Thameslink rolling stock cascade ends

The Thameslink Programme rolling stock cascade, introduced through cross-industry co-operation to overcome the late delivery of the new Thameslink route 377/5 Electrostar fleet, has come to an end over eight months after it began.

First Capital Connect now has enough of the new 377/5s to have been able to return the last three Class 377/2 Electrostars it had on hire from train operator Southern. At the beginning of the cascade, in March 2009, a total of eight 377/2s were on hire from Southern to First Capital Connect. The shortfall in Southern's fleet was in turn made up with four Class 350 Desiros from London Midland and one 375 from Southeastern.

One of Southern's 377/2 Electrostars at Farringdon station on 23 March 2009

Southeastern also provided four Class 465/466 units to cover four services a day to/from City Thameslink. These will be replaced by FCC stock Class 319s with the new timetable, introduced on 13 December. The entire deal was brokered by the Department for Transport.

Neal Lawson, New Trains and Engineering Director at First Capital Connect, said: “It’s great news to be self-sufficient with our own fleet of trains again.

“It has not been easy – we have had to work our existing fleet of Class 319s particularly hard – but without the co-operation of our industry partners we would never have been able to introduce the new timetable in March.”

A total of 23 new 377/5s were due to have been delivered in time to operate First Capital Connect’s new timetable of 22 March 2009, introduced as part of the £5.5bn Thameslink Programme to transform the Thameslink route and reduce overcrowding.

The new timetable closed the branch line from Farringdon to Barbican and Moorgate, at the same time creating a new joint service with Southeastern into south-east London and Kent. This introduced almost 2,800 new seats to rush hour services and allowed Network Rail to close three of the five platforms at Blackfriars so it could begin redeveloping the station.

Jim Crawford, Major Project Director for Network Rail, said: “Without the new timetable we could never have begun the critical work to transform Blackfriars station – and without the rolling stock cascade that timetable could never have been delivered.”

Transport Minister Chris Mole said: “I'm delighted to see progress being made to improve services for passengers on one of Britain's most-overcrowded routes.

“Thameslink will provide thousands of extra seats per day for passengers while improving connectivity and relieving the pressure on London's busy Underground system.

“This cascade has been a true demonstration of industry partners working together for the benefit of passengers, and it paves the way for significant future achievements on this crucial project.”

ends