Thameslink

Thameslink 700012 arrives at City Thameslink

Thameslink is a cross London Railway unusually isn't operated by Transport for London however is on the tube map to ease Overcrowding. Thameslink is currently operated by Goiva Thameslink Railway (GTR).

Beginning of Thameslink

In 1978 British Rail started electrification of the Moorgate to St Pancras section as part of the Benpan Line electrification, which was finished in 1983 and saw the introduction of class 317s four coach electric multiple units with a top speed of 100mph. In the 1980s British Railways Network Southeast sector realised that they could make use of the disused Snow Hill Tunnels and then could sell off the land which the line between Holborn Viaduct and Blackfriars ran on for office space as services would be diverted into the refurbished and lengthened Snow Hill tunnel. During the first few months of 1990, the section of line to Holborn Viaduct was shut and the newly restored and extended of the Snow Hill tunnel opened with a new station at St Pauls Thameslink renamed to City Thameslink in 1991 and another new station Kings Cross Thameslink. The new Thameslink service used a fleet of dual voltage Class 319s four coaches 100mph capable Electric Multiple units. In 1991 Network Southeast announced a plan called Thameslink 2000 which would see the Thameslink core upgraded.

Thameslink (Govia)

On the 2nd of March 1997, the Thameslink service which ran from Brighton and Sutton loop in the south to Bedford in the North with a branch off to Moorgate in the East. The first Thameslink franchise was run by Govia Thameslink Railway. Thameslink inherited a fleet of 7 Class 317s and 74 Class 319s. The Thameslink fleet of 319s was maintained by Connex South Central at Selhurst depot however due to a planned blockade on the Thameslink core to allow for the new St Pancras Thameslink station to better integrate with the St Pancras International station and replace Kings Cross Thameslink, they made the decision to move maintenance to a new depot in Bedford. During the Franchise, the line speed was upgraded between Earlswood and Preston Park on the Brighton mainline fast lines to allow the 319s to do 100mph on third rail. On the 31st of March 2006, the Thameslink franchise ended but this wasn’t the end for Govia Thameslink Railway.

First Capital Connect

On the 1st of April 2006 the Thameslink franchise which had been merged with the Great Northern franchise to form the Thameslink and Great Northern Franchise, which was operated by First Capital Connect. The First Capital Connect fleet was made up of 44 3-coach dual voltage class 313s, 14 4-coach class 317s, 74 4-coach dual voltage class 319s, 13 4-coach class 321s and 40 4-coach dual voltage class 365s. All of the fleets of First Capital Connect had a top speed of 100mph apart from the 313s which were 75mph. During the 2009 timetable changes services were modified to allow for the enabling works for the delayed Thameslink 2000 project which was rebranded the Thameslink Programme. First Capital Connect received a fleet of 10 class 319s from Southern and a fleet of 34 class 377s from Southern and Bombardier to allow for more 12 coach services. In 2009 the Moorgate branch was closed to allow for the 12 coach trains which required the platform extensions at Farringdon across the junction. On the 13th of September 2014 franchise finished.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (Govia)

Govia Thameslink Railway regained control of Thameslink from First Capital Connect on the 14th of September 2014 which saw the Thameslink and Great Northern franchise merged with the Southern franchise to form the Southern Thameslink and Great Northern franchise. This saw the 319s on the Thameslink services replaced by the newly built dual voltage class 700s from German train builder Siemens which are formed into 60 8-coach units and 55-12 coach units with a 100mph top speed. The 700s combined with the finishing of the Thameslink Programme 18 years late saw the introduction of services to Rainham (Essex), Cambridge and Peterborough just to name a few new stations. The Thameslink programme also saw the introduction of level boarding for the 700s on the Thameslink core.