Network Rail warn of four-day Thameslink core closure over Christmas
Network Rail are set to conduct engineering work over the Christmas period which will see no trains through the core of Thameslink for four days.
Work will run from Christmas Day to Sunday 29th December which sees the line south of St Pancras closed. During the closure Network Rail will install 1,670 metres of new rail between Farringdon and Blackfriars.
For those using the line via Greenwich between Rainham and Luton, a one train per hour service will instead run between London Bridge and Rainham.
Other routes impacted include:
- St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction/Wimbledon will not run.
- Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run. On Saturday 29 December, the service will only run between London Bridge and Three Bridges (1 train per hour).
- Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour).
- London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks (1 train per hour).
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex Route director said: “The rails between St Pancras International and Blackfriars were installed in 2011, and after 13 years and thousands of trains passing over the track, the rails are worn and need replacing with brand new rail to prevent faults delaying passenger journeys.”
“With the railway closed anyway on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, engineers will get a head start on the work ready for this crucial route to reopen.”
Closing the core will hinder cross-London access to Gatwick and Luton airports as well as long distance rail services from Kings Cross and St Pancras.
