Thameslink Programme

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The Thameslink Programme, formerly known as Thameslink 2000, is a £3.5 billion project to expand the Thameslink network from 51 to 172 stations,[1] spreading northwards to Bedford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn and southwards to Guildford, Eastbourne, Horsham, Littlehampton, East Grinstead, Ashford, Dartford.[2]

As of 20 November 2006, the project has received approval in principle, but funding has not yet been secured.[1] A decision on funding will be made by summer 2007.[3]

Contents

[edit] Project history

[edit] Background

The Thameslink network was fully inaugurated in May 1990, two years after services began.[4] A unique feature of Thameslink is that the network goes through the centre of London, which reduces the requirement to use the Underground for cross-London journeys.[5]

[edit] Initial planning

The increasing patronage was seen as a potential problem for the network, given that £4 million was spent on infrastructure that was built for the network.[6] As a result, British Rail started developing plans to expand and upgrade the original network during the early 1990s. The Railways Act of 1993 meant that responsibility for the project was transferred to Railtrack in the mid 1990s.

[edit] Beginning of planning process

Railtrack applied for Transport and Works Act powers on 21st November 1997.[7] Just two months later, the prospects of Thameslink 2000 becoming reality were thrown into doubt because London and Continental Railways (LCR), a new company that was appointed by the Government to construct the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) (also branded as 'High Speed 1') announced that they required further direct government grants worth £1.2 billion (in 1995 real prices) in order to finance the construction of the CTRL.[8] As part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act of 1996, LCR were under obligation to build a concrete 'box', which was to house a new sub-surface station (currently named St Pancras Thameslink) that was proposed as part of Thameslink 2000, since the new station would be built under St Pancras station itself.

The Government and LCR reached agreement on a set of revised proposals in June 1998,[8] which allowed the construction of CTRL (and the concrete box) to proceed. Meanwhile Railtrack took the opportunity to carry out an extensive public consultation exercise, which resulted in the revision of their original proposals and subsequently they submitted a Supplementary Order on 29th September 1999.[7]

[edit] First public inquiry

Given the size of the project, the Deputy Prime Minister decided to call for a public inquiry. The inquiry commenced in June 2000 and was brought to a close in May 2001.[1] The Inspector spent several months compiling a report on the proposals submitted by Railtrack and the feedback provided by various parties for and against the project before submitting the report to the Goverment. On 30 July 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM, now known as the Department for Communities and Local Government) published the Inspector's report, which stated that although there was a strong case for the project, the Inspector did not recommend that the project should be given approval,[9] since there were three 'deficiencies' that he was not satisfied with:

  • The poor quality proposals for the redevelopment of London Bridge station;
  • The lack of proposals for the 'missing tooth' near Blackfriars station;
  • The lack of proposals for the replacement of listed buildings around the historic area of Borough Market.

[edit] Further delays

As a result the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the project would not receive approval and that Network Rail (who replaced Railtrack) was required to submit an improved set of proposals (i.e. with no deficiencies) and a new Environmental Statement on January 29, 2003.[10] As a result of lack of progress on the project, the 'Thameslink 2000 Agreement', a contract that obliged Network Rail (and previously its predecessor Railtrack) to maintain responsibility for funding the project, was terminated in April 2003. The Strategic Rail Authority took over that responsibility.[11]

Nevertheless, Network Rail made adjustments to the Thameslink 2000 proposals and in June 2004 they submitted the aforementioned proposals, along with an updated Environmental Statement. On 22nd March 2005 the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport called for a new public inquiry in light of the amendments and also confirmed that it would commence in September 2005.[12]

As a result of the Railways Act of 2005, the Department for Transport took over funding responsibility for the project from the Strategic Rail Authority on 25th July 2005.[13]

[edit] Second public inquiry

The second public inquiry commenced on 6 September 2005 and was brought to a close in December 2005.[14] The Inspector's report (dated 17th February 2006[15]) was subsquently submitted to the Department for Transport for consideration.

[edit] Current status

On Wednesday 18 October 2006, the Department for Transport published the second report, which declared that the Inspector was satisfied that the deficiencies from the previous Thameslink 2000 proposals were dealt with, and that he recommended that the project be given approval.[16] The Secretaries of State for Transport and 'Communities & Local Government' consequently granted Network Rail the planning permission and legal powers required to execute the project, but as yet the Department for Transport has not allocated any funding.[1] A final decision on funding, and consequently the whole project is expected from the Secretary of State for Transport by summer 2007.[3]

[edit] Principal work sites

The principal work sites, north to south are:

King's Cross Thameslink - due to close in December 2007
Enlarge
King's Cross Thameslink - due to close in December 2007

[edit] King's Cross Thameslink / St Pancras Thameslink

King's Cross Thameslink station will be closed and replaced with a new station under St Pancras station, known as either St Pancras Thameslink or St Pancras Midland Road. The need for a replacement station arises due to factors regarding King's Cross Thameslink such as substandard platform widths and lengths, lack of step-free access, lack of easily accessible fire escape routes and a poor quality passenger environment.[17] If the current station was upgraded to modern standards, it would have required in excess of £60 million (which is similar to the cost of fitting out St Pancras Thameslink anyway[18]) and serious disruption on the nearby Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan LUL lines and highways would occur as a direct consequence.[19]

The new station will accept 12 car trains[18] (the present station is limited to 8 cars) and allow better interchange with other forms of transport, particularly Eurostar. It will also have a CCTV system, seven escalators and two lifts, which will allow people with impared mobility to use the station.[18] 'Fit-out' works began in the summer of 2006 and a completion date of December 2007 has been set, following the decision by the Department for Transport to provide a further £60-65 million for the CTRL project.[18]

Because of the change in location, passengers who currently use King's Cross Thameslink to access the Underground lines will have to walk towards the entrance to King's Cross St Pancras in order to access the lines once King's Cross Thameslink is closed. For this reason, London TravelWatch has suggested that the Thameslink station should be converted into an entrance/exit facility for London Underground passengers. The Department for Transport has decided against pushing this forward, stating that it is a matter for London Underground.[20]

[edit] Farringdon & the Moorgate branch

Farringdon station is limited to 8 cars, and therefore requires platform extensions in order to allow 12 car trains to serve the station. Extensions towards the north are not planned mainly due to the steep gradient (1 in 27) of the Thameslink line immediately north of Farringdon.[21] Northward platform extensions therefore would not comply with safety standards, which leaves the alternative of re-aligning both the Thameslink and Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan LUL lines, given that the latter crosses over the former via a bridge. This has been deemed impractical due to the constrained space in the area.[21] The platforms will therefore be extended southwards, physically severing the two-station branch to Moorgate.[22]

The intermediate station at Barbican is already used by Thameslink trains only when travelling east (from Farringdon); westbound trains (from Moorgate) do not stop. Once the branch is closed, passengers wanting to travel to or from Barbican or Moorgate stations will have to change at Farringdon onto London Underground trains on the Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan LUL lines. Although this will be inconvenient for some passengers (the disbenefits are estimated at £65 million over a 60 year appraisal period[23]), the benefits accrued by other Thameslink passengers are deemed to be significantly greater (£5.7 billion over the same period[24]).

[edit] City Thameslink

No major works will take place within City Thameslink railway station, although the OLE system will be extended from Farringdon to City Thameslink for northbound trains only. Combined with new trackwork between the two stations, this will allow northbound trains to be recovered should they fail to change from DC to AC traction current.[25]

[edit] Blackfriars

Platforms at Blackfriars railway station will be extended along Blackfriars Railway Bridge over the River Thames in order to accommodate 12 car trains (in place of 8 today). The platform layout will also be altered such that the through platforms will be located on the east side of the station (currently the west side), and the terminus platforms will be located on the west side of the station (currently the east side). [26] This means trains to and from London Bridge will no longer have to cross the lines that lead to the terminating platforms.

The works will involve making use of the disused piers which lie west of the existing railway bridge. The number of terminating platforms will be reduced from 3 to 2 in the process, but some terminating services will become through services, and the increased length will allow longer trains to terminate at Blackfriars. In addition there will also be an additional station entrance on the South Bank and the ticket offices for both National Rail and LUL services will be combined.[26]

In order to carry out the works, the office building on top of Blackfriars will be demolished and replaced; and the LUL station at Blackfriars will close for 24 months.[27]

[edit] Borough Market Viaduct

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The most controversial part of the project is the proposed elimination of the bottleneck on the western approach to London Bridge station, which is one of the worst in the country. This involves the demolition of a group of listed buildings within the conservation area of Borough Market in order to make way for a new double track viaduct south of and parallel to the existing viaduct. Thameslink trains will gain exclusive use of the northern pair of tracks, with Southeastern trains to and from Charing Cross and Waterloo East using the new southern tracks.[26]

[edit] London Bridge

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As part of the "Masterplan" proposals, London Bridge station will undergo a major transformation, which will involve the closure of 3 terminus platforms and the creation of 3 through platforms in order to allow additional services to continue to either Cannon Street, Charing Cross or Thameslink stations north of the River Thames. The increase in through platforms will also allow London Bridge to function as an emergency terminus for services approaching the station from the west.[28]

[edit] Other works

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In order to allow 12-car trains to serve the majority of stations which will be included in the expanded network, platform extension works will take place at more than than 50 stations,[29] particularly north of the Thames on the existing Thameslink route where all stations (City Thameslink excepted) are restricted to a maximum length of 8 cars. However, the platforms at Radlett station may not be extended.[30]

Furthermore, the Strategic Rail Authority specified that as part of the project, a standardised train fleet would operate across the network.[31] Consequently this would allow a three-aspect solid state interlocking signalling system to be implemented,[31] which in turn would permit a nominal peak period frequency of 24tph (equivalent to one train every 150 seconds) between St Pancras Thameslink and Blackfriars.[29]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Network Rail (2006-10-18). THE £3.5BN THAMESLINK PROJECT CLEARS MAJOR HURDLE. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  2. ^ Network Rail (2006-10-18). Map of expanded Thameslink route. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  3. ^ a b BBC News (2006-10-18). 'Landmark' ruling for Thameslink. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  4. ^ Nick Catford (2006-02-10). Station Name: SNOW HILL/HOLBORN VIADUCT LOW LEVEL. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  5. ^ First Capital Connect (2006-04-01). Network and Stations. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  6. ^ RailStaff (2004-06-01). Thameslink 2000. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  7. ^ a b House of Commons (2002-10-26). TRANSPORT AND WORKS ACT 1992 ORDERS. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  8. ^ a b National Audit Office [see page 6, paragraph 2] (2001-03-28). The Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  9. ^ Department for Communities and Local Government (2006-07-30). RECOMMENDATIONS. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  10. ^ BBC News (2003-01-29). Serious setback for cross-London rail route. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  11. ^ Department for Transport [see page 11, paragraph 2.2.11] (2006-10-18). Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
  12. ^ Network Rail (2005-03-22). NETWORK RAIL WELCOMES CONFIRMATION OF DATE FOR A NEW PUBLIC INQUIRY ABOUT THE THAMESLINK PROGRAMME. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
  13. ^ Network Rail [see footnote 1 on page 4] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  14. ^ Network Rail (2005-12-09). THAMESLINK INQUIRY CLOSES. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  15. ^ Department for Transport [see page 2] (2006-10-18). Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  16. ^ Department for Transport [see page 137, paragraph 19.13] (2006-10-18). Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
  17. ^ Network Rail [see page 20, paragraph 5.4.1] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  18. ^ a b c d Government News Network (2006-02-08). THAMESLINK PASSENGERS TO GET NEW STATION AT ST PANCRAS. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  19. ^ Network Rail [see page 20, paragraph 5.4.2] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  20. ^ Department for Transport [see page 10, paragraph 43] (2006-10-18). THAMESLINK 2000 - PROPOSAL TO DISCONTINUE PASSENGER SERVICES, CLOSE PARTS OF A NETWORK, CLOSE PARTS OF STATIONS AND TERMINATE USE OF A STATION. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  21. ^ a b Network Rail [see page 9, paragraph 2.1.5] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  22. ^ Network Rail [see page 9, paragraph 2.1.1] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
  23. ^ Network Rail [see page 10, paragraph 2.4.2] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
  24. ^ Network Rail [see page 11, paragraph 2.5.5] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
  25. ^ Department for Transport [see page 13, paragraph 2.2.16] (2006-10-18). Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  26. ^ a b c alwaystouchout.com (2006-10-28). Thameslink Programme (Thameslink 2000). Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
  27. ^ Department for Transport [see page 8, paragraph 35] (2006-10-18). Thameslink - 2006 Transport and Works Act Decision Letter. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  28. ^ Network Rail [see page 17, paragraph 4.2.4] (2005-11-04). Thameslink 2000 Closures Statement of Reasons. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
  29. ^ a b Network Rail (2006-10-18). Thameslink Programme. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
  30. ^ This Is Local London (2004-07-08). Catch the slow train from Radlett. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
  31. ^ a b Department for Transport [see page 11, paragraph 2.2.12] (2006-10-18). Thameslink 2000 Inspector's Report 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../t/h/a/Thameslink_Programme_9cf2.html"