Thameslink (route)
| Thameslink | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Commuter rail, Suburban rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale |
East of England Greater London South East England |
| Termini |
Bedford/Luton/St Albans Brighton/Sutton/Sevenoaks |
| Stations | 68 (additional stations at peaks) |
| Services | 5 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | Thameslink |
| Depot(s) |
Bedford Cauldwell Walk Bedford Cricklewood Three Bridges |
| Rolling stock |
Class 319 Class 377 Electrostar Class 700 Desiro City |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | 2–4 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification |
25 kV 50hz AC 750 V DC third rail |
| Operating speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum |
Thameslink is a 68-station main-line route in the British railway system running 225 km (140 mi) north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport, with a suburban loop serving Sutton, Mitcham and Wimbledon and a suburban line via Catford and Bromley South to Sevenoaks. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than 28,000 passengers in the morning peak. Almost all the services are currently operated by Thameslink.
The Thameslink Programme is a major £5.5 billion scheme to extend the service to a further 100 stations and to greatly increase capacity on the central London section to accommodate more frequent and longer trains, scheduled for completion in 2018. In 2016, new Class 700 trains started operating on the route and are gradually replacing the Class 319, Class 377 and Class 387 trains which are being transferred elsewhere.
Much of the route is over the Brighton Main Line (London Bridge branch) and the southern part of the Midland Main Line. There is also a suburban loop through Sutton and Wimbledon and a branch over the Catford Loop Line to Sevenoaks.
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Wikipedia