Alternative travel arrangements
The information below gives general advice. You should also check www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/changes for information on specific dates as there can be additional Tube or rail closures.
Pick up one of our fold-out Z-card maps of the area with alternative ways to reach your destination at any FCC station, or download it here.
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?
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
- Routes 45, 63, N63: St Pancras Intl - Blackfriars - Elephant & Castle
- Route 214: St Pancras Intl - Kentish Town
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 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.
PLEASE NOTE: The platforms at King's Cross are closed on certain weekend dates and the Jubilee line is often suspended. Read about this here.
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. Throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays there will also be rail replacement buses running in both directions between Tulse Hill or Herne Hill and Blackfriars, calling at Loughborough Junction and Elephant & Castle.
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?
This is happening on a few weekend days only - click here to see when.
This also only affects anyone travelling to/from Kentish Town, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood and Radlett. You should follow the advice above but take the Northern line from Kentish Town or alternative bus.
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.
What are my alternative transport options now Blackfriars Tube station is closed until late 2011?
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]
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 and 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.
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 First Capital Connect cycle policy before you travel with your bike).
We encourage you to plan your new route prior to the timetable changes in March 2009.
What are my alternative transport options once First Capital Connect Thameslink route services cease serving Moorgate station in March 2009?
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. However, please bear in mind that in the rush hour bus journeys can take a long time.
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.
Buses on routes 76 and 100 depart 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.
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 new route prior to the timetable changes on 22 March 2009.
What are my best routes to Canary Wharf once the branch line to Moorgate closes on 22 March?
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 after 22 March 2009?
Farringdon station will be very congested in the rush hour once its Thameslink route branch line closes on 22 March 2009. If you work in the vicinity we recommend you walk from City Thameslink, Holborn Viaduct exit. 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 once First Capital Connect Thameslink route services cease serving Barbican station in March 2009?
You could connect onto the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines at Farringdon, but the station is likely to be heavily congested after 22 March 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 new route prior to the timetable changes in March 2009.
