform four and five during a 101 hour feat of planned, precision engineering. The old bridge section will be replaced with a new, concrete and steel singular piece of bridge, which is 22 metres long, weighs up to 350 tonnes and has been specially built on site. The bridge work is a key milestone to both the Blackfriars redevelopment project and Network Rail’s Thameslink Programme because it will allow the tracks to be moved from the west to the east side of the station at a later date to create the new track alignment. The new track alignment will deliver quicker and smoother journeys for passengers when completed and brought into use in late 2010. 

Want to know more?

Click here for links to some of the people we are working with at Blackfriars:
http://www.betterbankside.co.uk
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Public/Home.aspx
http://www.sbeg.co.uk
http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
http://www.tfl.gov.uk
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

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What’s happening at Farringdon station?

Farringdon station is the point at which Thameslink and the future Crossrail route will intersect, and once Crossrail services are running, this station will be the first station to have direct access to three of London’s airports – Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.

Once complete at the end of 2011, Thameslink Programme will deliver significant improvements at Farringdon station, with the extension of platforms to take longer, 12 car trains,. The station will be redesigned, with a new footbridge and station entrances, reducing congestion, providing step-free access and improving interchange between Train services.

The redevelopment at Farringdon will deliver significant improvements as part of the Thameslink Programme including the construction of two new additional station concourses – one which will service Thameslink and London Underground services in Turnmill St and the other to serve Thameslink, and future Crossrail services. This will be sited opposite the existing Tube station entrance on Cowcross St.

This existing entrance will also continue to serve both Thameslink and Tube services once our redevelopment work is complete at the end of 2011.

A new and more capacious footbridge is currently being built in order to create more space for people changing platforms at Farringdon.

The new bridge will be directly connected to the new Turnmill St station entrance.

The extended platforms needed to accommodate 12 car trains cannot be built at the north end of the station – their construction at the southern end though means that the Thameslink branch to Moorgate must close from March 2009.

Existing Thameslink services to Barbican and Moorgate will cease from March 2009, however passengers wishing to travel to both stations will still be able to do so via London Undergound services.

The redevelopment of Farringdon station is being undertaken by Costain in joint venture with Laing O‘Rourke.

What’s happening now?

Network Rail’s redevelopment work at Farringdon station began in June this year. We have now set up a site compound on Turnmill Street, and have been busy working on the initial phases of the redevelopment, including the replacement and renewal of the footbridge within the station – which once complete will improve access and interchange within the station.

We also submitted a planning application in July to Islington Council to give us the permission to start work on a new ticket hall and entrance in Turnmill Street.

Coming soon

We will continue to work on the interchange bridge which we anticipate will be complete by the end of February 2009 to coincide with the permanent closure of the Thameslink Moorgate branch.

We also plan to start building the new Turnmill Street ticket hall and entrance.

Major construction work will also start in Cowcross Street from early 2009 to build the entrance and ticket hall which will serve both Thameslink and Crossrail services.

Want to know more?

Click here for links to some of the people we are working with at Farringdon.
Notification letter - Mar 09  
Notification letter - Jan 09
Notification letter - Dec 08

http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk  
http://www.tfl.gov.uk
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk
http://www.crossrail.co.uk
http://www.islington.gov.uk  

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What is happening at Borough and what happens to the market?

To provide more train journeys out of London Bridge to the north, a new viaduct (parallel to the existing one) will be constructed over the Borough area (over Railway Approach and Station Approach). Part of the existing viaduct will also be widened.

Network Rail is currently working with the Trustees of the Borough Market, and wholesale and retail traders to make sure the Market can retain it’s unique and vibrant character.

The market will remain open throughout construction, although some traders will move temporarily to the new Jubilee Market, a space within the current market grounds. Network Rail is providing a new roof, facilities and toilets.

The Borough Market Trustees have ambitious plans for the future, such as the establishment of a new and unique food school, teaching children and adults about the benefits of healthy eating.

Another key neighbour in this area is the Southwark Cathedral. The Cathedral has helped us plan our programme of works so that we can try to minimise noise during important periods of worship.

The Borough area has a rich history, dating back to the every first settlements along the Thames. The railway has played a key part in its more recent history – the first viaduct was built in 1866, when the market was primarily a wholesale market and the Church or St Saviour was not yet Southwark Cathedral.

Some of our other sites, along the Southbank, and at Blackfriars and Farringdon also have a long history and we are doing our best to be mindful of this in the way that we work. We have an archeologist on board, who is examining all of our excavations. Previous surveys and studies have suggested that there is nothing too unusual under any of our sites, but we are working with the Museum of London Archeological Survey to ensure that anything we do find, from WWII ordinance, to medieval basements or Roman artifacts, is documented and preserved.
The Department for Transport has requested that Network Rail carries out the work at Borough viaduct during the first phase of the Thameslink Programme. The work will begin in January 2009, and take three years to complete.

What’s happening now?

Network Rail has completed the new Jubilee Market area at Borough Market to house traders relocating from Three Crowns Square. This new, covered area will open in the first week of September.

Click here for a joint letter to market traders from Network Rail and the Chairman of the Borough Market Trustees.

  

Coming soon

When the Jubilee Market area opens, we will start main works in Three Crown Square.

Over the next few weeks we will be erecting hoardings around the area so that our works cause as little disruption as possible.

Then we will carefully remove the Victorian roof and take it off-site for refurbishment. When we have finished building the viaduct, we will reinstall the roof.

When we have removed the roof, we will fill in the basements so that the ground can support the equipment we need to use to build the viaduct. The basements will be also be reinstated when we have finished the works and traders move back in.

Want to know more?

Click here for links to some of the people we are working with at Borough.
www.boroughmarket.org.uk 
www.southwark.anglican.org/cathedral

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What’s happening at London Bridge?

The plans for London Bridge include improved track layout, and a new, modern station. This will be delivered in phases, keeping the station operational throughout construction. The works will remove key bottlenecks, increase the number of through platforms, improve passenger facilities, and significantly increase passenger capacity at the station. This will help to drive regeneration in a key London growth area.

What’s happening now?

Most of the building work you can see at London Bridge Station at the moment is for the construction of the Shard of Glass which will sit over the top of part of London Bridge.

We are working closely with Sellar, the property developer to make sure that the station continues to functions during construction of the Shard and beyond.

Sellar and their partners have almost completed demolition of Southwark Towers, the building which occupied the site now to be taken by the Shard, and are preparing for construction of the Shard to start in 2009.

The works on the Shard mean that Network Rail also have to make some changes at London Bridge to make sure there are facilities for passengers in the short term. This work includes creating new loos, and making sure there are clear pathways for pedestrians. This is why some of the station shops are being vacated, and hoardings are appearing.

Behind the scenes, the Network Rail teams are working hard to ensure that the final plans for London Bridge Station are able to withstand a further 50 years of growth and development in London and the UK. We are making a significant investment in the station, and it is likely to remain a key interchange for many years to come, so we need to get it right.

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What’s happening at King’s Cross?

Kings Cross station is also being redeveloped. Click here for more info.

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What are the economic/social benefits?

As well as the environmental benefits of investing in the railway, the scheme will improve public transport access to areas of expected growth such as the London Bridge area, Docklands, the land adjacent to King’s Cross/St Pancras International stations and many other growth areas in the South East.

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Where will the final Thameslink network be extended to at the end of 2015?

It is too early to say exactly where the Thameslink network will be extended to at the end of 2015. The final Thameslink Train service will be delivered under a new franchise that becomes operational around 2015. As is normal practise with new franchises, the Department for Transport will hold a public consultation on the franchise and the routes it will serve. This will take place during 2013.

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