Thameslink Programme

This scheme will tackle overcrowding on some of the UK’s busiest routes by increasing passenger capacity north-south to and through London. It will deliver clear and tangible benefits for passengers, the environment and the UK economy. A selection of visuals and maps of the future Thameslink route are available to download here.

What will the Thameslink Programme deliver?
What is Network Rail’s role in the Thameslink Programme?
When will the scheme begin?
Why is the Thameslink Programme needed?
When will the benefits be delivered?
What are the economic/ social benefits?
Where will the final Thameslink network be extended to at the end of 2015?
What’s happening at Blackfriars?
What’s happening at Farringdon?
What is happening at Borough Viaduct and what happens to the market?
What’s happening at London Bridge?

•  50 per cent longer trains across the current Thameslink route
• 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 24).
• New stations and an end to bottlenecks at Blackfriars and London Bridge
• New trains across the Thameslink route
• A new connection to St Pancras International station (from December 2007)
• Platform extensions to improve 50 stations outside of central London.
  

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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. This work represents a total of £3.55bn of investment.

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When will the scheme begin?

The scheme began on 24th October, less than three months after funding was announced. Work has begun to extend all four platforms at Luton Airport Parkway to enable longer trains to stop in the future. A further 22 stations will have their platforms extended on the Thameslink route before 2011. In total 4km of platforms will be lengthened before the Olympics.

The major works at Blackfriars, Farringdon and Borough Viaduct begin in January 2009. Work to radically overhaul the track layout to the east of London Bridge (including work at Bermondsey and Tanners Hill) is planned to begin in late 2012.

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Why is the Thameslink Programme needed?

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 one million people in the next twenty years. We need to expand the railway to meet demand and to support our economy.

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.

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When will the benefits be delivered?

Passengers will see the full benefits by the end of 2015, but the scheme has been carefully planned to deliver better services before the Olympic Games. For example, by the end of 2011, longer 12 car trains (50% extra capacity) will run on the route between Bedford, Central London and Brighton for the first time. There will also be a 200% increase in the number of trains running through the heart of London, and Blackfriars will become the first station to span the Thames with a new entrance on the South Bank serving the Tate Modern and surrounding area.

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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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What’s happening at Blackfriars?

The Thameslink Programme will deliver a new station at Blackfriars. By the end of 2011, the station will be able to handle 12 car trains for the first time and significantly more trains will stop at the station every hour. The station also becomes the first to span the Thames, with a new roof over the entire platform length and a new entrance on the South Bank providing better access to the Tate Modern and the surrounding area. The Underground station will also be significantly enhanced.

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What’s happening at Farringdon?

The Thameslink Programme will deliver significant improvements at Farringdon, with the extension of platforms to take longer, 12 car trains by the end of 2011. The station will be redesigned, with a new footbridge and station entrance improving passenger flow and providing a better interchange with London Underground.

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

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 market trustees and traders (holding regular surgeries etc) to make sure that the plans strike the right balance between building the extra rail capacity that London needs and safeguarding the Market’s unique and vibrant character.

It is very much business as usual, with the market will remain open throughout construction, although a limited number of traders will temporarily have to relocate.  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. For more details see here 

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, completing by the end of 2011.

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What’s happening at London Bridge?

The works at London Bridge are extensive with a completely new, modern station and track layout planned. 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.

The track layout work will begin after the Olympics, and is planned to be completed by the end of 2015. We will however be looking to deliver any quick wins that we can for passengers, and work may well start before the Olympics to upgrade station facilities.

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