18.3.2009 Thameslink route Moorgate branch line closure launches capacity upgrade scheme
First Capital Connect’s (FCC) Thameslink route Farringdon - Moorgate branch line closes permanently to passenger traffic from 22 March 2009. This allows key work to begin on the £5.5 billion Government-funded Thameslink Programme that will reduce overcrowding on the popular Bedford to Brighton commuter route.
The timetable change will also create, from 22 March 2009:
· New cross-London routes between FCC stations such as Bedford, Luton, Kentish Town and St Pancras International in the north and Southeastern destinations such as Sevenoaks, Bromley South and Orpington in Kent and south-east London;
· Almost double the number of peak-hour trains across London from Blackfriars and City Thameslink
· A planned increase of 2,800 seats across the morning and evening peaks for First Capital Connect – subject to the availability of rolling stock.
First Capital Connect services from Bedford, St Albans and other stations north of London that previously branched off at Farringdon to Barbican and Moorgate (weekdays, peak hours only), will after 22 March 2009 run south through City Thameslink to Blackfriars where they will take over and become the existing Southeastern services running to destinations such as Sevenoaks, Bromley South, Orpington and Gillingham.
On the return journey this seamless service almost doubles, from 8 to up to 15 trains per hour, the number of peak-hour trains crossing London from Blackfriars to St Pancras and gives those stations in Kent and south-east London direct access to St Pancras International and stations north of London on the Thameslink route.
There is no change in FCC timing from north stations and only a minute or two difference for some Southeastern services. FCC Great Northern route services from Welwyn to Moorgate are unaffected.
FCC tickets from Thameslink stations north of London will be valid to Barbican and Moorgate on London Underground for 24 months after the closure at no extra cost. Customers can interchange with the Tube at Farringdon, though the station is likely to be congested in the rush hour and this could delay journeys. Instead, the Northern line operates between Moorgate and King’s Cross St Pancras (for
St Pancras International) and Kentish Town.
Passengers alighting at Blackfriars and Farringdon can also avoid the rush-hour crowds by using City Thameslink which is within walking distance of both stations. More information is available at www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk.
FCC Managing Director Elaine Holt said: “The closure of the Thameslink Moorgate branch line is an unfortunate but necessary part of the Government-funded Thameslink Programme to reduce overcrowding. In commemorating the end of the line we are celebrating the beginning of the transformation of another – the key cross-London Bedford to Brighton Thameslink route.
“Network Rail can now start rebuilding in earnest key stations at Blackfriars and Farringdon for 50% longer 12-carriage trains. It will mean disruption for our customers but we will do our utmost to help them through this.”
Sharon Grant, Chair, of passenger watchdog London TravelWatch said: “The Thameslink Programme will make an enormous difference to passengers using the Thameslink route, and will provide more capacity for rail users in central London. The Thameslink Programme is vital for Londoners, and although it is unfortunate that the Moorgate branch of the line will have to close, we decided, after consultation, it was necessary if the full benefits of the Thameslink programme were to be achieved.”
There is an increase in the risk of potential disruption on FCC services because Bombardier Transportation is late delivering 23 new four-carriage Electrostar trains to operate the timetable. Fellow operators are providing a temporary supply of trains but FCC will at best have just two new trains in service and fewer spare trains in reserve (see FCC news release 5 March 2009). FCC is confident the service will improve as more trains become available.
Ends
Editor’s notes
The £5.5 billion Thameslink Programme will transform the Thameslink route, providing more frequent, 50% longer, brand new 12-carriage trains and big improvements to Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge stations. Once it is completed, the Programme will more than double capacity on the route across central London with trains running every 2-3 minutes.
Moorgate branch closure
The Farringdon to Moorgate branch opened in 1868. It carries an estimated 2,000 First Capital Connect customers across themorning peak. The final timetabled service out of Moorgate is on Friday, 20 March, at 19.06 hours, to Bedford. A further, non-scheduled commemorative, service will operate out of Moorgate to Kentish Town at 19.54 hours for rail enthusiasts. Commemorative ‘tickets’ for this service will be handed out at the station with donations invited for the Railway Children charity.
Closing the FCC Thameslink route Moorgate branch and introducing the new timetable was agreed as part of the Transport and Works Act order that authorised the Thameslink Programme works. It has the support of passenger watchdogs Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch.
The Moorgate Thameslink route branch line has to close so that a new timetable can be brought in that allows Network Rail to start major engineering works on the terminating ‘bay’ platforms at Blackfriars which is being rebuilt to take 50% longer 12-carriage trains between 2012 and 2015. This will reduce overcrowding.
The branch also has to close for Network Rail to extend platforms at Farringdon station later in the year. The longer platforms will again let First Capital Connect use longer 12-carriage trains instead of eight. The longer platforms have to be built across the branch line junction.
FCC tickets from Thameslink stations north of London will be valid to Barbican and Moorgate on London Underground for 24 months after the closure. Customers can interchange with the Tube at Farringdon to reach Barbican and Moorgate (the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines run parallel to the closed branch line), though the station is likely to be congested in the rush hour and this could delay journeys. Instead, the Northern line operates between Moorgate and King’s Cross St Pancras (for St Pancras International) and Kentish Town.
Blackfriars station rebuilt
By linking northbound Southeastern services with those Thameslink services that would have operated to and from Moorgate, the new 22 March timetable allows Network Rail to close three terminating platforms at Blackfriars and start rebuilding the station there to take 50% longer, crowd-reducing 12-carriage trains from 2012.
The fully-accessible new station will be the first to span the Thames and feature a South Bank national rail entrance and excellent connections with Blackfriars Tube station, which is also being redeveloped and is due to reopen in late 2011.
All national rail services will continue to call at Blackfriars using the two remaining through platforms but there will be less space and the station will be more crowded. Customers are advised to use City Thameslink instead which costs no more to reach, is enclosed, spacious and just 3-4 minutes’ walk away.
Farringdon station remodelled
Farringdon station is also being remodelled. By 2012 it will have longer, covered platforms capable of accommodating 12-carriage trains. There will be much-improved London Underground facilities and a new national rail station entrance with provision for Crossrail.
Crowd-buster
FCC will use the redundant branch line until it is built over to temporarily accommodate empty carriages at times of disruption and help restore the service. It will also use the branch temporarily to turn around an additional ‘crowd-buster’ service that will depart Farringdon for Bedford at 18.16 providing over 580 extra seats in the evening peak. Although customers may see these empty carriages at Moorgate they will not be able to board them for safety reasons.
More information
For more information on the Thameslink Programme and alternative travel advice, visit www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk or contact Thameslink Programme Communications Manager Roger Perkins on 077 111 49245, roger.perkins@firstgroup.com.
