Thameslink

Thameslink is a fifty-station franchise in the British railway system running 225 km north to south across London from Bedford to Brighton through Snow Hill tunnel. It is a significant commuter route and serves the airports at Gatwick and Luton. There are around 40 million passenger journeys on the system annually.

Related Topics:
British railway system - 225 km - London - Bedford - Brighton - Snow Hill tunnel - Gatwick - Luton

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The tunnel was re-opened to passengers after 50 years in 1988 and the network in May 1990. The northern part of the network replaced the "Bedpan" service from Bedford to St Pancras station, and uses the Midland Main Line. Running from north to south the central London stations are: Kings Cross Thameslink on Pentonville Road and close to King's Cross mainline station; Farringdon station, which links into the London Underground's Circle and Metropolitan lines; City Thameslink (formerly St. Paul's Thameslink station - the name was changed to avoid confusion with St. Paul's tube station which is a considerable distance away), which replaced the demolished Holborn Viaduct; Blackfriars, which links to a number of other franchises and the District and Circle lines on the Underground; and London Bridge, which also links to a number of other franchises.

Related Topics:
1988 - 1990 - Bedford - St Pancras station - Midland Main Line - Kings Cross Thameslink - Pentonville Road - King's Cross mainline station - Farringdon station - London Underground - City Thameslink - St. Paul's tube station - Holborn Viaduct - Blackfriars - London Bridge

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In the south there are two branches. The "main line" runs through London Bridge to East Croydon, then to Brighton. A second branch has a more convoluted history. Initially the line ran via Elephant and Castle and Streatham to West Croydon. Although this route, still used by other train services, comes close to the "main line", it never relinks with it. After West Croydon the line ran through Carshalton Beeches to Sutton then to Epsom, Leatherhead, Effingham Junction and finally terminating at Guildford. However this route crossed the commuter networks of what were to become several different rail companies and the onset of rail privatisation made the route increasingly difficult to maintain. In 1994(?) the second branch was cut back to West Croydon. Then in 1995(?) a major overhaul occurred when the route was changed completely. West Croydon was abandoned by Thameslink and instead a new route to Sutton was opened up over existing track through Mitcham Junction with the line then continuing on a loop up to Wimbledon and then rejoining itself south of Streatham.

Related Topics:
London Bridge - East Croydon - Brighton - Elephant and Castle - Streatham - West Croydon - Carshalton Beeches - Sutton - Epsom - Leatherhead - Effingham Junction - Guildford - Rail privatisation - 1994 - 1995 - Mitcham Junction - Wimbledon - Streatham

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