Thameslink to close its Moorgate branch line

The move, the first closure of a main line into the capital in memory, will leave hundreds of commuters heading in and out of the Square Mile facing a switch to the Tube, a bus or a walk from Farringdon station.

The shutdown will also affect passengers using Barbican station between Farringdon and Moorgate. The move is being forced by a £5.5billion upgrade of the existing Thameslink line that links Bedford, to the north of the capital, with Brighton in East Sussex.

Under the plans, services are being increased and trains extended to 12 carriages to ease chronic overcrowding. This involves extending platforms at Farringdon but space is so tight they will have to be built over the track junction for the Moorgate terminus.

There is no room to shift the junction so the decision has been taken albeit reluctantly to close the branch line.Commuters were told they would not have to pay extra Tube or bus fares for two years because of the closure. Main line tickets will be accepted so passengers can complete journeys between Farringdon and Central London.

Thameslink overcrowding has been highlighted by the Evening Standard's "seat for every commuter" campaign.

The March closure of Moorgate comes as a two-and-a-half year shutdown gets under way at Blackfriars Tube station also for completion of a combined Tube/rail station serving Thameslink.

Elaine Holt, managing director of rail operator First Capital Connect, which runs the Thameslink service, said the expansion would be of major and lasting benefit for passengers. But she warned: "We need to be absolutely certain that passengers get the message that there will be pain before gain." A publicity campaign explaining the closure of the branch line and detailing alternative methods of travel starts tomorrow.

Sharon Grant, of London TravelWatch, called the Moorgate branch line closure unfortunate. She said: "We decided, after consultation, it was necessary if the full benefits of the Thameslink programme were to be achieved."

There will be other Thameslink changes as part of the refurbishments. From December there will be no service between London Bridge and St Pancras International from 10.30pm to 4.30am from Mondays to Fridays and for most weekends.

A First Capital Connect spokesman said: "There is simply no other way to do the essential track and signalling work needed." He appealed to passengers: "Please bear with us."

The rail operator, which had an appalling timekeeping record, now boasts 92.82 per cent of trains on time, the best for nearly 10 years.

Full details of service changes are on www.Thameslinkprogramme.co.uk