Alternative travel arrangements

What are my alternative transport options when the central section of the Thameslink route (St Pancras International to London Bridge / Herne Hill) is shut, most weekends and late evenings?

Download this Crossing London leaflet, updated in August 2011 (3.1MB).

First Capital Connect tickets will be accepted on Tube services to complete your cross-London journey (see 'Tube' below for the stations you can use). Allow 40 minutes.

At weekends tickets will also be accepted on the following London Bus services:

- Route 17: St Pancras Intl - London Bridge (please note: it is a 5-10 minute walk between Pancras Intl and the 17 bus stop; see maps on bus stops at St Pancras Intl for details of where route 17 stops)
- Routes 63, N63: St Pancras Intl - Blackfriars - Elephant & Castle

- Route 45: St Pancras Intl - Blackfriars - Elephant & Castle - Loughborough Junction
- Route 68: Elephant & Castle - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill
But first please check if the route is open - there are some weekends when it does not close. You should also check www.tfl.gov.uk for information on any changes to the Tube.

Tube

First Capital Connect will always get you into London - into either London Bridge/Herne Hill to the south or (almost always) St Pancras to the north - from where you can catch the Tube.

You can normally only use your train ticket to gain access to and from the Tube at the following stations: West Hampstead, Kentish Town, King's Cross St Pancras, Farringdon, London Bridge and Elephant & Castle, Mansion House and Temple.

However, if your ticket is marked with a '†' symbol below the heading 'Route' these restrictions do not apply and you can use other Tube routes across London.
We suggest you change at St Pancras International or London Bridge for the Northern line. (Please note the Tube station for St Pancras International is King's Cross St Pancras.) An alternative to the Northern line is the Jubilee line which interchanges with First Capital Connect trains at West Hampstead Thameslink and London Bridge.

When cross London services are not operating, Sutton/Wimbledon services will be diverted to London Bridge, which will allow easy access to Tube services.

We encourage you to plan your new route.

Rail replacement buses

Weekday nights, 2230-0430, and at weekends when the Tube's not running, First Capital Connect will provide a low-level easy-access rail replacement bus service between London Bridge and St Pancras International.

But first please check if the route is open - there are some weekends when it does not close. You should also check www.tfl.gov.uk for information on any changes to the Tube.

What are my alternative transport options when the central section of the Thameslink route is closed not just from London Bridge/Herne Hill to St Pancras International but further beyond, to Kentish Town, from 7.30am to 7.30pm on Saturdays?

Download this Crossing London leaflet, updated in August 2011 (3.1MB).

This affects anyone travelling to/from Kentish Town, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood and Radlett.

You should follow the advice above but, from 7am-7.30pm on Saturdays, take the Northern line from Kentish Town.
Anyone travelling to/from West Hampstead Thameslink and all stations from St Albans to Bedford, should follow the advice above but please note trains will be running from the high-level platforms at St Pancras International - numbers 1-4 from 7am-7.30pm on Saturdays.

What should I do when the Northern line is suspended through Elephant & Castle, London Bridge and St Pancras International?

Download this Crossing London leaflet, updated in August 2011 (3.1MB).

The Northern line through Elephant & Castle, London Bridge and St Pancras International is suspended for upgrade work on one remaining weekend before our overnight and weekend closures finish in May (as published by Transport for London on 17 October 2011; please check at tfl.gov.uk):

• 18 & 19 February

We recommend you follow this advice:
London Bridge to/from St Pancras International (for connections to/from St Albans, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Leagrave, Harlington, Flitwick and Bedford) take the Jubilee and Victoria lines (change at Green Park).
London Bridge to/from West Hampstead (for Saturday 7am-7.30pm connections to Kentish Town, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood and Radlett) take the Jubilee line.
Elephant & Castle to/from St Pancras International, take the Bakerloo and Victoria lines (change at Oxford Circus).
Elephant & Castle to/from West Hampstead (for Saturday 7am-7.30pm connections to Kentish Town, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood and Radlett), take the Bakerloo and Jubilee lines (change at Waterloo).

What are my alternative transport options until Blackfriars Tube station reopens on 26 February 2012?

Mansion House and Temple are the closest Underground stations to Blackfriars and just a short walk away. Both stations are served by the District and Circle lines.

You might be better off getting out and walking from neighbouring City Thameslink station instead, which is only a couple of hundred yards away, doesn't cost any more to reach and is enclosed, warmer and spacious.

View walking route from City Thameslink to Mansion House (0.5 miles, takes approx 10 mins at a medium pace)

View walking route from City Thameslink to Temple (0.6 miles, takes approx 12 mins at a medium pace)

View walking route from Blackfriars to Mansion House (0.4 miles, takes approx 9 mins at a medium pace)

View walking route from Blackfriars to Temple (0.5 miles, takes approx 11 mins at a medium pace)

If you are using a Travelcard, your ticket is already valid on London Buses. The 388 runs between Mansion House, Blackfriars and Temple about every 10-12 minutes. View bus route map[PDF].

(NB The bus stop outside Blackfriars station is now CLOSED until further notice. All westbound buses 388 and N550, including rail replacement buses that run when the Thameslink route is closed overnight, will depart approximately 200 metres away, from a temporary bus stop; walk out of Blackfriars station and turn right to find it.

Alternatively you can access most parts of London by changing elsewhere.)

You can connect onto Northern and Jubilee line LUL services at London Bridge station.

You can connect onto Northern and Bakerloo line LUL services from First Capital Connect trains at Elephant & Castle station.

You can connect onto the Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Piccadilly lines at St Pancras International.

You can connect with the Northern line at Kentish Town station. You can also connect onto the Jubilee line at West Hampstead station.

Farringdon also connects onto the Circle line, but is likely to be increasingly congested due to station construction works.

Southeastern customers can connect with the Tube at Victoria (from Bromley South) or Cannon Street, Charing Cross or London Bridge (direct services from Grove Park via Bromley North and Catford Bridge, which is a short walk from Catford).
Orpington and Petts Wood passengers change at London Bridge for Cannon Street and Charing Cross.

Please note that these alternatives may also be affected by engineering works especially at weekends. Please check before you travel: www.tfl.gov.uk

Dependant on where you are going to, you could also choose to walk to your final destination.
You can also cycle onwards from Blackfriars (please check the cycle policy before you travel with your bike).

We encourage you to plan your route.

What are my alternative transport options now that First Capital Connect Thameslink route services no longer serve Moorgate station?

You can connect onto the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines at Farringdon, though the station is likely to be congested and this could delay your journey. We advise you to use alternative routes if you can.
The Northern line also operates between Moorgate and King's Cross St Pancras (for St Pancras International) and Kentish Town on the Thameslink route.

If you are using a Travelcard, your ticket is already valid on London Buses.

The quickest route to Moorgate by bus is on routes 76 or 100 from City Thameslink east of the Ludgate Hill entrance (stop G). View bus route. The 76 departs Moorgate at London Wall (stop N). View bus route.

Bus routes 205 and 214 run between St Pancras International and Moorgate.

Bus route 205 departs St Pancras International from Euston Road outside King's Cross Mainline station (stop E, view bus route) and departs Moorgate from outside the station (stop B). View bus route.

Bus route 214 departs St Pancras International from Midland Road outside St Pancras First Capital Connect station (stop S, view bus route) and departs Moorgate from outside the station (stop B). View bus route.

Many bus routes connect Moorgate with other parts of London. View bus route map [PDF]
Dependant on where you are going to, you could also choose to walk to your final destination.
The walking distance from Farringdon to Moorgate Station is 0.9 miles and takes approximately 18 minutes at a medium pace. View route.

However, Farringdon will be very busy and it may take some time to exit platforms, delaying your journey. The walking route from City Thameslink to Moorgate Station is 1 mile and takes approximately 19 minutes at a medium pace. View route.

You can also cycle onwards from Farringdon or St Pancras - please check the First Capital Connect cycle policy before you travel with your bike.

We encourage you to plan your route.

What are my best routes to Canary Wharf now that the branch line to Moorgate is closed?
Some people walk from Moorgate to Bank to catch the DLR to Canary Wharf. These are the alternatives:
- Take a service to West Hampstead and take the Jubilee line
- Change at St Pancras International for the Northern line to Bank
- Exit at City Thameslink and walk up Ludgate Hill, past St Paul's to Bank tube station (0.7 miles, 15 mins at a medium pace). View route.

What are my alternative transport options to avoid Farringdon?

Farringdon station is very congested in the rush hour. If you work in the vicinity you may want to walk to/from the Holborn Viaduct exit of city Thameslink. It takes approximately 7 minutes. View route.

If you are using a Travelcard, your ticket is already valid on London Buses. Bus route 63 departs St Pancras International from Midland Road outside St Pancras First Capital Connect station (stop S). View bus route map. It returns from outside Farringdon station (stop A). View bus route map.

What are my alternative transport options now that First Capital Connect Thameslink route services no longer serve Barbican station?

You could connect onto the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines at Farringdon, but the station can be heavily congested with others doing the same and we advise you to use alternative routes if you can.

Instead, catch the Tube from St Pancras International (Tube station King's Cross St Pancras).

If you are using a Travelcard, your ticket is already valid on London Buses. View bus route map [PDF]
Dependant on where you are going to, you could also choose to walk to your final destination.

Walking from City Thameslink (Holborn Viaduct exit) to Barbican takes approximately 9 minutes. View route.
Walking from Farringdon to Barbican station takes approximately 8 minutes. View route.
You can also cycle (fully-folded bikes are allowed on rush-hour services) - please check the First Capital Connect cycle policy before you travel with your bike.

We would encourage you to plan your route.