View source for Thameslink

{{Short description|Mainline route in the British railway system}}
{{About|the railway route|the main operator of services on the route|Govia Thameslink Railway||Thameslink (disambiguation)|For see all other lines on Govia Thameslink Railway, see|Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|and|Great Northern Route}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name               = Thameslink
| logo_filename      = <!-- remember that this article is about a railway route which does not have a logo -->
| image              = Class 700s at Blackfriars.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Two [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700 ''Desiro City''s]] at {{rws|Blackfriars}}.
| operator           = {{indented plainlist|[[Govia Thameslink Railway]], {{nowrap|14 September 2014 –}} {{nowrap|31 May 2026}}<ref name = dft22 >{{Cite web |title=Next train services to return to public ownership revealed as government delivers railways reset  | url = https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-train-services-to-return-to-public-ownership-revealed-as-government-delivers-railways-reset | date = 26 September 2025 | access-date = 5 October 2025 | publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref>}}
| predecessor        = {{indented plainlist|
* [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]], {{nowrap|2 March 1997 –}} {{nowrap|31 March 2006}}
* [[First Capital Connect]], {{nowrap|1 April 2006 –}} {{nowrap|13 September 2014}}
}}
| locale             = {{unbulleted list|[[South East England]]|[[Greater London]]|[[East of England]]}}
| stock              = [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700 ''Desiro City'']]
| start              = {{cslist|{{rws|Bedford}}|{{rws|Peterborough}}|{{rws|Cambridge}}}}
| end                = {{cslist|{{rws|Sutton|London}}|{{rws|Orpington}}|{{rws|Sevenoaks}}|
{{rws|Rainham|Kent}}|{{rws|Horsham}}|{{rws|Three Bridges}}|{{rws|Brighton}}|{{rws|East Grinstead}}}}
| line_used          = {{unbulleted list|[[Brighton Main Line]]|[[Chatham Main Line]]|[[East Coast Main Line]]|[[Midland Main Line]]|[[Snow Hill tunnel (London)|Snow Hill tunnel]]|[[South Eastern Main Line]]|[[North Kent Line]]|[[Sutton Loop Line]]}}
| trainnumber        = TL
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| map                = [[File:Thameslink.svg|300px|Thameslink]]
| owners             = [[Network Rail]]
| gauge              = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el                 = {{plainlist|
*{{25 kV 50 Hz|conductor=overhead}}
*{{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
}}
}}

'''Thameslink''' is a main line route on the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway network]], running from {{rws|Bedford}}, {{rws|Luton}}, {{rws|St Albans City}}, {{rws|Peterborough}}, {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}}, {{rws|London Blackfriars}} and {{rws|Cambridge}} via central London to {{rws|Sutton|London}}, {{rws|Orpington}}, {{rws|Sevenoaks}}, [[Rainham railway station (Kent)|Rainham]], {{rws|Horsham}}, {{rws|Three Bridges}}, {{rws|Brighton}} and {{rws|East Grinstead}}. The initial network opened as a through service in 1988 and, as of 2025, currently calls at 135 stations in regular service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thameslink Timetables May 2025 |url=https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/service-updates/timetables}}</ref> The entire route is currently operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]. A part of the route, from {{rws|Bedford}} to {{rws|Three Bridges}}, runs 24{{nbsp}}hours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/>

The [[Thameslink Programme]] was a major £7{{nbsp}}billion scheme to increase capacity on the central London section by accommodating more frequent and longer trains, and providing additional routes and destinations.<ref name="NAO2017">{{cite report |title=Update on the Thameslink programme |author=National Audit Office |date=23 November 2017 |publisher=National Audit Office |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/update-on-the-thameslink-programme/}}</ref> The programme was divided into three key phases, with the final Key Output 2 introducing world-first [[Automatic Train Operation]] (ATO) technology over [[European Train Control System]] (ETCS) Level 2, enabling 24 trains per hour through the core section.<ref name="ThameslinktechnicalPaper">{{cite report |title=A Review of the Thameslink Programme |date=23 October 2015 |publisher=IRSE Australasia}}</ref> The new services began operating in 2018, though the full projected timetable of 24 trains per hour has never been achieved. In 2016, new {{brc|700}} trains started operating on the route and replaced the {{brc|319}}, {{brc|377}} and {{brc|387}} trains which were withdrawn and transferred elsewhere.

Passenger services on the Thameslink route, along with all others currently operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], are due to transfer to the [[public ownership|publicly owned]] operator  [[Thameslink Southern Great Northern]] on 31 May 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Next train services to return to public ownership revealed as government delivers railways reset |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-train-services-to-return-to-public-ownership-revealed-as-government-delivers-railways-reset |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==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, Kent|Rainham]] via [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] were added in 2018. [[East Grinstead]] and [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]] are also served during peak hours.

The route through central London (today known as Thameslink core) is via [[St Pancras railway station#Thameslink service|St Pancras International]] for connections to [[Eurostar]] and the East Midlands; {{stn|Farringdon}}, for [[London Underground]] [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]], [[Metropolitan line|Metropolitan]] and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines, and the [[Elizabeth line]]; {{rws|City Thameslink}}, which replaced the demolished [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct station]] and has a southern entrance serving Ludgate Circus; {{stn|Blackfriars}}, for main-line rail services and the Underground [[District line|District]] and Circle lines; and {{stn|London Bridge}} for main-line links into Kent and Sussex and the Underground [[Northern line|Northern]] and [[Jubilee line|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 [[Thameslink (train operating company, 1997–2006)|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.

==Services==
[[File:Thameslink-logo.svg|thumb|Logo used by the service operator]]
=== Off-peak ===
<section begin="service-table-off-peak"/>
The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in ''trains per hour'' (tph), includes:
{{clear left}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Thameslink Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern
|-
! width="250px" |Route|| {{abbr|tph|trains per hour}}|| Calling at
|-
| {{rws|Bedford}} to {{rws|Brighton}}<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable">{{cite web |title=C: Bedford, Luton and St Albans to London, Sutton, the Medway Towns, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and the South Coast {{!}} Timetable valid from Monday 11 December 2023 until Monday 27 May 2024 |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/2367/Table%20C |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref><!-- this is deliberately repeated to support sectional transclusion --><ref name="LON-BTN" /> || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Flitwick}}|{{rws|Harlington}}|{{rws|Leagrave}}|{{rws|Luton}}|{{rws|Luton Airport Parkway}}|{{rws|Harpenden}}|{{rws|St Albans City}}|{{rws|West Hampstead Thameslink}}|[[St Pancras International railway station|London St Pancras International]]|{{rws|Farringdon}}|{{rws|City Thameslink}}|{{rws|London Blackfriars}}|{{rws|London Bridge}}|{{rws|East Croydon}}|{{rws|Gatwick Airport}}|{{rws|Three Bridges}}|{{rws|Balcombe}}|{{rws|Haywards Heath}}|{{rws|Wivelsfield}}|{{rws|Burgess Hill}}|{{rws|Hassocks}}|{{rws|Preston Park}}}}
|-
| Bedford to Three Bridges via Redhill<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=O: London and Croydon to Redhill, Reigate, Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1771/Table%20O |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 ||{{cslist|Flitwick|Harlington|Leagrave|Luton|Luton Airport Parkway|Harpenden|St Albans City|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|{{rws|Norwood Junction}}|East Croydon|{{rws|South Croydon}}|{{rws|Purley}}|Redhill|{{rws|Earlswood|Surrey}}|{{rws|Salfords}}|Horley|Gatwick Airport}}
*In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
|-
| {{rws|Peterborough}} to {{rws|Horsham}} via [[Redhill railway station|Redhill]]<ref name=":0a" /><ref>{{cite web |title=P: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Crawley and Horsham |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1775/Table%20P |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Huntingdon}}|{{rws|St Neots}}|{{rws|Sandy}}|{{rws|Biggleswade}}|{{rws|Arlesey}}|{{rws|Hitchin}}|{{rws|Stevenage}}|{{rws|Finsbury Park}}|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|East Croydon|{{rws|Coulsdon South}}|{{rws|Merstham}}|{{rws|Redhill}}|{{rws|Horley}}|Gatwick Airport|Three Bridges|{{rws|Crawley}}|{{rws|Ifield}}|{{rws|Littlehaven}}}}
|-
| [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]] to {{rws|Brighton}}<ref name=":0a">{{cite web |title=A: King's Lynn, Ely, Cambridge, Peterborough and Stevenage to London, Gatwick Airport, Horsham and Brighton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1762/Table%20A |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=Thameslink}}</ref><ref name="LON-BTN">{{Cite web |title=Q: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Haywards Heath and Brighton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1776/Table%20Q |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|[[Royston railway station|Royston]]|[[Ashwell & Morden railway station|Ashwell & Morden]]|[[Baldock railway station|Baldock]]|[[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]]|Hitchin|Stevenage|Finsbury Park|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|East Croydon|Gatwick Airport|Three Bridges|Haywards Heath|Burgess Hill}}
|-
| London Blackfriars to {{rws|Sevenoaks}} via Catford and Otford<ref name="7oaks">{{Cite web |title=E: Sevenoaks, Swanley, Orpington, Bromley South and Catford to London |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1779/Table%20E}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Elephant & Castle}}|{{rws|Denmark Hill}}|{{rws|Peckham Rye}}|{{rws|Nunhead}}|{{rws|Crofton Park}}|{{rws|Catford}}|{{rws|Bellingham}}|{{rws|Beckenham Hill}}|{{rws|Ravensbourne}}|{{rws|Shortlands}}|{{rws|Bromley South}}|{{rws|Bickley}}|{{rws|St Mary Cray}}|{{rws|Swanley}}|{{rws|Eynsford}}|{{rws|Shoreham}}|{{rws|Otford}}|{{rws|Bat & Ball}}}}
|-
| Luton to {{rws|Rainham|Kent}} via Greenwich<ref name="7oaks" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=F: The Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford and Woolwich to London and Luton |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1766/Table%20F}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|Luton Airport Parkway|Harpenden|St Albans City|{{rws|Radlett}}|{{rws|Elstree & Borehamwood}}|{{rws|Mill Hill Broadway}}|{{rws|Brent Cross West}}|West Hampstead Thameslink|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|London Bridge|{{rws|Deptford}}|{{rws|Greenwich}}|{{rws|Maze Hill}}|{{rws|Westcombe Park}}|{{rws|Charlton}}|{{rws|Woolwich Arsenal}}|{{rws|Plumstead}}|{{rws|Abbey Wood}}|{{rws|Slade Green}}|{{rws|Dartford}}|{{rws|Stone Crossing}}|{{rws|Greenhithe}}|{{rws|Swanscombe}}|{{rws|Northfleet}}|{{rws|Gravesend}}|{{rws|Higham|Kent}}|{{rws|Strood}}|{{rws|Rochester}}|{{rws|Chatham|Medway}}|{{rws|Gillingham|Kent}}}}
*In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
|-
| St Albans City to {{rws|Sutton|London}} via {{rws|Wimbledon}} (loop)<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/><ref name="SUO&WIM">{{Cite web |title=H: Sutton and Wimbledon to London via Streatham and Tulse Hill |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1768/Table%20H}}</ref>|| 2 || {{cslist|Radlett|Elstree & Borehamwood|Mill Hill Broadway|{{rws|Hendon}}|Brent Cross West|{{rws|Cricklewood}}|West Hampstead Thameslink|{{rws|Kentish Town}}|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|Elephant & Castle|{{rws|Loughborough Junction}}|{{rws|Herne Hill}}|{{rws|Tulse Hill}}|{{rws|Streatham}}|{{rws|Tooting}}|{{rws|Haydons Road}}|{{rws|Wimbledon}}|{{rws|Wimbledon Chase}}|{{rws|South Merton}}|{{rws|Morden South}}|{{rws|St Helier}}|{{rws|Sutton Common}}|{{rws|West Sutton}}}}
*Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Mitcham Junction (see below)
|-
| St Albans City to Sutton via {{rws|Mitcham Junction}} (loop)<ref name="BedfordLondonTimetable"/><ref name="SUO&WIM" /> || 2 || {{cslist|Radlett|Elstree & Borehamwood|Mill Hill Broadway|Hendon|Brent Cross West|Cricklewood|West Hampstead Thameslink|Kentish Town|London St Pancras International|Farringdon|City Thameslink|London Blackfriars|Elephant & Castle|Loughborough Junction|Herne Hill|Tulse Hill|Streatham|{{rws|Mitcham Eastfields}}|{{rws|Mitcham Junction}}|{{rws|Hackbridge}}|{{rws|Carshalton}}}}
*Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Wimbledon (see above)
|}
<section end="service-table-off-peak" /><!--
do not start a new line outside this comment: the <section> tag counts as an empty line
-->

=== Peak hours ===
<section begin="service-table-peak-hours"/>
During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core section' to/from {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} (though a few services originate at Finsbury Park), with extra calls at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, {{rws|New Southgate}}, {{rws|Oakleigh Park}}, {{rws|New Barnet}}, {{rws|Potters Bar}} and {{rws|Hatfield}}.<ref name="7oaks"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=B: Stevenage, Hertford North, Enfield Chase, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar to London |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/1763/Table%20B}}</ref>

As well as these services, during peak hours, several extra trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from {{rws|Orpington}} (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at {{rws|Petts Wood}} in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball.<ref name="7oaks"/>

In addition, there are seven trains per day in each direction that operate to/from {{rws|East Grinstead}} (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), which, after calling at South Croydon, call at {{rws|Sanderstead}}, {{rws|Riddlesdown}}, {{rws|Upper Warlingham}}, {{rws|Woldingham}}, {{rws|Oxted}}, {{rws|Hurst Green}}, {{rws|Lingfield}} and {{rws|Dormans}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=N: London and Croydon to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/2784/Table%20N}}</ref>

During peak hours, Peterborough to Horsham services call at [[Faygate railway station|Faygate]] between Ifield and Littlehaven, providing the primary service to this station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetable P |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/3564/Table%20P |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>

There are also three extra trains throughout the evening peak hours that operate from Gatwick Airport to Bedford in that direction only, calling at various stations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetable O |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/3255/Table%20O |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref>
<section end="service-table-peak-hours"/>

==History==
=== Conceptual origins and post-war planning (1941–1970s) ===
The strategic concept for a north–south through-running railway in London has deep historical roots, predating the Thameslink name by decades. Passenger services operated across London through the [[Snow Hill tunnel (London)|Snow Hill tunnel]] from mid-[[Victorian era|Victorian times]] until [[World War I]], when services were withdrawn as inner-London traffic shifted to buses and trams.<ref name="SubBrit">{{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}}</ref>

On 14 June 1941, railway manager [[George Dow]] proposed in an article in ''[[The Star (1888–1960)|The Star]]'' a series of electrified, underground main-line routes to interconnect London's termini, arguing that "London suburban lines cannot play their full part... until they have been interconnected across London and electrified".<ref>{{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}}</ref> This vision was further developed in the post-war [[County of London Plan]] (1943) and [[Greater London Plan]] (1944). A 1949 working party identified a high-priority "Route A" that closely resembled the future Thameslink, designed to integrate suburban services and relieve Underground congestion. These ambitious plans were shelved due to post-war austerity, and the Snow Hill Tunnel route remained open only for cross-London freight trains until 1970.<ref name="SubBrit"/>

Overhead electrification, completed in 1982, allowed the northern section to run as the ''Midland City Line'' from [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] via the [[Midland Main Line]] to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]], and via the [[Widened Lines|City Widened Lines]] to [[Moorgate station|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.}}

=== "Snow Hill Link": a pragmatic revival (1980s) ===
The concept was revived in the early 1980s as a pragmatic, low-cost project, driven by the new [[Network SouthEast]] (NSE) sector of [[British Rail]]. Established in 1986 under director Chris Green, NSE moved away from a geographically based management structure towards a business-led approach focused on customer markets and reducing public subsidy.<ref name="Green1987">{{cite journal |last=Green |first=Chris |title=Sector management in British Rail |journal=The Transport Economist |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=33–45 |date=Summer 1987}}</ref> The reactivation of the disused Snow Hill Tunnel was identified by NSE as a key project that could better utilise existing assets and create new travel opportunities.<ref name="Green1987"/> A 1984 feasibility study commissioned by the [[Greater London Council]] (GLC) had found that the tunnel could be reopened for as little as £7–12 million.<ref name="GLCPlan">{{cite news |last=Millward |first=David |title=Old tunnel rail link plan by GLC |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1984 }}</ref><ref name="King1984">{{cite news |last=King |first=Michael |title=Blackfriars £12m rail tunnel plan |work=Evening Standard |date=1984 }}</ref>

The project faced significant institutional resistance. [[London Regional Transport|London Transport]] initially blocked the Parliamentary legislation required for the project, officially due to a dispute over land at Farringdon, but with the "suspicion... that it fears extra competition."<ref name="RailLinkEditorial">{{cite news |title=Rail link |work=The Times |date=1986 }}</ref> An editorial at the time called for the Transport Secretary to "bang BR and LT heads together to get this scheme on the rails as fast as possible."<ref name="RailLinkEditorial"/> Ultimately, the project received government approval with the passage of the British Rail Bill in 1986, which provided for the reopening and electrification of the tunnel to link the Midland and Southern Regions.<ref name="GoAhead">{{cite news |title=GO-AHEAD FOR TUNNEL BILL |work=Daily Telegraph |date=1986 }}</ref>

=== 1988 launch and initial impact ===
The Snow Hill tunnel was re-opened by [[British Rail]] to passenger trains after 72{{nbsp}}years, with the first Thameslink services beginning in May 1988.<ref name="SubBrit"/> Marketed as a solution to the "dodge-the-chaos" strain of changing trains in central London, the service was an immediate success.<ref name="ExpressDrive">{{cite news |title=Express drive to catch road traffic |author=Steve Doughty |work=The Guardian |date=11 May 1988 |quote=The new services, which start on Monday, are aimed at cutting the strain of changing trains when crossing London.}}</ref> Passenger demand quickly quadrupled initial projections, leading to severe overcrowding by 1998.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The new link also had a significant economic impact, with one contemporary report noting it led to a "home price boom" in areas north of London like St Albans.<ref>{{cite news |title=New rail link leads to home price boom |work=Evening Standard |date=1988 }}</ref>

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 railway station|Ludgate Hill station]], over Ludgate Hill to [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|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 Underground station]], about {{convert|500|m|yd|abbr=on}} away.

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

===Service evolution===
In the south the services divide: many main-line trains run almost due south through [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] to [[East Croydon station|East Croydon]] and many continue to [[Brighton railway station|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 railway station|Elephant & Castle]] and [[Streatham railway station|Streatham]] to [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]], [[Wallington railway station|Wallington]], [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]], [[Epsom railway station|Epsom]], [[Leatherhead railway station|Leatherhead]] and [[Effingham Junction railway station|Effingham Junction]], to [[Guildford (Surrey) railway station|Guildford]].
*From 1994 to 1995 such trains terminated at West Croydon (cutting franchise zone-crossing due to [[privatisation of British Rail|rail privatisation]]).
**From the latter year such trains have run "to and from" a nominal furthest point of a true circular loop, [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]], the [[Sutton loop]] calling at stations including [[Mitcham Junction station|Mitcham Junction]], Streatham and [[Wimbledon railway station|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.

===Franchise operators===
As of the early 1990s [[privatisation of British Rail]], Thameslink was franchised to [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]], a subsidiary of [[Govia]].

By late 1998, more than 28,000 passengers were carried at morning peak times.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

From 1 April 2006, the franchise was taken over by [[First Capital Connect]] along with some services that had been operated by [[West Anglia Great Northern|WAGN]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= FirstGroup wins rail franchises |date= 13 December 2005 |work= BBC News |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4523592.stm |access-date= 13 November 2024}}</ref> The branding of most trains, stations, and signs was changed to match the name of the new company, but [[City Thameslink railway station|City Thameslink]] and [[West Hampstead Thameslink railway station|West Hampstead Thameslink]] were not renamed as ''Thameslink'' referred to the route.{{efn|[[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="DFT20140523">{{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}}</ref>

==Thameslink Programme==
{{main|Thameslink Programme}}
[[File:Stpancrasthameslink.jpg|thumb|St Pancras International Thameslink platforms opened in 2007]]
[[File:Blackfriars station MMB 19.jpg|thumb|[[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] new cross-river platforms]]

The [[Thameslink Programme]] was a major £7 billion infrastructure project designed to address the severe overcrowding that had developed on the original 1988 route. The programme comprised infrastructure works totalling £5.5 billion (2017 prices) and new rolling stock with lease costs of £1.7 billion.<ref name="NAO2017"/>

Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,<ref>{{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}}</ref> funding was secured in July 2007<ref>{{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}}</ref> and construction began in October 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7059432.stm |title=Work begins on Thameslink project |work=BBC News |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>

The infrastructure budget increased by £474 million (9.4%) from the original 2012 budget, primarily due to unforeseen complexities at London Bridge station. London Bridge station's long history of development and bomb damage during World War Two meant that much of the site was inadequately documented, requiring design changes and accelerated works to maintain the project schedule.<ref name="NAO2017"/>

Plans included rebuilding the station buildings at Farringdon (in conjunction with the [[Crossrail]] project) and West Hampstead Thameslink, total rebuild of [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Blackfriars station|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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> with the full timetable introduced in December 2019, one year later than originally planned to manage risks associated with introducing the complex service changes.<ref name="NAO2017"/>

The programme also identified the need for an additional £900 million of maintenance and renewals work to ensure the wider rail network could reliably support the new high-frequency services, though initial funding covered only £300 million of this work.<ref name="NAO2017"/>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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

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

All rolling stock used on Thameslink is [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|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}}

=== Current fleet ===
==== Class 700 ====
[[File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG|thumb|Class 700 at Blackfriars]]
[[File:Thameslink Class 700.jpg|thumb|Interior of the Thameslink Class 700 trains]]
Class 700 trains were delivered between 2015 and 2018, providing an additional 14,500 seats.{{clarify|date=February 2017|reason=Per day? Per week?}}<ref>{{cite news|date=9 April 2008|title=Thameslink gets 14,500 more seats|work=BBC News|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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.}}</ref> [[Siemens Mobility]] was named preferred bidder on 16 June 2011, with the ''[[Desiro City]]'' train family.<ref name="rgi20110616">{{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}}</ref> The contract was signed in June 2013<ref>{{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}}</ref> for 1,140 carriages, with 55 twelve-car and 60 eight-car trains.  The depots are at [[Hornsey EMU depot and former steam locomotive shed|Hornsey]] and [[Three Bridges depot|Three Bridges]].<ref name="rgi20110616" /> 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 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] and [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]] fleets.
{{Table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable defaultcenter col1left col2left col9left"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Family
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Carriages
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
|-
!mph
!km/h
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Siemens Desiro]]
| rowspan="3" |[[British Rail Class 700|700 ''Desiro City'']]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Class 700 approaching Bedford.jpg|frameless|upright=0.7]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
| rowspan="3" |100
| rowspan="3" |161
|60
|8
| rowspan="2" |All Thameslink services
| rowspan="2" |2015{{ndash}}2018
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 55
| style="text-align:center" | 12
|-
| colspan="4" |{{scalable image|Thameslink_Class_700-0.png|5000px|frame=no}}{{scalable image|Thameslink_Class_700-1.png|5000px|frame=no}}
|}

=== Past fleet ===

==== Class 319 ====
[[File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg|thumb|Class 319 at St Albans]]
The first rolling stock used on Thameslink were the 86 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] trains built between 1987 and 1990. These are [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrically powered]] dual-voltage four-car units rated to carry 289, 308 or 319 passengers. Four Class 319 trains had been transferred from [[Southern (train operating company)|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==== Class 377 ====
First Capital Connect acquired 23 four-coach [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]] sets during 2009 on sublease from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], for the Thameslink route for additional capacity and to allow some of the Class 319 trains to be released for the [[Catford Loop Line|Catford Loop]] service to Sevenoaks, now jointly operated with [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] under [[Thameslink Programme#Summary of project phases|Key Output 0]] of the Thameslink Programme.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==== Class 317 ====
[[British Rail Class 317|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.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

==== Class 387 ====
Due to delays in the new [[British Rail Class 700|Class 700]] fleet, the DfT and Southern ordered 116 electric dual-voltage {{cvt|110|mph}} carriages (29 trains) with the option for another 140 carriages (35 trains).<ref name="DfT">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Southern">{{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}}</ref> 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 Route|Great Northern]] brand.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==2014 franchise==
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. In March 2012, the [[Department for Transport]] announced [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Stagecoach Group]] had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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 [[Southern (train operating company)|South Central]] franchise currently operated by Southern and certain routes from the [[Integrated Kent Franchise]] currently operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise<ref name="DFT20140523"/> 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 Route|Great Northern]].

==Thameslink 2==
[[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 railway station|East Croydon]], [[Lewisham railway station|Lewisham]], [[Canary Wharf railway station|Canary Wharf]], and [[Stratford railway station|Stratford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/Thameslink%202|title=Railfuture – Thameslink 2}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Crossrail]] – project to build the east–west [[Elizabeth line]] route through London
*[[West London Line]] – the north west{{ndash}}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]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Thameslink underway|first=Leslie|last=Freitag|page=11|issue=83|date=August 1988|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Thameslink}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Transport in London}}
{{Airport rail links in the United Kingdom}}
{{UK TOCs}}

[[Category:Thameslink| ]]
[[Category:Airport rail links in London]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Barnet]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Brighton and Hove]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of London]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Rail transport in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Islington]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Sutton]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Transport in Luton/Dunstable Urban Area]]
[[Category:Transport in Bedford]]
[[Category: Underground commuter rail]]