Thameslink

Thameslink is an important railway route in Britain. It runs from places like Bedford, Luton, and Cambridge through the middle of London to towns such as Sutton, Brighton, and Horsham. The route has many stops, with trains calling at stations regularly. Some parts of the line run all day and all night, except early on Sunday mornings or during special maintenance work.

A big project called the Thameslink Programme spent lots of money to help more people travel. This meant making trains come more often, letting longer trains stop, and adding new places trains could go. New technology was added to help trains run automatically, and new trains started working on the line in 2016.

Right now, the trains on the Thameslink route are run by a company called Govia Thameslink Railway. But soon, after 31 May 2026, a different group that the government owns, called Thameslink Southern Great Northern, will take over running all the trains.

Route

The Thameslink route uses parts of other railway lines, including the Brighton Main Line and the Midland Main Line. It has a loop serving Sutton and a branch to Sevenoaks added in 2012. Sections reaching Peterborough, Cambridge, Horsham, and Rainham were added in 2018. Trains also stop at East Grinstead and Orpington during busy times.

In central London, the route goes through St Pancras International, where you can connect to the Eurostar. Other stops include Farringdon for the London Underground, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. Some trains have first-class seating, while others are standard class only.

Services

Off-peak

Peak hours

During busy times, the train service from London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks continues to Welwyn Garden City, with some trains starting at Finsbury Park. These trains stop at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar, and Hatfield.

Extra trains run during busy times, with about two trains each hour going to and from Orpington. These trains start or end at London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink, or Kentish Town and stop at Petts Wood instead of some other stations.

There are seven special trains each day going to and from East Grinstead. These trains start or end at Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International, or London Bridge. After South Croydon, they stop at Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, Woldingham, Oxted, Hurst Green, Lingfield, and Dormans.

During busy times, trains from Peterborough to Horsham stop at Faygate between Ifield and Littlehaven.

In the morning, trains from Peterborough to Horsham also stop at Knebworth when heading south.

There are also three extra evening trains from Gatwick Airport to Bedford that only run during busy times, stopping at various stations along the way.

History

The idea for a train route crossing London from north to south has been around for a long time. Trains used to go through a tunnel called the Snow Hill tunnel from the Victorian times until World War I. After the war, plans were made to connect different train stations across London, but these plans were put on hold because of money problems.

In the 1980s, the idea was brought back to use existing train tracks better and give people new travel choices. The Snow Hill tunnel was reopened for passengers in May 1988, and it was very popular right away. Many more people started using the trains than expected.

Over the years, the route has changed and grown. Trains now go to places like Rainham and Horsham, and from the north, they reach cities such as Luton, Bedford, and Cambridge. The service is now run by Govia Thameslink Railway.

Thameslink Programme

The Thameslink Programme was a big project to help more people travel on the train. It cost about £7 billion. This money was used to build better tracks and buy new trains.

Work on the project started in 2007. Some parts became more difficult than expected, especially at London Bridge station.

New trains started running in 2016, and new schedules began in 2018 and 2019. These changes helped connect many places better, from Brighton in the south to Bedford in the north.

Rolling stock

All the trains on the Thameslink route use electricity. They can switch between two different power systems. Trains use one system north of Farringdon and another system south of Farringdon.

Current fleet

Class 700

Class 700 trains started arriving between 2015 and 2018. They added many seats to the railway. These trains were built by Siemens Mobility, and the first ones began running in spring 2016. They replaced older trains and are now all in use.

Past fleet

Class 319

The first trains used on Thameslink were the Class 319 trains, built between 1987 and 1990. These trains could carry many passengers. They were mostly replaced by 2017.

Class 377

In 2009, extra Class 377 trains were added to help with more passengers on the route.

Class 317

Class 317 trains were used until services stopped running into Moorgate in 2009.

Class 387

Because the new Class 700 trains were delayed, Class 387 trains were used starting in 2014. By 2018, they were replaced by the Class 700 trains.

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built
				mph	km/h
Siemens Desiro	700 Desiro City		EMU	100	161	60	8	All Thameslink services	2015–2018
						55	12

2014 franchise

The plan was to ask for bids for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise in October 2012, with the contract starting in September 2013. In March 2012, the Department for Transport said that Abellio, FirstGroup, Govia, MTR Corporation and Stagecoach Group could try to win the franchise.

Because of problems with the InterCity West Coast bidding, this plan was delayed until September 2014. The new franchise includes the South Central routes run by Southern and some routes from the Integrated Kent Franchise run by Southeastern.

In May 2014, it was announced that the franchise went to Govia Thameslink Railway. This new franchise includes the Thameslink, Great Northern, and South Central services.

Govia Thameslink Railway began operating on 14 September 2014, taking over the former First Capital Connect routes for Thameslink and Great Northern.

Thameslink 2

Railfuture, a group that helps improve train services, has suggested a new train route. This route would connect the Brighton Main Line to places north of London. The trains would pass through East Croydon, Lewisham, Canary Wharf, and Stratford.