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Thameslink Programme

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Thameslink Programme
Building works at Blackfriars station
LocationSouth-East England
StatusUnder construction
Groundbreaking2009
Estimated completion2018
Websitewww.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
Companies
ContractorNetwork Rail
ManagerDepartment for Transport
Technical details
Cost£6.5 billion
Proposed1997

The Thameslink Programme, originally Thameslink 2000, is a £6 billion project in south-east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London without requiring passengers to change trains in London. Work includes platform lengthening, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure, and additional rolling stock. The project was originally proposed in 1991 following the successful introduction of the initial Thameslink service in 1988. After many delays, planning permission was granted in 2006 and funding was approved in October 2007. Work started in 2009 and is expected to be complete in 2018. The Thameslink Programme is being carried out by Network Rail in association with the relevant train operating companies.

Planning

Background

The railway junctions at Blackfriars and Snow Hill in 1914

The original Thameslink rail network was created by joining the electrified network south of the Thames with the then recently electrified line between Bedford and St. Pancras to the north via the Snow Hill tunnel, allowing passengers to travel between stations to the north and south of London, including Bedford, Luton Airport, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, without changing trains or using the London Underground.[1] New dual-voltage rolling stock was required for the service on account of differing electrification standards north and south of London; lines south of the river are electrified using a 750-volt third rail and those to the north by the more modern 25 kV overhead system. Services began in 1988 and the route was fully inaugurated in May 1990.[2]

Passenger traffic between destinations in north and south London served by Thameslink services quadrupled after the first year of operation.[3] The success of this initial project encouraged British Rail to develop proposals to extend the network.

British Rail plans

British Rail proposed to expand and upgrade the original network in the early 1990s, with plans to increase the number of stations served from 50 to 169 and to increase passenger capacity by allowing 12-carriage trains and allowing more trains per hour.[4] In 1993 responsibility for the project, intended to be complete by 2000, was transferred to Railtrack as detailed in the Railways Act of 1993. This privatisation, combined with a recession in the UK economy, caused the first of many delays to the project.

Railtrack plans

Railtrack applied for Transport and Works Act 1992 powers on 21 November 1997,[5] but two months later London and Continental Railways (LCR), a company created to build the High Speed 1 railway between London and the Channel tunnel, announced that it would require a further direct government grant of £1.2 billion (1995 prices) to finance the rail link;[6] and the Thameslink Programme relied on the construction of a 'concrete box' provided by this other project to house the new Thameslink sub-surface station underneath St Pancras station. The Government and LCR did however reach agreement in June 1998[6] allowing the construction of High Speed 1 and also the associated works required for the Thameslink programme to proceed.

During this period Railtrack carried out an extensive public consultation exercise, which resulted in the revision of the original proposals; it then submitted a Supplementary Order on 29 September 1999.[5]

First public inquiry

Given the size of the project, the Deputy Prime Minister decided to call for a public inquiry, which began in June 2000 and closed in May 2001.[7] The Inspector spent several months compiling a report on the proposals submitted by Railtrack and the feedback provided by various parties for and against the project before submitting the report to the Government. On 30 July 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM, now known as the Department for Communities and Local Government) published the Inspector's report, which stated that although there was a strong case for the project, the Inspector did not recommend that the project should be given approval as there were three 'deficiencies' that he was not satisfied with:[8]

Revision of plans

As a result, the Deputy Prime Minister said in January 2003 that the project would not receive approval and that Network Rail (which had replaced Railtrack by this time) must submit improved proposals and a new Environmental Statement.[10] The delay also led to the 'Thameslink 2000 Agreement', the contract that obliged Network Rail/Railtrack to maintain responsibility for funding the project, being terminated in April 2003. Responsibility for project funding was subsequently transferred to the Strategic Rail Authority.[citation needed]

Network Rail revised the original proposal and submitted it along with an updated Environmental Statement dated 14 June 2004.[11] The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport called for a new public inquiry to begin in September 2005.[12] During this period the Strategic Rail Authority was abolished by the Railways Act of 2005, and the Department for Transport (DfT) took over funding responsibility for the project in July 2005.[13]

Second public inquiry

The second public inquiry took place between September and December 2005,[14] and the Inspector completed the report in February 2006,[15] submitted to the DfT for consideration. In October 2006 the DfT published the second report, declaring that the Inspector was satisfied that the deficiencies of the previous proposals had been resolved, and recommending that the project be approved.[16]

Transport for London's plans

In 2004 TfL had wanted to bring the Thameslink network into the London Underground network or have the route branded as a London Overground route.[citation needed] This would have meant the network being re-branded. The drawback to this idea was that the planned routes to Cambridge, King's Lynn, Ashford (Kent), Littlehampton and Eastbourne would have been abandoned and the improvements would have only benefited London and commuter belt towns within 15 to 20 miles of the city.

Project approval

In conjunction with the second report, the Secretaries of State for Transport and 'Communities & Local Government' consequently granted Network Rail the planning permission and legal powers required to execute the project, and the Order (officially described as The Network Rail (Thameslink 2000) Order 2006) came into force on 13 December 2006;[17] furthermore, on 19 December 2006,[18] the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced that the DfT would grant Network Rail £30 million to 'enable a more informed decision to be made regarding the case for funding the implementation of the project in summer 2007'.[19]

On 24 July 2007, the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, formally announced that the Government was fully committed to funding the Thameslink Programme.[20] Since the planning permission and legal powers associated with the project had already been granted, the project was now clear to proceed.[21]

With the downturn in the economy there was some doubt that phase 2 of the project would be completed in its entirety, but on 25 November 2010 the Secretary of State for Transport (Philip Hammond) confirmed that no cutbacks would be made. However, project completion would be delayed until 2018 as the schedule was already difficult to achieve and because cost savings could be made if the level of concurrent activity was reduced.[22]

Construction

Construction is divided into three stages, each with 'Key outputs'. Key Output 0 was to make service changes to allow other work to proceed. Key Output 1 is for work that had to be completed before the 2012 Olympics. Work for Key Output 2 started after the London Olympics,[23] with a planned completion date of summer 2018.[24]

Key Output 0 (completed March 2009)

The first stage, completed on 22 March 2009, was to introduce service changes to allow the major work to take place. The terminal platforms at Blackfriars were closed, as was the Farringdon to Moorgate branch line.[25] A 15 trains per hour (tph) peak-hour service was introduced on the core section between St. Pancras and Blackfriars.[26] A new footbridge was built at Farringdon to improve interchange with London Underground's Circle line. A temporary entrance (now removed) was created at Blackfriars station.[27]

This involved signalling works and alterations to the tracks and overhead line equipment between Farringdon and City Thameslink to allow the merged services to operate. Trains from the south that previously terminated at Blackfriars now terminated at Kentish Town or further north, and 23 dual-voltage Class 377/5 Electrostars were procured to meet the additional rolling stock requirements.[28]

Key Output 1 (completed 2012)

All aspects of Key Output stage 1 were completed by mid-2012, in time for the London Olympics. A major objective of this phase was to enable 12-carriage trains to run on the Bedford-Brighton route. Work affecting this was completed in time for the December 2011 timetable change,[29] when 10,000 extra peak-period seats were provided.[30][31] By then, 23 stations between Bedford and Brighton had been extended to accommodate the longer trains; in addition, Farringdon and Blackfriars stations had been rebuilt to take 12-car trains and allow for increased passenger flows. Works at Farringdon also allowed for the east-west Crossrail route (due to open in 2018), while Blackfriars gained a new entrance on the south bank of the Thames.[32] Platforms at Hendon, Cricklewood, and Kentish Town stations were not, and will not be, extended. Those from Elephant & Castle southwards on the Thameslink suburban (Wimbledon/Sutton) loop, and on the Catford loop line towards Sevenoaks, will likewise remain 8-car stations.

A new viaduct was built over Borough Market and Borough High Street to provide trains to Blackfriars and to Charing Cross with their own dedicated routes, and hence allow increased capacity through central London.[30] Though completed in 2012, this only came into use (as scheduled) in January 2016.

The fly-down at Tanners Hill near Lewisham was widened and made double-track.[33]

Key Output 2 (2013-2018)

Canal Tunnels entrance

Until summer 2018 there will be major track, signalling and station remodelling works at London Bridge station as part of the Masterplan project (some works within the station building started during Key Output 1).[31] A grade-separated junction is being created at Bermondsey. New permanent way (track level, in this case including both plain rail and junctions) and overhead line equipment will be laid out in the new Canal Tunnels just north of St Pancras between the Thameslink route and the East Coast Main Line,[34] thereby opening up the Thameslink network to new destinations north of London. An overhead conductor rail replaced the traditional Mk3b solid wire between the former King's Cross Thameslink station to St Pancras International station.

Once the project is completed,[30] the Thameslink network will be able to handle a nominal peak-period frequency of 24 trains per hour (equivalent to 1 train every 2 minutes and 30 seconds) through the central core between St Pancras and Blackfriars from 2018,[18][30] providing an extra 14,500 peak-period seats compared to the level of service in 2008.[35]

As part of the project, a purpose-built fleet of 55 12-car and 60 8-car Class 700 trains (equivalent to 1,140 carriages) will operate across the network (see the "Rolling stock" section below). The procurement process started in April 2008[35] and the first train entered service in June 2016. To meet the power requirements of this new fleet, electricity-supply enhancement works are being carried out during most of the entire project, creating 11 new feeder stations/sub-stations, upgrading a further 21 and converting 9 from track sectioning/paralleling equipment; in addition, new track sectioning/paralleling equipment is being installed in 9 locations and upgraded in a further 4.[36]

Major station works

Blackfriars station

Newly renovated Blackfriars station from the Thames

Blackfriars station has been rebuilt to accommodate 12-car trains and to make many other improvements to both the main line and underground stations. The mainline station remained open during most of this work. The Underground station was closed for almost three years; it reopened on 20 February 2012.[37]

The through platforms have been extended along Blackfriars Railway Bridge over the River Thames, and the platform layout altered to avoid the need for trains between City Thameslink and London Bridge to cross the lines giving access to the terminus platforms.[38] The new station houses a new shared National Rail/LUL ticket hall and LUL ventilation shaft together with new escalators and lifts between a mezzanine level for National Rail services and the sub-surface level for London Underground services.[39] A new station entrance has been created on Bankside, with a second ticket hall.[40] It opened on 5 December 2011.[41]

City Thameslink station has been upgraded to enable 12-car trains to call. The platforms themselves were already long enough, but it was necessary to add extra train despatch equipment (CD/RA indicators) and replace and enhance the CIS (Customer Information Screens) so that information is displayed in a standard format across the central section. New lighting and an additional ticket gate have also been installed. The work was completed in October 2010.[42] Also, as part of Key Output 0, 25 kV AC overhead lines were installed. Northbound trains change from third rail to overhead power here - any trains which cannot do so due to a fault can terminate here and use the adjacent sidings at Smithfield; southbound trains change to third rail power at nearby Farringdon Station but can run into the southbound platform at City Thameslink on AC power if an on-train fault results in the DC collector equipment being faulty - trains can then return north from the southbound platform at City Thameslink back towards Farringdon.

Farringdon station

The new National Rail entrance at Farringdon, built as part of the Thameslink programme

Works began in 2009 to remodel Farringdon station to accommodate longer Thameslink trains and make other improvements. Platforms were lengthened and a new roof canopy covering the north end of all four platforms was provided, together with a permanent new entrance and concourse facing Turnmill Street. Platforms were widened to accommodate increased patronage.[43]

It was necessary to build the Thameslink platform extensions to the south, since there is a sharp gradient to the immediate north of the station. This resulted in the two-station branch to Moorgate being permanently closed.[44]

St Pancras International station

The new St Pancras International Thameslink station platforms

Two new low-level platforms at St Pancras International which accept 12-carriage trains replaced the old Kings Cross Thameslink station[45] and opened on 9 December 2007.[46] It allows for better interchange with other forms of transport; it has seven escalators, and also two lifts to allow people with impaired mobility to use the station; and it is covered by CCTV.[45] 'Fit-out' works began in summer 2006 (following the decision by the DfT to provide a further £60-65 million for the High Speed 1 project).[45]

King's Cross Thameslink closed in 2007, and trains now call instead at St Pancras International using the new low-level platforms at the north end of that station. The Pentonville Road entrance of the old King's Cross Thameslink station remains open to provide pedestrian access to King's Cross St. Pancras tube station between 07:00 and 20:00 Mondays to Fridays.

London Bridge station

The new concourse (for terminating trains) at London Bridge station, opened in 2012.

London Bridge station is undergoing a major transformation to accommodate Thameslink trains during the peak period and achieve many other benefits. Three terminus platforms and a through track will be closed and three new through platforms created, to allow all services going to Cannon Street and Charing Cross to stop at London Bridge, as well as additional services to Thameslink stations north of the Thames. A new station concourse is being built to improve circulation, and the adjacent bus station expanded.[47] New retail facilities will be built into the existing western arcade, which will be re-opened and extended to link the Underground station and Joiner Street.[48]

As shown in the timetable from 13 December 2008, capacity constraints meant that through London Bridge there were no northbound Thameslink trains in the morning peak between 07:24 and 09:09,[49] and no southbound Thameslink trains in the evening peak between 16:43 and 18:27.[50] During these times, Brighton line Thameslink trains ran via Herne Hill instead. The present work is designed in part to remedy this situation. It will improve the flow not only of Thameslink services but also of all Southeastern commuter services from Kent into Charing Cross and Cannon Street.[29]

Work started in 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2018.[51] From 5 January 2015 until January 2018, all Thameslink through trains are diverted via Herne Hill and will not call at London Bridge for a period of three years.[52] Thameslink service remains in operation from London Bridge to Brighton via Gatwick Airport with 2 trains per hour.

Other stations

Work has been carried out at a number of stations north of the Thames to extend the platforms to accommodate 12-car trains. These vary from quite major works such as at Luton, where new bridges had to be installed, and West Hampstead, where a new station footbridge has been built, to relatively straightforward platform extensions.[53]

Other major works

Borough Market Viaduct

First span of the new Borough Market viaduct at Stoney Street

Between London Bridge and the vicinity of Stoney Street, an extra pair of tracks is being built on a new viaduct to the south of the existing one.[54] Widening of the existing viaduct west of Stoney Street will be to the north to avoid affecting the Hop Exchange building to the south.

The new, southern pair of tracks will be used by trains to and from Charing Cross. Thameslink trains will have a dedicated route to Blackfriars on the northern pair of tracks, which is key to providing the nominal peak-hour frequency of 24tph on the core route.[38]

This work required the demolition of 20 grade 2 listed buildings and many other buildings within Borough Market, which is a Borough High Street Conservation Area,[55] and the original Thameslink programme was rejected at public inquiry partly on the grounds that suitable arrangements were not included to replace the buildings to be demolished within the market.[8] A revised proposal involving remedial work to the market was accepted at a second public inquiry. By January 2009 businesses in the path of the new viaduct were closing down or relocating in preparation for demolition work,[56] and the first section of the new viaduct was installed over the weekend of 10 October 2010.[57] These works had been brought forward to fit in with other, non-railway, developments in the Borough High Street area; the viaduct only came into use in January 2016 as part of the Key Output 2 stageworks when the Charing Cross services started passing through new platforms on the south side of London Bridge High Level Station.

Bermondsey dive-under

The overgrown spur line to the Bricklayers' Arms branch

With the completion of Borough Market Viaduct to the west of London Bridge, Thameslink trains will use the pair of tracks to the north, and Charing Cross trains will use the new pair of tracks to the south. At present, northbound Thameslink trains arrive into London Bridge to the south of the Kent lines. Construction work will be undertaken to the east of London Bridge so that Thameslink trains from the Brighton Main Line can use a grade-separated crossover to avoid impeding trains from Kent bound for Charing Cross.[58][59]

Services to Charing Cross on the Kent lines will be diverted slightly south in the vicinity of Trundleys Road onto the route of the former branch line to Bricklayers' Arms. They will then slope up alongside the Brighton Main Line just north of South Bermondsey station. Thameslink trains in both directions will cross over the Kent lines on a new bridge, meeting the existing alignment just north of Jarrow Road.

Work commenced during 2013, with bridge-strengthening works near London Bridge station completed in June 2013,[60] and the overall programme of work is expected to be completed in spring 2017.[58][61]

Farringdon to Moorgate

The Farringdon to Moorgate branch was permanently closed in March 2009 at the start of the project - the platform extensions at Farringdon blocked access to the tracks leading to this branch. Passengers for Barbican or Moorgate now have to change at Farringdon and use the Underground.

Tanners Hill fly-down

To improve capacity on the line between London Bridge and Lewisham, a new stretch of single track has been built alongside the original bi-directional single track between Tanners Hill Junction (near St John's Station) and Lewisham Vale Junction. Before the new track was laid, St John's Vale Road Bridge was partially demolished and reconstructed with a concrete pier, as well as a new south span over the new track; the existing embankment along the fly-down was also widened.[62] This work was completed in April 2013, and the new track is being used for some services to/from Charing Cross via Lewisham.

Other infrastructure works

The OLE (Overhead Line Equipment) system has been extended from Farringdon to City Thameslink and was commissioned in December 2009,[63] Combined with a new crossover in Snow Hill tunnel between the two stations, this allows southbound trains to be turned back should they fail to change from London Midland Region AC traction current to Southern Region third rail.[64] The crossover currently located within City Thameslink station for the purpose of allowing trains from Smithfield sidings to enter platform 2 will be removed once Blackfriars station is rebuilt.[65] This also allows trains to change from DC to AC power northbound at City Thameslink - and for access into Smithfield Sidings for northbound trains should AC power be unavailable for any reason.

Between City Thameslink and Blackfriars, a large electrical substation has been built at Ludgate Chambers. This 20MW substation is the largest on the 750 V DC third-rail network.[27]

Provisional timetable

In 2011 a provisional timetable was released for Thameslink services in the London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy. It confirmed that Sutton loop services were to be curtailed at Blackfriars,[66][67] but this decision was subsequently reversed by government. A new proposed timetable was released with the announcement of the Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise winner in May 2014.[68] However, in September 2016, the planned timetable was altered again:[69]

Mainline
No. North of London South of London Length Times
1 Bedford semi-fast Brighton fast 12-car All day
2
3 Bedford semi-fast Gatwick Airport semi-fast
via Redhill
12-car All day
4
5 Peterborough semi-fast Horsham semi-fast
via Redhill
12-car All day
6
7 Cambridge North semi-fast Brighton fast 12-car All day[a]
8
9 Cambridge stopping Maidstone East[b] semi-fast Unknown All day[c]
10
11 Bedford fast East Grinstead stopping 12-car Peak only
12
13 Bedford fast Littlehampton (via Hove) fast 12-car Peak only
14
Metro
No. North of London South of London Length Times
15 Luton all stations[d] Rainham (via Greenwich) all stations[e] 12-car All day
16
17 St Albans City all stations Sutton (via Hackbridge) all stations 8-car All day
18
19 St Albans City all stations Sutton (via Wimbledon) all stations 8-car All day
20
21 Luton (peak only)
Kentish Town (off-peak)
all stations Orpington (via Catford) all stations 8-car All day[c]
22
23 Welwyn Garden City all stations Sevenoaks (via Catford and Otford) all stations 8-car Peak only[f]
24

Rolling stock

Mockup of the new rolling stock at ExCeL London

In 2009, the Thameslink fleet consisted of 74 dual-voltage Class 319s. While the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project (TRSP) will provide a brand-new fleet, the timescales involved were such that interim solutions were required. On 4 April 2007, the DfT authorised the transfer of 12 Class 319s to Thameslink from Southern, which was not using their dual-voltage capability, so that First Capital Connect now have all 86 Class 319 units. Once project funding was guaranteed, 23 Class 377/5s were sub-leased from Southern to meet the capacity requirements of Key Output 0.

It was announced by First Capital Connect on 4 November 2011 that four services running in each direction on the Thameslink network from 12 December 2011 would be 12-car trains. Class 377/2 trains have been hired from Southern to enable the longer trains to operate until enough new rolling stock becomes available.[70]

The Thameslink Rolling Stock Project (itself a part of the Thameslink Programme) began in 2008 with the aim of procuring a brand-new fleet of electric trains.[71] A consortium led by Siemens was named preferred bidder for the train contract on 16 June 2011.[72] Maintenance depots for the new trains are to be built at Hornsey and Three Bridges.[72] The new trains are designated Class 700 and the first one came into service in June 2016. The new fleet of trains will enable the transfer of Class 319 trains to Northern Rail amongst other operators, allowing it to replace its DMUs in line with the electrification programme in the North of England.

Political developments

Network Rail had planned to terminate Sutton Loop Thameslink trains at Blackfriars station, rather than have them continue through central London as at present. This upset many residents in South London and their local politicians, who saw it as a reduction in services rather than an improvement.[73] In response to pressure, government has ordered Network Rail to reverse the decision.

Notes

  1. ^ Hourly on Sundays.
  2. ^ Some limited and irregular peak-time extensions to Ashford International.
  3. ^ a b No service on Sundays.
  4. ^ Except for Kentish Town, Cricklewood and Hendon.
  5. ^ Except for Woolwich Dockyard, Belvedere and Erith.
  6. ^ Service will run all day between Blackfriars and Sevenoaks only; it will not run through the core section outside of peak times.

References

  1. ^ "Network and Stations". First Capital Connect. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  2. ^ Catford, Nick (10 February 2006). "Station Name: Snow Hill/Holborn Viaduct Low Level". Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  3. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - p.29, paragraph 4.
  4. ^ "Thameslink 2000". RailStaff. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  5. ^ a b "Transport and Works Act 1992 Orders". House of Commons. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
  6. ^ a b "The Channel Tunnel Rail Link" (PDF). National Audit Office. 28 March 2001. paragraph 2, p.6. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
  7. ^ "The £3.5bn Thameslink Project Clears Major Hurdle" (Press release). Network Rail. 18 October 2006. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2006. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b "Recommendations" (PDF). Department for Communities and Local Government. 30 July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
  9. ^ "Route to reality", New Civil Engineer, 10 November 2005.
  10. ^ "Serious setback for cross-London rail route". BBC News. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  11. ^ Network Rail (2004b) - p. 3.
  12. ^ "Network Rail Welcomes Confirmation of Date for a New Public Inquiry About the Thameslink Programme" (Press release). Network Rail. 22 March 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  13. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - footnote 1 on page 4
  14. ^ "Thameslink Inquiry Closes" (Press release). Network Rail. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  15. ^ DfT (2006) - p.1.
  16. ^ DfT (2006) - paragraph 19.13.
  17. ^ "The Network Rail (Thameslink 2000) Order 2006". Office of Public Sector Information. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  18. ^ a b "Thameslink Programme". Network Rail. 18 October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  19. ^ "Publications and Records". UK Parliament. 19 December 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  20. ^ Coward, Andy (15 August 2007). "Cross-river rail to boost Capital". Rail. No. 572. Peterborough. pp. 40–43.
  21. ^ "Rail Investment" (Press release). Department for Transport. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Meet the Directors". First Capital Connect. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  23. ^ "London Bridge redevelopment". Network Rail. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Thameslink Key Output Zero - Blackfriars Terminus Platforms Closure". Southern Electric Group.
  25. ^ Thameslink Programme (2008). "FAQs". Archived from the original on 9 November 2008.
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  27. ^ a b Abbott, James (December 2010). "Overground champion bows out". Modern Railways. London. p. 48.
  28. ^ a b c d "Thameslink aims for Olympic gold". Modern Railways. London. February 2007. pp. 41–47.
  29. ^ a b "Halfway-house Thameslink for Olympics?". Modern Railways. London. April 2006. p. 6.
  30. ^ "Cross-city expansion gets underway". Railway Gazette International. London. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  31. ^ "Kent RUS strategy page 68 paragraph 4.4.2" (PDF). Network Rail. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  32. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - p. 61, paragraph 2.14.4.
  33. ^ Network Rail (14 June 2004). "Thameslink 2000 Environmental Statement: Main report (Outer Area)" (PDF). paragraph 2.1.3, p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
  34. ^ "Blackfriars Tube station reopens after three years". BBC News. 20 February 2012.
  35. ^ a b "Thameslink Programme (Thameslink 2000)". alwaystouchout.com. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  36. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.34, paragraph 2.7.6.
  37. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.35, paragraph 2.7.9.
  38. ^ "A better Blackfriars!". First Capital Connect. 5 December 2011.
  39. ^ "£4.5m upgrade of City Thameslink complete" (Press release). First Capital Connect. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.27, paragraph 2.6.5
  41. ^ Network Rail (2005a) - pg.9, paragraph 2.1.1
  42. ^ "St Pancras International". First Capital Connect. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  43. ^ Network Rail (2005b) - p. 18, paragraph 2.25.
  44. ^ Network Rail (2005b) - p. 18, paragraph 2.26.
  45. ^ "Table 2 – Brighton (BTN) to London (STP) and Bedford (BDM)" (PDF). First Capital Connect.
  46. ^ "Table 2 – Bedford (BDM) and London (STP) to Brighton (BTN)" (PDF).
  47. ^ "Two-year Thameslink delay will 'prolong disruptions'". BBC News. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  48. ^ "Customer advice". Thameslink Programme. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  49. ^ "London to Bedford – better stations, longer platforms". First Capital Connect. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  50. ^ "New Borough Market Viaduct takes shape". Modern Railways. London. December 2010. p. 11.
  51. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs". Save the Borough Market campaign. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  52. ^ "Last orders at The Wheatsheaf as Thameslink work gets under way". London SE1. Bankside Press. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  53. ^ "Thameslink rail bridge installed above Wheatsheaf at Borough Market". London SE1. Bankside Press. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  54. ^ a b http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/next-step-for-london-bridge-rail-improvements-as-bermondsey-diveunder-contract-awarded
  55. ^ http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/network%20code/network%20change/current%20proposals/thameslink/cppn%20for%20london%20bridge/complex%20projects%20procedure%20notice%20-%20london%20bridge.pdf
  56. ^ "Thameslink: Strengthening works carried out for Bermondsey dive-under". Global Rail News.
  57. ^ "Thameslink Programme: More reliable journeys".
  58. ^ Network Rail (2004a) - pg.53, paragraph 2.11.3
  59. ^ Modern Railways. London. March 2010. p. 16. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  60. ^ DfT (2006) - see paragraph 2.2.16
  61. ^ "Proposed G1 Network Change: Works to maintain access to Smithfield sidings for Direct Current (DC) only operated trains until March 2012" (PDF). Network Rail. 10 July 2009.
  62. ^ Thameslink provisional 24tph timetable set out, Transport Briefing (pay wall)
  63. ^ London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy page 72
  64. ^ Proposed Thameslink service pattern
  65. ^ Timetable consultation : Thameslink and Great Northern
  66. ^ Clinnick, Richard (16 November 2011). "First 12-car Thameslink trains to start in December". Rail. No. 683. Peterborough. p. 24.
  67. ^ "Thameslink shortlist announced". Railway Gazette International. London. 10 July 2008.
  68. ^ a b "Siemens beats Bombardier to Thameslink train order". Railway Gazette International. London. 16 June 2011.
  69. ^ "Please help stop Thameslink trains from terminating at Blackfriars". Retrieved 4 February 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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