Coast is clear on Thameslink from 19 May 2012

Thameslink link restored across central London

Blackfriars station reopens at weekends

The coast is clear from 19 May 2012 when we begin running Thameslink rail services through the heart of London again all day and every day, offering uninterrupted journeys between Bedford and Brighton!

Since December 2008, the Thameslink route has been closed between St Pancras International (and sometimes Kentish Town) and London Bridge/Herne Hill every night and virtually every weekend.

That has allowed Network Rail to upgrade the signalling system ready for the fast, metro-style service of up to 24 trains per hour in each direction from 2018 and also to redevelop Farringdon and Blackfriars stations for longer 12-carriage trains.

Passengers have been forced to take the Tube across London but from 19 May 2012 the route will reopen throughout the week and at weekends.

This is great news for anyone heading across London for a daytrip to the coast maybe or to catch a flight at Gatwick or Luton, both of which are on the Thameslink route.

Longer weekend trains

Furthermore, First Capital Connect will be running longer weekend trains from 19 May 2012: eight carriage trains nearly all day between Bedford and Brighton on Saturdays and Sundays.

Later trains back to Brighton from the Big Smoke

As a result of the timetable changes we are also able to extend the 23.42 and 00.12 Saturday night London Bridge - Three Bridges trains to Brighton via Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Hassocks, giving partygoers extra time in London.

Better on the loop

There will also be a better weekend service for people on the Wimbledon/Sutton loop. On Saturdays from 26 May, extra evening trains will run on the Wimbledon loop to and from St Albans. Also, for the first time, from 27 May, there will be a new Sunday service between Sutton and Blackfriars via Mitcham Junction, twice an hour.

More capacity at East Croydon

Sundays are also good news for East Croydon. First Capital Connect currently runs two trains an hour just one station stop north to and from London Bridge on Sundays. With the new timetable there will be four trains an hour on Sundays as well as Saturdays through London Bridge and right across London all the way to Bedford and back. That's handy for Blackfriars and its new south bank entrance, St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway. Southbound there will be two trains an hour to and from Brighton on Sundays (and four an hour on Saturdays).

Blackfriars open at the weekends

Blackfriars, City Thameslink and Farringdon stations in central London will all reopen for Thameslink route trains overnight and at the weekend (with the exception of Sundays at City Thameslink which is closed on this day). Blackfriars has a new south bank entrance which makes it ideal for Tate Modern, Globe Theatre and the South Bank cultural attractions.

Changes to look out for

There will be no changes to the timing of trains south of London once we begin running again through the heart of the capital at weekends and overnight. However, these trains will leave Bedford at different times (up to half an hour difference) because of the variation in journey times between the current replacement bus service in central London and the train.

However, engineering work will divert services away from London Bridge via Tulse Hill on certain days.

You can see the new timetable here and read a detailed explanation of the changes here.