No cross-London trains most weekends and overnight

Vital engineering work on the congestion-busting Thameslink Programme has closed the Bedford to Brighton, Wimbledon and Sutton Thameslink route across central London between St Pancras International and London Bridge/Herne Hill every night and most weekends since December 2008.

These arrangements will stay in place into 2012 with the following amendments to services north of London:

All-station services between Luton and London now no longer operate between Kentish Town and St Pancras International at the following times:

• Between approximately 7am to 7.30pm on Saturdays

All other services on the Bedford route at these times will start from/terminate at the upper level platforms 1-4 at St Pancras International as will all services overnight in the week, from approximately 10.30pm to 4.30am.

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

You can still get into London easily on First Capital Connect and Southeastern trains (Southeastern services to Blackfriars divert to Victoria after 9.30pm in the week and all day at weekends) but to get across the city you’ll need to use the Tube. See alternative travel arrangements.

Plan ahead for specific dates for any planned weekend closures affecting First Capital Connect services at www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/changes.

Also check planned works on the Tube network - the Northern line is closed over six weekends in August, September and October 2011.