Tonight:
5°c
Disruption warning over Thameslink work
Rashid Razaq2 Jan 2009
RAIL bosses today warned passengers to prepare for nearly three years of disruption as work on the £5.5billion Thameslink upgrade gets under way.
Commuters face stations shutdowns and cancelled services so that the refit, which will increase capacity on the cross-capital Brighton to Bedford line, can be done.
Train operator First Capital Connect has embarked on a PR campaign, painting trains in multi-coloured stripes, to alert passengers to the work.
Blackfriars Tube station, used by more than 44,000 people a day, will close in March for redevelopment and not reopen until 2011. Commuters will have to use Mansion House or Temple instead. The mainline rail section of Blackfriars will remain open.
Farringdon station will also stay open but there will be major disruption as it is remodelled. The Thameslink branch to Moorgate closes permanently in March.
The first phase of the works - which will increase capacity from 4,500 passengers an hour to 12,000, are planned for completion in time for the Olympics.
By early 2012, Thameslink trains will be lengthened from eight carriages to 12 between Bedford and central London. Services through central London will double from eight to 16 an hour.
A First Capital Connect spokesman said two trains had been repainted to make customers aware of the project so they can plan alternative routes.
"The colours we have chosen to paint the trains are very striking. We want to encourage passengers to log onto our website, thameslinkprogramme.co.uk, which is written on the side of these trains."
Reader views (7)
I have used the Thameslink line from when it opened however there has been so many problems caused to passengers because of the pinch point at London Bridge and until that is sorted out there will always be distruption.
I know the aim is to get 12 carriage trains on the line at some point however many of us would have been happy with 8 carriage trains instead of the 4 we often get.As for FCC I have seen no improvements to their quality of service since they took on the francaise and promised us so much, all they have done is increase their fares and carpark charges.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 04/01/2009 16:11
Report abuse
I can see Blackfriars from the Fourth Floor at CLS and I say that dank,twisted station needs rejuvenation,however long it takes
- H.J.Jones, London UK, 03/01/2009 19:59
Report abuse
This line is very old indeed and is just being improved so it can carry more passengers, and take people into London rather than just dump them on the edge, so they have to get the tube.
It really is "Improving" what we already have and making it work....
- Alex Mckenna, Manchester, 03/01/2009 13:40
Report abuse
I see another bunch of comments have been posted by the intellectuals out there. One day they lambast the rail service for being rubbish the next they complain that the work to improve the rail service is disrupting current services. Brilliant.
- Joe, Bromley, 02/01/2009 18:22
Report abuse
I agree with Georgie. There are so much existing facilities and lines in London already - why don't we get them to work again first??
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 02/01/2009 18:07
Report abuse
I think they should make the existing stuff work first. All these silly aspirational projects are just too much and we cannot afford this "link". The same with the london olympics it is not needed. First make work what we have that would be the best!
- Georgie, Islington, London, 02/01/2009 15:01
Report abuse
Disruptions? Cancellations? Shutdowns? Will anyone notice the difference?
- Claire, London, UK, 02/01/2009 13:39
Report abuse
