Thameslink was a
train operating company
A train operating company (TOC) is a business operating Passenger Trains, passenger trains on the Rail transport in Great Britain, railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand. TOCs have existed since the Privatisation ...
in the United Kingdom owned by
Govia that operated the Thameslink franchise from March 1997 until March 2006. The franchise was due to end on 31 March 2004, but on 13 February 2004 the
Strategic Rail Authority
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for Rail transport in the United Kingdom, the railway industry. Its motto was 'Brita ...
awarded Govia a two-year extension.
Services
Thameslink operated passenger services from
Bedford via the
Thameslink route to
London Moorgate,
Sutton,
Wimbledon
Wimbledon most often refers to:
* Wimbledon, London, a district of southwest London
* Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four Grand Slam championships
Wimbledon may also refer to:
Places London
* ...
and
Brighton
Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
.
Rolling stock
Thameslink inherited a fleet of 66
Class 319s from
Network SouthEast.
During 2002, Thameslink hired two
Class 317s from
West Anglia Great Northern for services to
Moorgate. Thameslink received some extra Class 319s from
Southern
Southern may refer to:
Businesses
* China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China
* Southern Airways, defunct US airline
* Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US
* Southern Airways Express, M ...
in 2004.
From September 2004 until May 2005, Class 317s were hired from West Anglia Great Northern to operate
Bedford to
St Pancras services while the Thameslink line was severed for six months for the new St Pancras station to be built.
Depots
Thameslink's fleet was originally maintained at
Selhurst Depot under sub-contract by
Connex South Central/
Southern
Southern may refer to:
Businesses
* China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China
* Southern Airways, defunct US airline
* Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US
* Southern Airways Express, M ...
. With the Thameslink line to be severed for six months,
Bedford Cauldwell depot was built in 2004. It progressively took over all work from Selhurst.
Demise
In April 2005 the
Strategic Rail Authority
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for Rail transport in the United Kingdom, the railway industry. Its motto was 'Brita ...
announced the parties shortlisted to bid for the new Thameslink Great Northern franchise, Govia not being included. In December 2005 the
Department for Transport
The Department for Transport (DfT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved. The d ...
awarded the new franchise to
FirstGroup with the services operated by Thameslink transferring to
First Capital Connect on 1 April 2006.
Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise
Department for Transport Press Release 13 December 2005 However, it was announced in May 2014 that Govia had reclaimed the Thameslink franchise, which started on 14 September 2014, thus ending the First Capital Connect franchise. Govia now operates Thameslink under Govia Thameslink Railway.
See also
* Thameslink (route)
References
External links
*
Internet archive of official site
as at 30 March 2005
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thameslink (train operating company 1997-2006)
Defunct train operating companies
Go-Ahead Group companies
Keolis
Railway companies established in 1997
Railway companies disestablished in 2006
Railway operators in London
Rail transport in Bedfordshire
Thameslink
1997 establishments in England
2006 disestablishments in England
British companies established in 1997