In an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Commander Riker was challenged by a subordinate. His response was “I bring all the options to the Captain.” This needs to be one of TfL’s map …
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Ex-Thameslink trains to carry London Gateway freight (RailNews)
FORMER Thameslink trains are set to carry freight in May, when a new scheme to bring merchandise into central London is due to begin. The proposal is to use former Class 319s with their seats …
Continue readingBeyond Thameslink and Crossrail: A London Transport Update
Accounts of what is happening in the world of transport in London in the past few months have largely been focused on Crossrail and Thameslink. Whilst these two major construction projects (together totalling over £22billion) …
Continue readingHoly Grails and Thameslink Fails (part 2): The plan that went wrong
In looking at why the new May national rail timetable went so horribly wrong in the case of Thameslink and Great Northern services, it is necessary to look not only at the immediate causes but …
Continue readingHoly Grails and Thameslink Fails (Part 1): A Brief History of Thameslink
To understand the current issues with Thameslink, one has to understand its past. In this series, we explore the history of London’s only ‘through’ line and how that influences today. For many years it has …
Continue readingThameslink The Musical Act 4, Scene 3: The Grayling Letter
The Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, has written a letter to fellow MPs outlining where responsibility lies for the current issues with the GTR franchise. You can read the full letter here. By way of response, we present an extract from Thameslink: The Musical.
Continue readingThe Politics of Thameslink’s Troubles
The London Reconnections team have been following closely, day by day and (with a few stalwarts) hour by hour, the actual service levels being offered on Thameslink lines during the first week of the new …
Continue readingHow Can You Mend A Broken Railway? Thameslink and the Gibb Report
Last summer the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, commissioned a report from an experienced and well-respected railwayman, Chris Gibb. The goal was a framework to enable much-needed improvements to railway services across the …
Continue readingThameslink trains on view at new Museum of London? (Londonist)
Visitors to the Smithfield attraction — due to open in 2022 — will be able to see passengers en route. But it works both ways, and train passengers would be able to see museum artefacts …
Continue readingEUR 345 million for Southern and Thameslink rail improvement works (Railpro)
UK Department of Transport confirmed £300 million (EUR 345 million) funding for infrastructure improvement works on the Southern and Thameslink railway networks. Read more
Continue readingGovia go via Greenwich: GTR and the Thameslink Timetable
There are probably Southern commuters who would claim that nothing Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR – Southern’s parent company) said or did would surprise them. Many industry insiders would probably agree. When rumours spread rapidly about …
Continue readingEast Coast Mainline Routes & Branches Part 1: Thameslink Works
Back in February we published an in-depth look at the past and future of Finsbury Park Station. We noted that the future of Finsbury Park is being shaped by two projects designed to improve capacity …
Continue readingThameslink and the NAO: part 3: All’s well that ends well?
This article, following on from part 1 and part 2 of articles on the report from the National Audit Office (NAO), was intended to be very short and mainly deal with the limited NAO comments …
Continue readingThameslink and the NAO: Part 2 – Wherefore Art Thou Siemens Rolling Stock?
In part one we looked at the verdict of the National Audit Office report on Thameslink and more specifically on the infrastructure work done so far. In part two we look in detail at the …
Continue readingThameslink and the National Audit Office: Part 1
It is the same old story. We were planning on giving articles about Thameslink a break and then something else comes along. This time it is a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). This …
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