How refreshing! New livery tells story of Thameslink route upgrade

Latest refreshed trains spread word of changes to come

First Capital Connect’s latest trains to emerge from a major internal refit are wearing a bright new livery to spread word about capacity upgrade works on the cross-London Thameslink route between Brighton and Bedford.

The distinctive stripy brand was launched in October to highlight the massive £5.5 billion programme of work being carried out on the Thameslink route, keeping passengers updated about how it could affect their journey.

Blackfriars railway station is being rebuilt; the Tube station there has to close temporarily; Farringdon station is being remodelled and the Thameslink branch to Moorgate will have to close permanently. On top of this, the route from St Pancras International to London Bridge / Herne Hill is now closed overnight and most weekends for essential engineering works by Network Rail.

But by the end of 2015, the Thameslink route will have been transformed with new and improved stations, new track, new cross-London routes and new longer and more frequent trains with the express purpose of relieving overcrowding.

The train carries in large letters the address of a new website created to give First Capital Connect customers everything they need to know about the Programme: www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk. People are urged to register for free, regular email updates.

The 2 four-carriage trains are running in regular service. The new livery was added following a complete refresh of their interiors at RailCare in Wolverton. FCC is stripping the interiors of 66 class 319 trains, replacing them with new and refreshed fittings covering everything from seating to toilets, flooring and better lighting. These were the 38th and 39th units to be completed.

Both trains will be given names, chosen by FCC staff, that are pertinent to the Thameslink Programme at a ceremony in the New Year.

FCC Managing Director Elaine Holt said: “We’re determined to keep our customers updated with news about the Thameslink Programme and this striking new train will encourage people to visit our website and find out how the work could affect them.

“Furthermore, when our customers step inside these latest trains to emerge from our refresh programme they are bound to welcome the vastly improved interiors. Our Class 319 Thameslink route trains are already almost twice as reliable as they were in the first period we took over the franchise, in 2006, because we have taken their maintenance in-house. Now they are increasingly smarter too.”