Thameslink: Programmed for progress
The Thameslink: Programme will increase train capacity on one of Europe's busiest stretches of railway - the Thameslink route from north to south through central London.
Benefits
By 2018 this investment will benefit tens of thousands of passengers daily by providing:
Improved journeys
Trains will run every 2-3 minutes in each direction through central London at the busiest times. Many of these will be longer creating more space for passengers. By untangling the track on either side of London Bridge station we will significantly reduce trains waiting outside for a platform to clear cutting delays.
Better connections
Many more stations outside of the capital will be connected to the Thameslink route which runs north-south across central London. That creates direct links to Crossrail at Farringdon and the Eurostar at St Pancras International. This will cut journey times and relieve the congested Northern line. At London Bridge there will be better access to local cycling, walking and bus routes.
Better stations
Passengers at Blackfriars, Farringdon and many other stations on the route have already seen major improvements, as their stations have been made more spacious, accessible and modern. London Bridge station will be far bigger and brighter with lifts or escalators to every platform.
London Bridge - Thameslink's final link
We're transforming London Bridge station: creating new platforms for more trains, building a new concourse and creating a bigger, brighter station for passengers.
London Bridge brings around 50 million passengers into the city each year. By 2018 there will be more trains to more destinations including a connection to Crossrail services at Farringdon.
With two-thirds more space for passengers, the new concourse will be the largest in the UK, unifying the station for the first time so that passengers can access all platforms from one place.
Better access from Tooley Street and St Thomas Street will benefit the local community by improving connections to and between surrounding areas. Tube and bus links will be improved and there will be lifts or escalator access to every platform.
This all helps to drive the wider regeneration of the area, building on the improvement work of the London Bridge Quarter, which has already funded a new bus station and station concourse next to the Shard.
Key Dates
2008-2012
The first phase of the Thameslink Programme has delivered significant benefits. New trains and routes have been introduced and the first longer 12 carriage trains are able to use the Thameslink route. Stations at Blackfriars, West Hampstead and Farringdon have been rebuilt and are fully open to the public.
Improvements have been made to the bus station at London Bridge and a new station concourse is open next to the Shard.
December 2012
The London Overground extension opens on Sunday 9th December, benefiting passengers using Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye.
Southern’s South London Line services between Victoria and London Bridge via Denmark Hill are withdrawn with the last services running on Saturday 8th December. This will create space for required construction work.
May 2013
Platforms 14, 15 & 16 at London Bridge close to enable redevelopment work. This means platform changes and the retiming of some Southern train services.
Spring 2014
The first two redeveloped platforms open at London Bridge (14 & 15) with new longer canopies to protect passengers from the rain.
December 2014 to January 2018
Thameslink route services between Bedford and Brighton through central London are diverted away from London Bridge via Herne Hill until 2018. Plans are in place to maintain an off-peak service to the station from Brighton.
2015
Charing Cross services are unable to call at London Bridge due to redevelopment work on platforms 4, 5 & 6.
Sevices to and from Cannon Street will call at London Bridge. Some diversions will take place between Charing Cross and Cannon Street.
Station redevelopment work reaches half way. All terminating platforms (10-15) are complete.
The first new Thameslink trains enter passenger service on the Thameslink route. More will follow on the Great Northern route and on certain other Kent and Sussex routes in the following years.
January 2015 onwards
Greenwich line, New Cross and St. John's station services are diverted to Cannon Street from January 2015 onwards.
August 2016 to early 2018
Platforms 4,5,6,7 & 8 are complete at London Bridge and Charing Cross services are able to resume calling at the station.
Cannon Street services are unable to call at London Bridge due to redevelopment work on platforms 1,2 & 3.
The new street level concourse opens at London Bridge providing direct access to St Thomas' Street.
End 2017
Platforms 1, 2 & 3 are complete at London Bridge. Bringing these into use enables Cannon Street services to resume calling at the station shortly afterwards.
2018
Completion of work to track, signalling and major bridges around London Bridge station. New bigger and brighter station opens.
The East Coast Mainline Great Northern route, from Peterborough, Cambridge and stations in between is connected to the Thameslink route via tunnels at St Pancras International.
Crossrail is complete and starts running east-west across London connecting with the Thameslink route at Farringdon.
New trains: new start
Most if not all trains on the expanded Thameslink route will be new by the end of 2018, with the first state-of-the-art trains entering service from 2015.
They will run on both the Thameslink and Great Northern routes increasing capacity considerably. By the end of 2018, Thameslink trains will flow into and out of central London every 2-3 minutes at the busiest times; a metro-style service of up to 24 trains per hour in each direction across the capital.
Better Performance
These lighter, energy-efficient trains will cause less wear to the track, offering faster acceleration, more efficient braking and greater reliability.
More space and new technology
Many trains will be longer with 8 or 12 carriages. As well as being longer, with wide-open connections between carriages, the trains will be intelligent too.
Advanced technology will deliver faster, real-time updates and travel information – ideal for everyone from commuters to airport and Eurostar passengers. Design features include better provision for those with luggage, improved access for people of restricted mobility and air conditioning that adjusts automatically depending on the number of people in each carriage.
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